SAINTS HONOR 2007 AWARD WINNERS

AT ANNUAL BANUQET

April 3: The St. Lawrence University football team hosted their 2007 Season Banquet last Saturday, as players and coaches were joined by parents, staff and the Friends of St. Lawrence Football to hand out the yearly awards.

 

The 2007 Most Valuable Player Awards went to senior quarterback Brad Heil and sophomore defensive tackle Gerard Bryant. Heil finished the year having set the University record for most passing yards in a season with 2,157 and was only one touchdown pass shy of the school mark (19). Bryant, who was a 2007 ECAC Division III Northwest All-Star, finished the year with a team-best 13.0 tackles for a loss and 47.5 stops. He also chipped in five sacks, one pass break-up and a fumble recovery.

 

Sophomore Connor Hackett was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year, as he finished with 789 yards rushing, 10 total touchdowns and averaged 87.7 yards on the ground per game. On the other side of the ball, senior Robert Bracho was tagged the Defensive Player of the Year after a career season. The Gaitherburg, MD led the team with 7.5 sacks, a new career-high, and added 36.0 tackles, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

 

Senior captain Josh Hodges was the recipient of the 2007 Coaches Award for his leadership and dedication to the St. Lawrence football program. He played in all nine contests his senior year, making 28.0 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two pass break-ups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

 

Hodges’ fellow senior Chris Lutgens was named the winner of the John Burger Memorial Award, which goes to the team’s top offensive lineman. Lutgens served as Brett Young's back-up at the tight end spot until this season when he was asked to use his 6'5, 250 lb. frame to protect Heil's blind-side. The Greenwich, NY native made a smooth transition, as the offensive line allowed only 16 sacks in 2007.

 

Senior Matt Manchester, who recorded 20.5 tackles in nine games along the defensive line, was given the Saints’ “Ironman” Award. The Hastings-on-Hudson, NY native collected 3.5 tackles for a loss in 2007 including one sack.

 

The awards banquet, which was held on campus at Eben Holden, also honored the 13 players who earned All-Conference honors, the 11 players who were named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team, and special award winners including Bryant for his being named an ECAC All-Star and junior offensive lineman Tim LaRose for being chosen to D3Football.com’s All-East Region Third Team.