Six student-athletes from the Utica College football team were named to 2009 Empire 8 All-Conference Teams released Monday. Freshman quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamroneck, N.Y.) was named the Conference's Rookie of the Year, while senior classmates Eric Kahl (Lockwood, N.Y.) and Pete Vano (Mahopak, N.Y.) earned first team status for the first time in their careers. Senior wide receiver Cody Elliot (Sloan, N.Y.) was a second team selection along with junior defensive end Tracy Branch (Brentwood, N.Y.), and sophomore left tackle Tyler Olles (Albion, N.Y.) was an honorable mention.

Every year the conference hands out four major awards including offensive and defensive player of the year, rookie of the year and coach of the year. The rookie of the year distinction for Benkwitt marks the first time a member of the Utica College football program has earned one of the conference's four major post season awards. Five of the last seven rookie of the year selections have went on to become All-Conference First Team honorees, and three of the last seven have earned player of the year honors by the end of their senior campaigns (Josh Fellicetti, Jason Boltus and Jared Manzer).

This past season, Benkwitt broke nearly every single-season school passing record including pass completions (200), passing yards (2,375), passing attempts (329), passing touchdowns (19), completion percentage (60.8) and passing yards per game (237.5). He ranked second in the conference in total yards per game (243.7) and ranked fourth in the conference in pass efficiency (130.15). He also led all freshman quarterbacks in the conference in average yards passing per game, passing efficiency and total offense.

Kahl, making his third straight appearance in the all-conference team, missed three games this season due to a broken foot and still managed to lead Utica with 74 tackles. He also ranked second in the conference this season averaging 10.6 tackles per game. He finished his four year career ranked third on the College's all-time tackles list (261 tackles). Last season Kahl led Utica as well as the conference in total tackles with 116 and he averaged 11.60 tackles per game, which was good for 15th in the nation among Division III players. Kahl will join 49 other division III players from across the country in mid-December as he heads to Mexico to participate in the Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of Stars) senior game.

Vano, a two-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, ranked 11th in the conference averaging 5.9 tackles per contest this year. In 2008 he ranked second in the conference, only behind teammate Eric Kahl, with 89 tackles. He was a 2008 D3football.com All-East Region Third team selection and he was named the College's representative on the conference's Sportsman of the Year team. He will graduate ranked fifth on the College's all-time tackles list (199). He also posted three career interceptions along with ten career pass break-ups. Vano, along with Cody Elliot, will travel to Salem, Virginia on December 5th to play in the D-III Football Senior Classic.

Elliot, making his first appearance on the all-conference team, led UC and finished second in the Empire 8 Conference averaging six receptions per game. He also finished third in the conference in receiving yards per game (86.8 ypg) and led UC averaging 113 all-purpose yards per game. Elliot holds nearly every major receiving record at Utica College including receiving yards (2,119) and receptions (176) and he also holds records for all purpose yards (3,769) and kick return yards (1,196). In 2009 he broke school records for receiving yards in a single season (868), receptions (65) and receiving touchdowns (seven).

Branch is making his first appearance on the all-conference team after he tied for second in the conference with 5.5 sacks. His sack total was good for third on the College's single season list and he finished the season ranked tenth in the conference with 7.5 tackles for a loss. He currently ranks second on the College's career sacks list with 9.5 over the course of the past three seasons. The 6-foot, 225-pounder need five sacks next season to tie Bryon George '04 as the College's all-time sack leader.

Olles started all ten games and protected Benkwitt's blindside at the left tackle position this season. He helped the Pioneer offensive unit break several single-season school records including rushing touchdowns (21), pass completions and receptions (215), passing and receiving yards (2,564), passing touchdowns (22), passing yards per game (256.4), total offensive yards (3,876), touchdowns responsible for (69), total yards of offense per game (387.6), all purpose yards (4,979) and total points scored (344).

As a team, the Pioneers finished the season with a 4-6 overall record, marking the second-highest win total in the program's nine year history.


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