UTICA, NY – Senior left tackle Zach Hunnewell (Nashua, NH/Nashua North) and junior defensive end Nick Woodman (Utica, NY/Proctor) were selected to D3football.com 2014 All-East Region Team on Monday afternoon.  Hunnewell was a first team selection at the tackle position, while Woodman garnered second team status as a defensive end.  Both Hunnewell and Woodman are making their first appearances on the prestigious D3football.com All-Region Teams. The teams, selected in balloting by East Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 228 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 78 student-athletes were chosen.

Hunnewell, a senior left tackle, was named Empire 8 All-Conference for the third straight year a few weeks back, making the E8 first team for the first time. Hunnewell wrapped up his career as a four year starter and garners a five star lineman rating from the coaching staff.  He personally allowed just one sack all season and anchored an offensive line that finished its season ranked third nationally by allowing an average of .55 sacks per game.  He helped pave the way for 1,699 rushing yards and a new school-record of 29 touchdowns on the ground.  He was the lead blocker for the program's all-time leading rusher, Jesse Baldassare (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) and he also protected the blind side of senior quarterback Connor Butkiewicz (Southington, CT/Southington), who only threw two interceptions all season. 

Junior defensive end Nick Woodman (Utica, NY/Proctor) made his second straight Empire 8 All-Conference appearance this past season after earning honorable mention status as a sophomore.  He truly had a breakout season, as he led the Empire 8 and set a new school-record for sacks in a single season with 12. He finished ranked 14th nationally in sacks per game (1.05) and fourth in the Empire 8 in tackles for a loss per game (1.2). He also led the Empire 8 and finished 10th nationally with three fumble recoveries.

Utica wrapped up its season with a school-record seven wins and earned a bid into an ECAC Postseason Bowl Game for the first time in program-history.  The Pioneers also finished the regular season in third place in the highly competitive Empire 8 Conference.  As a team, the Pioneers finished the year second all-time with 1,699 rushing yards and they set a new school-record with 29 rushing touchdowns. The 2014 edition of the Pioneers is one of four teams in program-history to record over 5,000 all-purpose yards (5,438) and score over 300 points (330) in a single season. They also tied for second all-time at UC with 46 total touchdowns (29 rushing, 13 receiving, four return), while the Pioneer defense set a new program record with 42 pass break ups.