ROCHESTER, NY - Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) has been named the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week after his superstar outing in Saturday's 51-28 win at Alfred University.

Payton had an outstanding showing for the Pioneer secondary during the big victory, a win in which the Pioneer defense held the opposing quarterbacks to just 10-29 passing and only 55 passing yards. Payton was the primary source of Utica's no-fly zone on Saturday, logging three pass breakups and an interception. He also caused another Alfred turnover by forcing a fumble in the first quarter that was returned for the first Pioneer touchdown of the afternoon. To top off his dominant performance, he recorded two solo tackles. Payton powered a defensive effort that forced the Saxon offense to turn the ball over four times on the afternoon.

Payton and the Utica football team will be back in action this Saturday, facing St. John Fisher on Mohawk Valley Challengers Day at Gaetano Stadium. That game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM kickoff and is sponsored by Human Technologies.

Below is a list of each accolade the Pioneers have achieved through seven weeks this season.
 
Week One at W&J
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Week One Game Ball
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - D3football.com Team of the Week
 
Week Two vs RPI
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (2)
 
Week Three at Hobart
Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
 
Week Four vs Alfred State
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week (3)
 
Week Five at SUNY Cortland
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week
 
Week Six vs Morrisville
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
Devin Taylor (New Port Richey, FL/Wendell Krinn Technical) - Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week
Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) - D3football.com Team of the Week

Week Seven vs Alfred University
Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) - Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week
 
Total Awards Count
 
Team:
Empire 8 Players of the Week: 7
D3football.com Team of the Week: 4
 
Individual:
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 3
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Mason Nolan (Hilton, NY/Hilton Central) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Devin Taylor (New Port Richey, FL/Wendell Krinn Technical) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
Mason Payton (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) - Empire 8 Player of the Week: 1
 
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
Isaiah Thomas (Kingston, NY/Kingston) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) - D3football.com Team of the Week
Jordyn Davis (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) - D3football.com Team of the Week: 1
 
Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) - D3football.com Week One Game Ball