UTICA, NY - Pioneer placekicker Nico Duarte (Kearny, NJ/Saint Peter's Prep) has gotten off to an impressive start in the 2026 campaign, posting perfection from the spot while achieving a spot on the Fred Mitchell Award Midseason Watchlist.

The Fred Mitchell Award recognized 40 placekickers for their excellence on the football field through the first half of the season. The award honors outstanding placekickers from all Divisions of the NCAA, including the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior college football programs. 

The award recognizes not only field goal accuracy, distance, and performances in critical moments, but also the positive impact student-athletes make beyond the football field.

The recipient of the 2026 Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in December based on accomplishments on the football field and contributions to the community.

Duarte currently leads all of NCAA Division III in made field goals with 11, also posting the highest field goal percentage at 1.000 and earning the tiebreaker over all other perfect placekickers thanks to his field goal total. He's earned Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season, including one time when the senior star outscored the entire Washington and Jefferson offense, grabbing 14 total points in a 26-11 Believe Bowl victory.

Duarte's Pioneers hit the bye week this Saturday after posting a record of 5-1 through the first half of the season while ranking #14 in the first official NCAA NPI rankings. 

The team will return to Gaetano Stadium next Saturday, October 24th to take on Alfred University in the annual Breast Cancer Awareness game sponsored by GKG and Sullivan Contracting. 

Here is a link to the Fred Mitchell Award's official release: Fred Mitchell Award Recognizes 40 Placekickers for Excellence — 2026 Midseason Watch List