WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore quarterback
Dante Aviles-Santos was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference's (MASCAC) Offensive Rookie of the Year to headline the group of 11 Corsairs to receive postseason recognition from the conference office.
Collecting First Team-Defense were 5th-year senior DB
Chris Gomes and senior LB
Javien Delgado. Earning First Team-Offense was sophomore OL
Tyler Gmyr. Awarded Second Team-Defense were graduate student DL
Marcus Elysee, senior LB
JP Mason, junior DL
Josh Lacerte and sophomore DB
Logan Chappell. Taking home Second Team-Offense were Aviles-Santos, junior RB
Luis Gonzalez and the freshmen duo of RB
Marvens Jean and OL
Kolby Stockwell.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR / SECOND TEAM-OFFENSE
From Cumberland, R.I., Aviles-Santos was not expected be the starting quarterback and made an immediate impact the moment he stepped on the field. He led the Corsairs to a 21-14 victory at Husson (Sept. 4) in the first game of the season with 128 passing yards and two touchdowns after being inserted into the game in the second quarter. Aviles-Santos then showed his full potential in a 48-29 win against Dean College (Sept. 11) in the home opener where he threw for 325 yards and five TD's. From there, Aviles-Santos took off as the leader for the team, finishing the year with a MASCAC best 21 touchdowns through the air with six more on the ground. He finished fourth in the conference with 188.1 passing yards per game, while also rushing for 276 yards. Aviles-Santos was tabbed the MASCAC Rookie of the Week three times this year and Offensive Player of the Week once.
FIRST TEAM-OFFENSE
From New London, Conn., and a transfer from Merrimack College, Gmyr was exactly what the Corsairs' offense needed to give the quarterback time in the pocket and create lanes for the running backs. Gmyr, along with the rest of the offensive line, was responsible for UMassD to have the top rushing attack in the conference with 2,168 total yards on the ground and 216.8 yards per game. Led by Gmyr, the Corsairs were also second in the league with 5.1 yards per carry.
FIRST TEAM-DEFENSE
From Taunton, Mass., Gomes was everywhere this season, compiling 51 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. Gomes set a career high with 13 tackles at Bridgewater State (Oct. 13) and followed that up with a nine-tackle day against Plymouth State (Nov. 13). Gomes had interceptions in back-to-back games at Westfield State (Oct. 16) and against Fitchburg State (Oct. 23) and got his sack against Mass. Maritime (Oct. 9).
From Lynn, Mass., Delgado put together a 63 tackle, 1.5 sack season for the Corsairs. One of the leaders of the linebackers, Delgado matched his career high of 14 tackles at Westfield State (Oct. 16). His 1.5 sacks came against Worcester State (Sept. 25) for a loss of 13 yards. Delgado was always steady, making six or more tackles in six games this season.
SECOND TEAM-OFFENSE
From Greenacres, Fla., Gonzalez was rock steady all season, leading the Corsairs in rushing yards and touchdowns. Gonzalez rushed for 837 yards and seven TD's, while adding three receiving scores and 150 yards catching. He ran for over 100 yards three times against Dean College (144 yds.), at Westfield State (124 yds.) and versus Fitchburg State (115 yds.). Gonzalez rushed for a season high two scores against Worcester State (Sept. 25). He finished the regular season ranked second in the MASCAC with 83.6 rushing yards per game and fifth in the league with seven touchdowns on the ground.
From Saugus, Mass., and the other side of the two-headed monster at running back, Jean burst onto the scene as one of the top rushers in the MASCAC. Jean ran for 772 yards and five touchdowns, including a 62-yard, highlight reel, rush for six against Worcester State where he finished with 137 yards on the ground (Sept. 25). Jean picked up 173 yards and a TD against Fitchburg State (Oct. 23) as well and earned the MASCAC Rookie of the Week twice this season for those performances.
From Harrisville, R.I., Stockwell proved to be one of the most reliable offensive linemen for the Corsairs this season after moving from defense to offense in preseason camp. Stockwell is the most physical member of the O-Line and is a huge reason for UMassD's number one rushing attack this year.
SECOND TEAM-DEFENSE
From Framingham, Mass., Elysee was a dominant force on the defensive line all season. Elysee finished the year with 43 tackles and was a terror to the quarterbacks with four sacks. He registered a season-high nine tackles twice against Framingham State (Sept. 18) and Fitchburg State (Oct. 23), where he also set a single-game career high with three sacks against the Falcons. Elysee later registered an eight tackle, one sack performance against Plymouth State (Nov. 13).
From Providence, R.I., Mason finished as the team leader in tackles with 82. He had 10 or more tackles at Husson (Sept. 4), at WestConn (Oct. 2), at Bridgewater State (Oct. 30) and against Plymouth State (Nov. 13). Mason recorded a career-high 18 tackles at WestConn and blocked a kick against Dean (Sept. 11). Mason's 8.2 tackles per game was good for fourth in the MASCAC and he was named MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week once this season.
From Westerly, R.I, Lacerte was one of the best defensive linemen in the MASCAC, ranking second in the conference with 6.5 sacks on the season. Lacerte brought down the quarterback at Husson (Sept. 4), against Dean (Sept. 11), versus Worcester State (Sept. 25), twice against Mass. Maritime (Oct. 9), at Westfield State (Oct. 16) and 1.5 times at Bridgewater State (Oct. 30). Lacerte finished the year with 35 tackles with a season high of eight at WestConn (Oct. 2).
From Griswold, Conn., Chappell led the MASCAC with five interceptions. He picked off a pass against Dean (Sept. 11) and had two INT's in back-to-back games versus mass. Maritime (Oct. 9) and at Westfield State (Oct. 16). Chappell tallied 44 tackles with a season high of eight against Dean, recorded a sack versus Plymouth State (Nov. 13) and finished the year with eight pass breakups.
