WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) has announced its weekly honors in football for the week ending October 29 and two UMass Dartmouth student-athletes were recognized. Junior
Jalyn Aponte was named the Offensive Performer of the Week, while classmate
Mike Henricksen was the conference's Defensive Player of the Week.
It marks the first weekly honor of the season for Aponte, while this is the second defensive honor of the season for Henricksen – who was also named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on October 31.
Aponte helped the Corsairs offense in a critical MASCAC victory over the Bears on Saturday. He carried the ball 23 times for a season-high 122 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, with a long of 14 yards. The running back punched in two touchdowns (3 yards, 2 yards), both in the fourth quarter, helping to break open a close game as the Corsairs handed Bridgewater State their first conference loss.
Over nine games so far, Aponte ranks second on the team in rushing, carrying the ball 107 times for 497 total yards. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry with seven rushing touchdowns. In the air, Aponte has recorded two catches for 58 total yards, including a long of 38 yards and a touchdown.
Aponte is part of an offensive unit that ranks 41st overall in Division III in total offense (438.0), while also ranking 47th in scoring offense (36.2).
Henricksen anchored a Corsairs defense that held Bridgewater State to just 14 points in Saturday's crucial victory. He recorded nine tackles, including four solo. Of his tackles, 2.5 were a loss of 10 yards, while he had a season-high 1.5 sacks for a loss of nine yards.
The junior linebacker helped lead a defense that limited the previously unbeaten in the MASCAC Bears, to just 51 yards rushing and 200 total yards in the game as UMass Dartmouth won 34-14 to move into first place in the conference standings.
Through nine games this season, Henricksen ranks third overall with 63.0 total tackles. Of his takedowns, 25 have been unassisted, while 7.0 have been for a loss of 22 yards. He has also recorded 2.5 sacks for a loss of 13 yards with an interception and two quarterback hurries. Highlighting Henricksen's season has been a season-high 12 tackles in a 26-0 win over Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
As a team, the Corsairs rank first in Division III in passing yards allowed, surrendering just 95.8 yards per contest to their opponents. The squad also boasts the conference's best scoring defense (13.7) and total defense (256.8), both of which rank 24th and 25th, respectively among the nation's best.
The Corsairs (8-1; 6-1 MASCAC) are on the bye week, but return to action on November 11. UMass Dartmouth welcomes Plymouth State University in the final regular season game of 2023 on Cressy Field at 12pm. The game also marks Senior Day for the Corsairs.
