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Stony Brook Holds Annual Football Banquet
February 28, 2009
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Feb. 28, 2009
Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's football team held its annual banquet on Saturday evening at the Student Activities Center. Over 200 attended the affair that included the presentation of the team's annual awards and the announcement of the team captains for the 2009 season. Stony Brook's Offensive MVP award went to senior wide receiver Dwayne Eley (Bowie, Md.). He closed out his Stony Brook career as the team's top receiver in 2008, leading the team in receiving with 48 catches for 697 yards and five touchdowns. He was third in the Big South in receiving yards per game and fourth in receptions per game and made at least one catch in each game he played. For his career Eley finished second all-time at SBU with 157 receptions and third all-time with 2,062 receiving yards. Junior linebacker Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) was named the team's Defensive MVP. He started every game for Stony Brook, earning second team All-Big South honors as he led Stony Brook in tackles (career-high 79) and passes broken up (5). Making at least one stop in every game, he tied for seventh in the Big South in tackles while finishing second on the team in tackles for loss (7.0). Senior kicker Luke Gaddis (East Patchogue, N.Y.) was named the Ray Downey Special Teams MVP. Stony Brook's starting place kicker and punter in 2008, he was a preseason All-Big South selection. He finished second on the team in scoring with 52 points (third-highest in SBU history), booting 7-of-11 field goals and 31-of-37 extra points while averaging 37.2 yards per punt. Named the national Freshman of the Year by the College Sporting News, Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.) was selected as Stony Brook's Offensive Rookie of the Year. He led Stony Brook and broke the single-season rushing record with 1,310 yards, earning Big South Freshman of the Year as well as first team All-Big South accolades. His rushing total was the highest of any freshman at the FCS level in 2008. He was second in the Big South and 10th in the nation with his 119.1 yards per game average and broke the SBU yards per carry record for a single season by over three yards per carry (9.4).
Freshman defensive lineman Ryan Haber (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) was named as Stony Brook's Defensive Rookie of the Year after finishing the 2008 season sixth on the team in tackles for a loss. Senior offensive lineman Steve Council (Plainfield, N.J.) was presented with the Fred Kemp Award, which goes to the to the upperclassman who is dedicated to excellence on and off the field, while leading the team with pride and intensity. The Mark Motroni Award, which goes to the upperclassman who demonstrates great pride in the Stony Brook Football Program and consistently exhibits unselfish dedication to the team, was presented to two players; senior offensive lineman Lawrence Lovell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior defensive lineman Adam Soivilien (Dorchester, Mass.). Rounding out the award winners were junior fullback Josh Auerbach (Langhorne, Pa.) who was presented with the Workhorse Award, and senior linebacker Michael Meadows (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) who took home the Academic Award. Head coach Chuck Priore also announced during the festivities that Santucci, Auerbach and junior running back Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.) will serve as Stony Brook's team captains for the 2009 season. |
