RPI football hands out year-end awards
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TROY, N.Y. >> The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) football team recently presented its year-end awards and numerous student-athletes were recognized after helping the Engineers to an 8-3record, the Liberty League title and a bid to the NCAA Playoffs. Senior linebacker Oliver Kaija was chosen as the Player of the Year, while classmates Sean Egan and Bryan Hayes, both defensive backs, shared Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fellow senior Malik Joseph, a defensive tackle, was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year with the Offensive Lineman of the Year award being presented to junior tackle Chris Neu. The Offensive Player of the Year award was shared by senior running back Mike Tivinis and junior wide receiver Keaton Ackermann and senior kicker Christian Kapp and junior return specialist Conor Davies both garnered Special Teams Player of the Year. The Rookie of the Year awards went to quarterback George Marinopolous (offense) and defensive lineman Amaechi Konkwo (defensive), while senior Johnny Ramsdell earned the Scholar Athlete of the Year award.
A captain, Kaija (Reading, VT / Woodstock Union) started 10games, registering 50tackles, including 23unassisted. He had 3.5 tackles for lost yards (20) with two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He had at least four stops in eight contests, including two with nine tackles. Kaija, who also captains the lacrosse team, had four solo tackles and five assisted stops with 1.5for lost yards (3) and a forced fumble at Hobart and three solo tackles with six assisted, plus an interception with a 10-yard return in the NCAA Playoffs at Wesley.
Egan (Watervliet, NY / Shaker), a cornerback, started all 11games, registering 34solo and 13assisted tackles with seven interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He had 3.5tackles for lost yards (9) and five interception return yards. He led the conference in interceptions and was third in passes defended (12). Hayes (Boyleston, MA / Tahanto Regional), a safety, led the team with 85 tackles, including a teambest 52unassisted. He had two tackles for lost yards (2), two interceptions, four pass breakups and a blocked kick. In addition to Defensive Player of the Year, he was also the recipient of a George Bode Award for perseverance. Joseph (Bronx, NY / Iona Prep.) finished with 33tackles, including 14unassisted, 7.5for lost yards (23) and three sacks (11yards lost). A captain, he was first on the Engineers in sacks and tackles for lost yards and he led the defensive linemen in solo and total tackles. Joseph added a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Neu (Mokena, IL / Culver Academy), the Offensive Lineman of the Year, helped RPI average 177.7rushing yards, 167.7passing yards and 29.2points. Rensselaer, which allowed just 20sacks, was first in the league in rushing offense and second in scoring offense. In 10 games, Tivinis (Middleton, MA / Masconomet) led the Engineers in rushing with 635yards on 111carries. He averaged 5.7yards per rush with six touchdowns and he caught 10passes for 91 yards. Ackermann (Erieville, NY / Cazenovia) was the team’s leading receiver with 28receptions for 395yards and seven touchdowns. He had at least one TD catch in six different games.
The team’s placekicker, Kapp (Amawalk, NY / Iona Prep.) made 9of 12field goal attempts, including a long of 47yards. He was also successful on all 32pointafter attempts and led the team with 69points. He averaged 62.1yards per kickoff (59att. for 3664yards) with 34touchbacks before going on to earn the Special Teams Most Valuable Player award of the National Bowl Game. He had field goals of 37and 48yards, while also handling kickoff duties. As a punt returner, Davies (Lanoka Harbor, NJ / Lacey Township) was first in the conference with an average of 11.8yards per attempt (23att. for 271yards) and a long of 68yards in 11games. He began bringing back kickoffs midway through the season and finished with nine returns for 193 yards (21.4per) with a long of 41yards. Also a slotback, Davies caught 12passes for 219yards and a touchdown, while rushing 11times for 57 yards.
A freshman quarterback, Marinopoulos (Slingerlands, NY / Guilderland) threw for 1031yards (95of 148) and 11touchdowns with five interceptions in seven games. He started the final six contests, leading the Engineers to a 5-1record. Konkwo (Alexandria, VA / Bishop Ireton) a freshman, totaled 24tackles (13unassisted) with four tackles for lost yards (22) in 11games. He had three sacks (21yards lost) and a fumble recovery. Ramsdell (Haverhill, MA / Haverhill), a senior slotback, is a biomedical engineering major with a 3.72cumulative grade point average. He is a three-time Liberty League All-Academic honoree and a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District choice. On the field in 2017, he started all 11games, running 22times for 97yards and a touchdown and catching 24passes for 280yards and four scores. He also returned seven kickoffs for 162yards. match-up with the Pioneers on Tuesday night. In a game that featured six ties and 13lead changes, Utica triumphed, 79-75to improve to 8-6overall and 3-2in the league. Sage drops to 6-7 overall and 1-3in the Empire 8.
Utica held a 41-40lead at the break and Sage would jump out to a 70-67lead on a three-pointer by senior guard Jordan Devaughn (Jacksonville, FL/Flora McDonald Academy) at 6:03. Utica clawed their way back and Sage kept answering with clutch baskets of their own. Devaughn added a jumper at 1:03to pull Sage back within two points, 7573. Utica’s Hunter Remley answered with a threepointer at 0:39giving the Pioneers a 78-73lead. Junior Kevin Lenehan (Delanson, NY/Duanesburg) added two free throws at 0:25to keep Sage within striking distance, down 78-75. Utica’s Ivan Iton missed the first of his two free throws with 0:06left and Sage was unable to cut into the score as time expired. Devaughn led Sage in the contest with 20points. He converted 8-of-15field goals in the contest with three baskets from threepoint range. Sage combined to shoot an impressive 47.4% from three-point range for the game as they hit 9-of-19from down town. Senior center Barceem Dukes (Gloversville, NY/ Gloversville) collected a double-double as he added 14points with 13rebounds. Senior Stephen Paulk (West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Lakes) tied his personalbest after adding 11points off the bench in the contest and made all but one shot from the floor, converting 5-of-6field goals on Tuesday night. Sophomore guard Isaiah Scurry (Albany, NY/ Albany) both finished with 12points collecting all of his points from three-point range.
Utica’s finished with a game-best 21points and made 9-of-11field goals for the Pioneers and was joined in double-digit scoring three teammates that all added 10points apiece.
Sage will return to action on Friday, January 19travelling to Alfred University for a 6p.m. for an Empire 8 contest.