Rockland, Mass., junior linebacker rewarded for second time in three weeks
Skyhawks emerge among teams receiving votes in AFCA Division II poll
Noontime Sports New England Football Weekly Honor Roll & Teams of the Week
EASTON, Mass. (September 23, 2013) – Stonehill College junior linebacker Brian Harrington (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) has been named the Northeast-10 Conference's Defensive Player of the Week by the league office and the Skyhawks have emerged among teams receiving votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll.
Harrington earns NE-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time over the opening three weeks of the season after he led the Stonehill defense in Friday night's 41-38 comeback victory at Assumption College in overtime. He made a career-high 17 tackles (nine solo), including 1.0 for a loss of two yards, and a forced fumble which led to the Skyhawks first touchdown on the next play after they had fallen behind 14-0 ten minutes into the contest. Harrington also earned a spot on the NoontimeSports.com New England Football Weekly Honor Roll for the second time for his efforts.
Harrington and the defense held Assumption to just ten points after the Greyhounds took their third two touchdown lead of the night (28-14) after a turnover on Stonehill's opening drive of the second half. The Skyhawks limited Assumption to just one touchdown over the remainder of regulation, allowing the offense to comeback and force overtime, holding the Greyhounds to a 44-yard field goal on the opening possession of overtime before Stonehill claimed its first lead of the night on its first overtime drive to clinch victory.
Harrington leads the Northeast-10 and ranks third nationally in Division II with his 43 tackles, ranking seventh nationally with a Conference-best 23 solo stops. He ranks second in the NE-10 for tackle assists (20) and forced fumbles (1), while contributing 2.0 tackles for a loss of eight yards, including 1.0 sacks for a loss of six. Harrington has reached double-figures for tackles in all three games since moving into the starting lineup this season, leading the Skyhawks in tackles every weekend.
Harrington, who earned the Skyhawks' Special Teams MVP award following his sophomore season, has appeared in 23 games over his career at Stonehill and totaled 68 tackles (37 solo), including 2.0 tackles for a loss of eight yards, a sack and forced fumble. He has been recognized for his efforts in the classroom with NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll status all four semesters at the College as well as Athletic Director's Honor Roll accolades two semesters.
In addition to Harrington's NE-10 weekly award, Stonehill has emerged among teams receiving votes in this week's AFCA Division II poll for the first time in program history. The Skyhawks earned five votes and are among two NE-10 programs listed among teams receiving votes with defending Conference Champions University of New Haven (17). The five votes essentially place Stonehill with a No. 35 national ranking in the Top 25 poll.
Stonehill, which has won its first two NE-10 games for the second-straight year, was named New England Division II Team of the Week by NoontimeSports.com today. The Skyhawks boast the No. 2 passing offense in the NE-10 with 292-yards per game, leading the Conference in red zone touchdown percentage (8-for-10/80%) and ranking third overall for red zone efficiency (9-for-10/90%). Stonehill is ranked third in the NE-10 for takeaways, having forced seven turnovers (four interceptions, three fumble recoveries), including six over the last two weeks, ranking second for pass defense (226.0 yards per game).
Stonehill (2-1, 2-0 NE-10) looks to maintain its unbeaten NE-10 record on Saturday when it hosts rival Bentley University at W.B. Mason Stadium as part of Family Weekend at the College at 6 p.m.
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