Bresson earns NE10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time (PHOTO BY Saylor Murphy) |
Torrington, Connecticut, fifth-year defensive end named NE10 Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career
Ridgefield, Connecticut, junior kicker earns first NE10 Special Teams Player of the Week Award
NE10 Football Weekly Award Release
EASTON, Mass. (October 12, 2021) – Two key members of the Stonehill College football team from Saturday's 25-0 Northeast-10 Conference victory at American International College have earned weekly honors from the NE10, the league office announced.
Fifth-year defensive end Nate Bresson has been named the NE10's Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career, while junior placekicker Perry Shelbred has earned NE10 Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time.
Bresson led a Stonehill defense that allowed just 157 total yards, including -6 on the ground, and forced five interceptions in the shutout victory at American International on Saturday. He totaled six tackles, including three solo, with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 12 yards on the afternoon. Bresson was in on sacks on back-to-back plays to conclude the third quarter that pushed the Yellow Jackets from the Stonehill 32-yard line on first and ten to third and 33 from the AIC 45 before the home team tossed its fourth interception of the afternoon on fourth down.
Bresson leads the NE10 with his 7.5 sacks this season, having started all five games on the Stonehill defensive line. He has totaled 22 tackles (15 solo), including 7.5 tackles for a loss of 41 yards so far this season. Bresson ranks ninth nationally in Division II for sacks, while ranking second in the NE10 for tackles for loss.
Bresson |
Shelbred |
Bresson is a key member of a Stonehill defense that leads the NE10 in total defense, allowing 283 yards per game (23rd nationally), and pass defense at 168.4 (26th), while ranking third in the NE10 for rushing defense at 114.6 yards per game. The Skyhawks are second in the NE10 (21st nationally) for scoring defense, allowing 16.8 points per game.
Bresson, an All-NE10 second team selection as a junior in 2019, has played 35 games over his Stonehill career and totaled 171 tackles (88 solo), including 18.0 sacks and 42.0 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, four pass breakups and a blocked kick over his career. He is currently ranked third all-time in Stonehill history for career tackles for loss, while ranking fifth in sacks.
Shelbred delivered four field goals, including a pair of 40-plus yard kicks, on five attempts to spur the Stonehill 25-0 win at AIC on Saturday. He also averaged 26.5 yards on two punts, with a fair catch and pinning one punt inside the opponents 20-yard line. His three field goals in the first half, including a career-best 49-yarder, gave the Skyhawks a 9-0 halftime lead on their way to the win. He finished the afternoon with field goals of 37, 49, 22 and 44 yards on the day. Shelbred opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game with his 37-yard field goal, before his 49-yarder with 1:46 left in the opening quarter provided a six point lead. He capped the first half scoring with his 22-yard kick with eight seconds to go before halftime and then closed the scoring with his 44-yard field goal with 5:50 to play in the fourth.
Shelbred has appeared in all five games for Stonehill since transferring from the University of Rhode Island, where he didn't make any appearances over two seasons. He ranks 12th among NE10 scoring leaders with his 29 points, including second among kickers, ranking second with his four field goals while having converted 17-of-20 extra points for the season. His 49-yard field goal is the longest in the NE10 this season to date and his 17 extra points rank third in the NE10. Shelbred also ranks second among NE10 punters with an average of 37.3 yards on his 23 punt attempts.
Stonehill (4-1, 2-1 NE10) returns to action on Saturday for the first of two-straight at W.B. Mason Stadium when it hosts Saint Anselm College in the 16th "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk" as part of Homecoming Weekend at the College at 1 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
