Holliston, Massachusetts, fifth-year safety named to All-New England Team for first time
2021 New England Football Writers Announce Division II/III All-Star Team
EASTON, Mass. (November 26, 2021) – Stonehill College fifth-year safety Sam Athy has been selected to the New England Football Writers' Division II/III All-Star team, the organization announced. The Skyhawks captain is among six Northeast-10 Conference student-athletes selected to the All-New England team.
Athy earns a spot on the Division II/III All-New England team for the first time in his career and is Stonehill's 11 selection since 2010. He will be recognized at the New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, December 9, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center in Framingham, Massachusetts. Senior running back Justin Felder will also be presented with his New England Football Writers Division II/III Gold Helmet Award from September 13 that night.
Athy is the first defensive player from Stonehill to earn All-New England honors since 2013 (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Athy, who earned All-NE10 first team honors for the second-straight season this fall, started all ten games at strong safety for Stonehill. He is the first Stonehill defensive player to earn All-NE10 first team honors twice since All-America linebacker Brian Harrington, '15 and the Skyhawks first defensive player to earn All-New England honors since Harrington in 2013. The Skyhawks captain finished second on the team with 53 tackles (24 solo), including 4.5 tackles for a loss of nine yards, with two interceptions and six pass breakups. He ranks seventh in the NE10 for pass breakups and eighth in interceptions.
Athy recorded a season-high 12 tackles (five solo), including 0.5 for a loss of a yard in Stonehill's 27-26 comeback win over Assumption University on September 25. He recorded interceptions in back-to-back wins over American International College (10/9) and Saint Anselm College (10/16) and broke up a career-high three passes in the Skyhawks week one win over Bloomsburg (Pa.) University (9/4).
Athy has appeared in 38 games over his Stonehill career, finishing with 182 tackles (85 solo), including 10.0 tackles for a loss of 22 yards, 1.0 sacks or a loss of four, a forced fumble, four fumble recoveries, four interceptions and seven pass breakups. Athy has also been named to both the NE10 Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll for his efforts in the classroom. He has totaled double-figure tackles in five games over his career, including a career-high 14 (nine solo) against rival Bentley University on October 19, 2019, adding 13 (eight solo) a week later at Assumption.
Stonehill finished its 2021 season with an 8-2 record overall, including a 6-2 mark in the NE10 to finish third in the final regular season standings. The Skyhawks capped their season with three-straight wins to reach the eight win mark for the first time since its NE10 regular season championship campaign in 2013 (8-3), while posting its first 8-2 season since 1996. The Skyhawks finished 6-2 in NE10 play for the first time since posting an 8-1 mark in 2013.
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