DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 13) – Seven members of the Nichols College football team have been named the the 2009 New England Football Conference All-Boyd Division Teams, it was announced Friday. Senior DL Bill Hassett (Oxford, Mass.), senior OL Brandt Genga (Middletown, R.I.) and senior WR Anthony Pillari (Lumberton, N.J.) all earned First Team honors, while junior DB Brandon Wallace (Windsor, Conn.), first year OL Charles Baker (Milton, Mass.), senior WR Mike Seiger (Pittsfield, Mass.) and first year K Dave Wyrick (Avon, Conn.) were named to the Second Team.
Despite missing two games with injury, Hassett was a force on the defensive line, finishing the season with the most tackles per game among all defensive linemen and 12th among all players in the NEFC with 8.4 per game. He posted three 10+ tackle games and finished 18th in the nation in tackles for a loss with 1.81 per game – a total of 14.5 for a loss of 38 yards in eight games. Hassett ranked fifth in the NEFC with six sacks, helping Nichols to the conference’s third-highest team total (24). The honor marks the third of Hassett’s career; the 2006 Co-Defensive Rookie was named to the First Team in 2007 and the Second Team in 2008.
Genga is named All-NEFC Boyd for the third time in his career after earning First Team honors in 2008 and Second Team accolades in his rookie season. A four-year starter and a co-captain this season, Genga is a tough, gritty player who leads the offensive line as the go-to puller.
Pillari set Nichols single-game, single-season and career receptions records in his senior season and led the team in all purpose yards with 107.9 per game. He hauled in a school-record 59 catches for 756 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns at Plymouth State. His 139 career receptions mark the career record for the Bison. Pillari finished the year ranked third in the NEFC in both receptions and receiving yards per game with 5.90 catches and 75.5 yards per game. The award marks the second of Pillari’s career; he was named First Team in 2008 and the Boyd Division’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2006.
Wallace led the Nichols secondary at cornerback with 47 tackles (28 solo) and a team-high tying three interceptions for 22 yards and three pass breakups. Opponents learned not to throw at Wallace, who was also key on special teams. The award marks the first of his career.
Baker, a savvy guard who picked up the conference’s game style faster than most first year players, was key on screen blocks for the Bison’s potent pass game and is an excellent puller. The award marks the first of Baker’s career.
Seiger led the team in touchdowns in his breakout senior season, and put up three 100+ yard receiving games over the final four games of the year. He finished ranking eighth overall in the NEFC with 57.2 yards per game, totaling 572 yards on 41 catches (14.0 yards per catch). The award marks the first for Seiger.
Wyrick scored a team-high tying 30 points on kicks, nailing five of six field goals for the NEFC’s highest field goal percentage (83.3%), and 15 of 18 PAT attempts (83.3%). He started the season going nine-for-nine in PAT’s including a 4-for-4 day with a field goal against MIT on Sept. 25. Wyrick again put up seven points against UMass Dartmouth with a pair of field goals (2-2) and the extra point on the game-winning touchdown.
Nichols finished the season with a 4-6 record, and wrapped up Boyd Division play with a 3-4 ledger – improving from an 0-7 mark in 2008.
NEFC Boyd Division First Team
Bill Hassett – DL
Brandt Genga – OT
Anthony Pillari – WR
NEFC Boyd Division Second Team
Brandon Wallace - DB
Charles Baker – OG
Mike Seiger – WR
Dave Wyrick – K