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| Freshman Stephan Neville (Foxborough, Mass.) earned a spot on the Northeast-10 All-Conference Second Team as well as a spot on the All-Rookie squad. |
Six Skyhawks Earn All-Conference Accolades
Easton, Mass. - Six Stonehill players, the most in program history, were named Northeast-10 All-Stars today, in an announcement made by the Conference office.
First-team defenders George Whetstone (Westwood, Mass.) and Greg Sanzari (Centerport, N.Y.) headline the group, while second-teamers Eddie Vachon (Newton, Mass.), Tom Pfeifer (Babylon, N.Y.), Jon Kilborn (North Dartmouth, Mass.) and Stephan Neville (Foxboro, Mass.) round out the Stonehill contingent.
The six honorees represent the highest total of all-conference honorees for Stonehill since the Northeast-10 began sponsoring football back in 1997.
Whetstone had a monster year for a Skyhawk defense that finished third in the Northeast-10 in points allowed (18.0 per game). He was second in the league in sacks (11.0) and tackles for loss (15.5), while finishing with 55 tackles. A senior, he had four games with multiple sacks and five games with more than two tackles for a loss. His 11 sacks are tied for third on the school's single season list.
Sanzari, meanwhile, was second in the Northeast-10 in tackles with 99 stops and had five games with 10+ tackles. On two occasions this season he had 15 stops and was named Northeast-10 defensive player of the week following a 10 tackle performance in the season-opening upset win over I-AA Wagner. Sanzari also proved adept at playing the pass, as he recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups. His tackle total ranks sixth best in school history in a single season.
Pfeifer started all 10 games on the Stonehill offensive line at left tackle, helping a rushing game eclipse 1,000 yards for the second straight season. He protected the blindside for quarterback Cruz Parsons (Signal Hill, Calif.), allowing the signal caller to throw for 1,684 yards, the fifth most in a single season in school history.
Just a sophomore, Vachon proved to be one of the most versatile backs in the entire conference. He finished second on the team in rushing yards (426), receptions (25) and total touchdowns (6), was third in receiving yards (365) and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (4). His 1,209 all-purpose yards were fifth most in a single season and the third highest total in the league this season. In addition to his offensive exploits, Vachon was also dangerous in the return game, finishing fifth in the Northeast-10 in kick returns at 22.4.
Kilborn, a heavy hitter in the secondary, played in only eight games but tied for the team lead with five interceptions. He recorded 53 tackles, had eight pass breakups a forced fumble and a blocked kick. In just two years on the defensive side of the ball, he registered nine interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Neville, who also earned a spot on the conference's all-rookie team, burst onto the scene, making an immediate impact in the Stonehill secondary and in the return game. He led the conference in kick return average at 29.7 and was one of only four players in the league to return a kick for a touchdown. His five interceptions, including two in the season finale against Bentley, tied for the team lead and were good for second in the Northeast-10. He was named Northeast-10 freshman of the week following a loss at Pace and wrapped up his inaugural campaign with 31 tackles, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
In two seasons, head coach Rob Talley has guided Stonehill to nine wins after having won just eight in the previous four seasons.
