UAlbany Football Announces Postseason Team Awards

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Michael Dungey received the most valuable player award at the football program’s postseason awards banquet, held at the Campus Center Ballroom. He also was voted the team’s top defensive lineman.

Dungey, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior, played both defensive tackle and end this season. He had 44 tackles with 11.5 hits for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass deflections and one fumble recovery. He led a defensive unit that ranks among the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision leaders in rushing yards allowed (118.3 ypg) and total defense (334.0). Dungey has 125 tackles and 11.5 sacks as a collegian.

Colin Disch earned the top linebacker award for the third consecutive season. He led the Great Danes in tackles with 70 and completed his career as the school’s all-time tackles leader (416). Jason Fralicker was named special teams MVP for the second year in a row. Fralicker, a senior placekicker, broke his own single-season record with 15 field goals and tied the single-game standard with three against both Colgate and Fordham. He was second on the team in scoring with 82 points (15-23 FGs, 37-39 PATs).

Sam Pagano (Colonie Central) picked up the best offensive lineman award. Pagano, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound left guard, blocked for a unit that averaged 208.3 rushing yards, 362.5 total yards and 28.4 points per game. Daniel Bocanegra, a junior flanker, garnered top receiver honors after hauling in 26 passes for 316 yards. He also averaged 7.2 yards per punt return. Dave Nicomini, a junior safety, won the defensive back award with 63 tackles, two pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries.

David McCarty (LaSalle Institute) earned the offensive back award. McCarty rushed for the third-highest single-season total in school history with 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran for 100 or more yards in eight games, including six consecutive times to end the season. McCarty, a sophomore tailback, ranks among the nation’s top-10 leaders at 125.2 yards per game. Sophomore Vinny Esposito was named the team’s most improved player. Esposito, who finished the season with the program’s second-highest single-season passing yardage (1,810), started all 12 games under center for the Great Danes. He threw 12 touchdown passes and was named the Northeast Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 10.

UAlbany finished with an 8-4 record, matching its highest win total at the Division I FCS level. The Great Danes captured their third Northeast Conference championship by going undefeated in league play, and made a Gridiron Classic postseason appearance.