ROCHESTER, NY - The Empire 8 announced its 2008 all-conference teams on Thursday morning. The Hawks had eight players on this year's roster receive conference recognition. Jason Boltus (Baldwinsville, NY) was named the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. Wide receiver Jack Phelan (Slingerlands, NY), defensive back Justin Oelgeschlager (Highland, NY), and place kicker Ryan Boyea (Scotch Plains, NJ) were all selected to the first team along with Boltus. Defensive lineman Ben Tomaino (Oneonta, NY) was the Hawks' lone selection on the conference's second team, and offensive linemen P.J. DiGati (Middletown, DE) and Andrew Murphy (Pelham, NH), and running back/kick returner Tosh DeMulder (Unadilla, NY) each received honorable mention.
Boltus enters ECAC play on Saturday leading NCAA Division III in total offense (414.4 yards per game) and passing yards per game (397.6). He ranks 2nd nationally with 3,578 passing yards and third in pass efficiency with a rating of 172.9. Boltus is twice ranked in the top-three in single-game passing yards, including an NCAA-high 531 yards. With 13,806 yards, he is just 85 yards shy of breaking the all-time NCAA Div. III record for total yards set by Guilford's Josh Vogelbach two weeks ago. Boltus was also named Empire 8 and ECAC Northwest Player of the Week three times in a row earlier this season.
Phelan was named to the all-conference first team for the second year in a row and enters ECAC play leading Division III in receiving yards per game (168.0) and ranked third in scoring (16.67 points per game). His 25 touchdowns is the second-highest single-season total recorded in Division III history, and he can set the record Saturday against Brockport with two more visits to the end zone.
Oelgeschlager leads the Hartwick team in total tackles (70), interceptions (4) and passes broken up (6). He is ranked third in the Empire 8 in tackles averaging 6.6 per game and is tied for third in both interceptions and passes defended this season. He was also named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after recording a career-high 16 tackles (9 solo), an interception, a tackle for a loss, and a pass broken up against Springfield. He also earned Empire 8 Honorable Mention in 2007.
Boyea has connected on 50 of 51 extra-point tries this season which is one of the highest percentages in the country. He started off the season hitting 36-of-36 and nailed the game-winning 32-yard field goal with just over a minute left on Oct. 4 in a win over then-nationally 10th ranked St. John Fisher. It was the second straight season a Boyea effort downed the nationally-ranked Cardinals. He earned honorable mention from the conference last season.
Tomaino finished the regular season tied for 4th in the Empire 8 Conference in tackles for a loss with nine. He also tied for ninth in sacks with four. Tomaino led the Hawks in both categories and was named the Empire 8 and ECAC Northwest Defensive Player of the Week following the Hawks' 24-19 win over Alfred. In that contest, Tomaino recorded a career-high 11 tackles and four tackles for a loss, and he delivered two sacks on the Saxons' final possession as they drove for the go-ahead score with under one minute remaining.
DiGati and Murphy anchored the Hartwick offensive line that helped the Hawks to the top-ranked passing offense in the country, as well as the third-ranked total offense and ninth-highest scoring offense. Both players were instrumental in the Hawks' success on the offensive side of the football in 2008 and both were recognized as part of the 'Wick O-Line that was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week following the St. John Fisher game on Oct. 4. DiGati, Murphy and the other Hawk linemen enabled a 31-point, four-touchdown, 487-yard effort against a St. John Fisher team that had not allowed a TD in its last seven quarters. They also paved the way for the first 100-yard rusher against the Cardinal defense in 18 games. They allowed just two sacks and the team rushed for 79 more yards than its average entering the game (103.0). Last season, DiGati was a second team selection while Murphy garnered honorable mention.
DeMulder received honorable mention as an all-purpose player. He has gained 1283 yards as the team's leading rusher and kick returner. DeMulder has rushed for 653 yards, gained 156 through the air, and accumulated 474 yards on kickoffs this season.
Senior offensive lineman J.J. Ambrosio (Greenwich, CT) was selected as the Hartwick representative on the Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year team. Ambrosio and the other six honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen throughout the season.
