Courtesy Massachusetts Maritime Sports Information

Massachusetts Maritime senior linebacker Walter Butler was named as the New England Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career on Saturday evening for his efforts in the Buccaneers' 23-19 victory over previously unbeaten Worcester State.

A native of Bourne, Mass. and a graduate of Bishop Stang High School, Butler recorded 11 total tackles, including eight solo stops, and forced a fumble with 1:38 remaining in the contest to set up what would prove to be the winning score in the closing seconds of action. A team co-captain this season, Butler also blocked a PAT attempt in the third quarter that would have given the Lancers the lead, and he also recorded a key stop on a 3rd-and-Goal situation in the same frame that forced the visitors to kick a field goal. Butler added three quarterback hurries in the triumph for Massachusetts Maritime, and three of his tackles were for losses totaling 10 yards.

Ironically, Butler won his first career NEFC Defensive Player of the Week honor exactly one year ago, which also came following a victory over Worcester State, that being a 21-13 road triumph on October 9, 2010.  In that game, Butler recorded a career-high 14 total tackles and blocked a field goal that set up the Buccaneers' go-ahead touchdown with 2:50 remaining.  This fall, Walter leads Head Coach Jeremy Cameron's squad with 39 total tackles, including 31 solo stops, and has recorded 10.5 tackles for losses to date while adding three blocked kicks and seven quarterback hurries.

Massachusetts Maritime, now 3-2 on the season, heads to Fitchburg State on Saturday, October 15th for a NEFC Bogan Division match-up that kicks off at 1:30 p.m. EDT.