Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information

Framingham, Mass. – Senior quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.) has been chosen as the 2015 Division III offensive recipient of Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's Joseph P. Zabilski Award as announced by the organization Thursday night.   

Silva, who was recognized as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Offensive Player of the Year earlier this week, had a record breaking senior season.  Silva ranked among the nation's and conference's leaders in most passing categories this season.  Silva completed 238-of-359 passes for 2,856 yards with a school record 39 touchdowns with just six interceptions.  Silva, who currently holds 11 FSU passing records, established new school records for touchdowns in a game (6), touchdowns in a season (39) and yards passing in a game (510) during his senior campaign that saw him receive a pair of New England Football Writer's Gold Helmet Awards.  The Rams offense averaged 433 yards and 39.5 points per game on the year.

Silva is the third Ram to be recognized by the Gridiron Club with the Zabilski Award.  Current assistant coach and former Ram wide receiver James McCarthy received the award in 2010 and former running back Melikke Van Alstyne received the honor in 2012 and 2013.

This is the 20^th annual Joe Zabilski Award which is presented to New England's top offensive and defensive player in Division II and III.  The defensive recipient for Division III this year is Amherst College's Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn.  The Award will be presented December 18^th at the Gridiron Club's Annual Awards Banquet.

The Rams finished the 2015 regular season 9-1 overall and 8-0 in the MASCAC earning the MASCAC's first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The Rams travel to Dover, Delaware on November 21^st for a first round matchup with Wesley University.