UMass Dartmouth’s Gacioch, Framingham State’s Onujiogu Named MASCAC Football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Headline 2019 MASCAC Football All-Conference Teams
Stephen Gacioch of UMass Dartmouth and Joshua Onujiogu of Framingham State are the 2019 MASCAC Football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and headline the 2019 MASCAC All-Conference teams as voted on by the coaches from around the league.
November 20, 2019
Westfield, Mass. — Stephen Gacioch of UMass Dartmouth and Joshua Onujiogu of Framingham State are the 2019 MASCAC Football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and headline the 2019 MASCAC All-Conference teams as voted on by the coaches from around the league.
Gacioch, a junior quarterback from Tiverton, R.I., ended the season in the top five of the MASCAC in several categories, including yards per game (277.6), total yards (2221), touchdowns (20), pass efficiency (143.2) and completion percentage (59.2%). He also rushed for six scores for the Corsairs who ended the regular season 5-3 in MASCAC action. The two-time New England Football Writers Gold Helmet Award recipient tied the school record with six touchdown passes in a 54-7 season-opening win over Alfred State.
Taking home the 2019 MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors is Joshua Onujiogu from Framingham State. The junior defensive end from Wareham, Mass., led the Rams to the MASCAC Regular Season title and the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with an 8-0 league record. He closed out the regular season with 44 tackles, including 24 solo along with eight sacks for a total loss of 47 yards. In the win over Plymouth State, he finished with six tackles, three sacks and three tackles for a loss of 19 yards.
Andrew Fennelly from Framingham State claims the 2019 MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year award. The senior tackle from Wayland, Mass., helped the Rams lead the league in total rushing yards (1,728) and points per game (34.6), second in total yards per game (439) and third in passing yards (2,662). The team averaged 266.2 yards through the air and 172.8 yards on the ground per game.
Joining his teammates as a major award winner is Devaun Ford of Framingham State as the 2019 MASCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year. The freshman running back from Mashpee, Mass. closed out his first year with the team first in the league in several categories, including total yards (1,003), yards per game (100.3), yards per rush (5.8) and was second in rushing touchdowns (9). In the game against Worcester State, he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season with a 191-yard effort plus a touchdown in the victory.
Rashawn Settles of Westfield State is the 2019 MASCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner. The freshman linebacker from Lowell, Mass. collected 58 total tackles, including 34 solo, recovered three fumbles and had 1.5 sacks for eight yards this season. In the Owls win over Worcester State, he had a season-high 11 tackles, including seven solos.
After leading his team to their best record of his coaching career and most All-Conference selections at the helm, Jeremy Cameron of Massachusetts Maritime was voted Champion’s Choice Coach of the Year by his peers.