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RICH NAMED 2008 CIAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nov. 5, 2008
HAMPTON, VA-Elizabeth City State University senior quarterback Curtis Rich, Jr. has been named the Offensive Player of the Year as released by the conference office Wednesday morning. Rich is one of seven Vikings selected to the All-CIAA First and Second Teams which is voted on by the CIAA Football Coaches Association. Rich enters this year's championship game with a 7-3 (CIAA 7-0) record and leads an Eastern Divisional Championship squad that will return to its second CIAA Championship in three years. The Fort Washington, MD native ranks among the best in the conference in total offense with 1,979 yards and passing average of 186.1 yards per game. He is 115-221 on completions and is credited with 17 TDs thus far. Rich's starting center James Hartley and staring tight end Karvin Gwaltney have also been named to the All-CIAA First Team. This season the offensive line has blocked for 3662 yards of total offense while Gwaltney has nine catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings have outscored their opponents 354 to 167 and a large part of that has been the performance of All-CIAA wide receiver Dexter Manley. This season Manley has caught 31 passes for 829 yards and ten touchdowns. He leads the CIAA in yards per catch. Out of the secondary, both Rod Jones and Justin Hamilton have been named to the All-CIAA Defensive First Team. This season Jones led the Viking in tackles with 82 (53 solo, 29 assisted) which ranks second in the CIAA. Hamilton receives the second First Team recognition his career after leading the CIAA in passes defended with a total of 18 including 5 interceptions returned for 74 yards. Return specialist Reggie Smith has been named to the 2008 All-CIAA Defensive Second Team. He leads the CIAA in both punt returns and punt return yardage. The players of the year and all conference teams will be formally recognized at the CIAA Football Championship Luncheon on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Durham Marriott at the Civic Center. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com. |
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