Cumberland Times-News

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November 21, 2012

5 earn All-Empire 8 honors

FSU lineman Darius Arrington repeat First Team selection

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Frostburg State junior offensive lineman Darius Arrington repeated as a First Team All-Empire 8 selection, one of five Bobcats to earn all-conference honors.

Arrington, a USA Football News Division III Preseason All-American, started nine of 10 games at left guard and helped block for an offense that averaged 306.1 yards per game in total offense and finished fourth in the conference in rushing (153.8 yards per game). Arrington will enter his senior season having started 27 of 30 games on the line.

Also, Anthony Young was named to the second team while Brendon Blanchette and Aaron Gruber were honorable mention all-conference.

Young, a senior wide receiver and a three-time second team all-conference selection dating back to the ACFC, tied for third in the league in receptions (46) and was sixth in receiving yards (610) and yards per game (61). He also tied for ninth with four touchdown receptions.

A Capital One Academic All-District and NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award nominee, Young finished his FSU career second in school history in receptions (179), third in receiving yards (2,226) and seventh in touchdown catches (14).

Blanchette, a senior and USA Football News Division III Preseason All-American, started all 10 games at safety and finished second in the league with 107 total tackles. He made 10 or more tackles in six games, including a career-best 17 stops against Waynesburg. Blanchette is the first Bobcat with 100 or more tackles in a season since 2005. He was a second team All-Empire 8 honoree a year ago.

Gruber was a mainstay on the FSU defensive line, having capped his career with 30 consecutive starts at defensive end. He finished fourth on the team with 49 tackles and was second with 5.5 tackles for loss. He finished his career with 138 total stops.

Senior tight end Cory Shank rounded out the league award winners as he was selected FSU’s Sportsman of the Year representative. He finished third on the team with 14 receptions for 101 yards. Over his four-year career, Shank hauled in 36 catches for 385 yards.

Frostburg State finished 3-7 overall in 2012 and was 1-6 in the Empire 8.

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