December 19, 2011

Endicott College placekicker Dylan Rushe and Western New England College return specialist Michael Graham were each named to the recently released D3Football.com All-America teams.

Rushe, a sophomore place kicker from Palos Verdes, Calif, was a second team selection while Graham, a junior from Norwalk, Conn, made the third team as an "all-purpose" player.  The announcement came before the NCAA Division III Stagg Bowl Championship game between Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mount Union. UW-Whitewater won its third straight national crown with a 13-10 victory.

Rushe, was the second leading overall scorer, and the highest scoring kicker, in the New England Football Conference in 2011.  He converted 17 of 26 field goals and 52 of 54 PAT's for 103 points (9.4/game).  He averaged 1.55 field goals per contest, second nationally in Division III.  His 55-yard field goal against Curry College set an NEFC record for longest regular season field goal, and his 17 three-pointers on the season was also a single season NEFC mark.

Rushe was also the fourth ranked punter in the Conference with a 36.3 average on 32 punts with 15 punts downed inside the opposition's 20-yard line

The versatile Graham had a record-breaking season finishing as the national leader in kickoffs with a 35.3 average for 15 returns, including four touchdowns, which led all four divisions (Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, and Division III).

Graham tied a NCAA Division III record with a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns (85 and 83 yards) in a 40-37 victory in the snow over previously undefeated Endicott.

In addition he rushed for 237 yards on 24 carries (9.9 avg.) with a 90-yard touchdown run (the team’s longest play of the season) in the season-finale at UMass Dartmouth.

Graham, a Criminal Justice major, also had five receptions for 64 yards with a 33-yard touchdown against Norwich in the season-opener.