United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Football - George, Arguelles, Sifflard win major awards in NEFC

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(11/14/06)--Junior quarterback Christian George was unanimously named the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division Offensive Player of the Year as Coast Guard won three major awards and placed 13 players on the All-conference team as voted on by the division’s eight head coaches.

Coast Guard, in its first year in the NEFC, won the Bogan Division with a perfect 7-0 record while going 8-1 in the regular season before losing to Curry 34-28 in the NEFC Championship game.

Freshman free safety Steve Arguelles, who leads the nation and tied a single-season school record with 11 interceptions, was unanimously named Defensive Rookie of the Year while senior Ryan Sifflard was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year. Coast Guard placed seven players on the first team and six more on the second team.

George earned Offensive Player of the Year honors despite missing the final two regular season games and the NEFC Championship game. He was 71 of 133 for 922 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was also the Bears leading rusher with 615 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games before going down with an injury. George led the NEFC with 219.6 yards of total offense per game.

Sifflard along with senior co-captain Josh Williams, who carried 84 times for 471 yards and nine touchdowns despite playing injured for the second half of the season, were also named to the first team from the offensive side of the ball.

Arguelles, junior defensive end John McDonald and sophomore inside linebacker Jack Gill were all named to the first team on defense. Arguelles has 11 interceptions while recording 49 tackles, 36 solo. McDonald, a defensive lineman, has 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Gill was second in the conference with 102 tackles while his 73 solo tackles rank him second nationally. Gill is tied for the team lead with 6.5 tackles for loss to go with three sacks, an interception and two blocked punts.

Junior Jesse Harms, who is third nationally with a 41.9 yard average, was named the first-team punter. Harms earns first team All-conference honors for the third straight season as he was a Liberty League first team selection in 2004 and 2005.

Five of the six players on the second team were on the offensive side of the ball including three offensive linemen. Junior left guard Nick Hartmann, junior left tackle Charles England along with freshman right tackle Justin Brooks were all named to the second team.

Junior running back Lance Lynch and junior tight end Mike Zielinski were also named to the second team. Lynch, who leads the team with 674 yards on 136 carries with three touchdowns also has 14 receptions for 101 yards. Zielinski has 12 receptions for 182 yards with two touchdowns.

Sophomore defensive tackle Josh Kirby, who has 42 tackles, 3.5 for loss and three sacks was named to the second team.

Twelve of the 13 players with Harms being the exception earned All-conference honors for the first time in their careers.

Coast Guard (8-2) will host NEFC Bogan Division foe Bridgewater State (7-2) in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl on Saturday at noon. The game will be video webcast with information later in the week. The game will also have audio only at www.sportsjuice.com. Coast Guard won the regular season meeting 21-17 at Bridgewater, handing the Bears their only division loss of the season.