College Football

Fordham football sweeps Patriot League awards

The 11-1 Fordham Rams cleaned up in the Patriot League postseason awards announced Tuesday morning, sweeping the three major prizes and placing 11 players named on the league’s first team.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Michael Nebrich was named Offensive Player of the Year, junior linebacker Stephen Hodge was Defensive Player of the Year, and Joe Moorhead, in his second year at Fordham, was named Coach of the Year.

Nebrich, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, bounced back in a big way in his first full season as the starter. In 11 games, he threw for 3,576 yards and 28 touchdowns against only six interceptions, while completing 74.9 percent of his passes.

Hodge anchored a defense that allowed 23.3 points per game. He recorded a team-high 111 tackles, including 15 for losses, and added five sacks and forced five fumbles, recovering two.

Moorhead inherited a team that was 1-10 two seasons ago, and saw his Rams improve by five victories for the second straight season.

Along with Nebrich and Hodge, the other players named to the first team were: running back Carlton Koonce, wide receiver Sam Ajala, tight end Dan Light, kicker Michael Marando, cornerback Ian Williams, offensive linemen Tom Fisher and Mason Halter, and defensive linemen Brett Biestek and DeAndre Slate.

The Rams also had six players named to the second team: wide receiver Tebucky Jones, return specialist Brian Wetzel, linebacker Austin Hancock, punter Joe Pavlik, and defensive backs Jordan Chapman and Ian Williams.

Fordham will host Sacred Heart on Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs.