SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – September 10, 2007 – Senior quarterback Chris Sharpe of Springfield College has been named the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding efforts in last Saturday night’s lightning-delayed 35-13 victory over Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
A Derry, New Hampshire native and Pinkerton Academy graduate, Sharpe more or less took right up where he left off in the 2006 season by rushing for 224 yards and two touchdowns, and also passing for 72 more yards and one touchdown versus the Dutchmen.
Sharpe’s rushing TDs were of 40 and 36 yards. His passing TD to senior Kyle Anderson (Providence, R.I.) was of 42 yards.
By scoring two rushing TDs, Sharpe broke the Springfield College record for “most career rushing touchdowns” with 51. The previous record of 50 was held by Ryan Sylvia (his current quarterbacks coach) from 2001 to 2004.
With the important non-conference win over Union, #9-ranked Springfield is now 1-0. The Pride finished 10-2 last season, winning an Empire 8 co-title, and reaching the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.
Chris earned numerous awards last season, including the Melberger Award, symbolic of the National Division III Player of the Year. Chris also earned the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. He was named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week four times a year ago, when he was ranked number one in the nation (Division III) in rushing (161.8 yards per game), scoring (17.7 points per game), and touchdowns (35).
Springfield will play the second of four straight road games to open the 2007 season when it travels to Montclair State in New Jersey this Saturday (Sept. 15). Game time is at 1 pm.
Michael C. “Mike” DeLong ’74 enters his 31st season as a head football coach in the fall of 2012. He enters his 29th year at Springfield College alone. For the past 28 years, he has been the head coach at Springfield, his alma mater. Mike had also been the head coach at Maine Maritime in Castine, Maine in 1979 and 1980. Read more.
