Football

Assumption's Jay Kastantin Named MVP, as NE10 Football Honors Announced

Greyhounds Win Four Major Awards.

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Assumption quarterback Jay Kastantin, the Northeast 10 Conference passing leader, has been named Most Valuable Player, as the league office announced its All-Conference honors in football on Thursday afternoon. 

Kastantin is the first Assumption player to win MVP since Khaleed Exum-Strong in 2021. He completed 138 of 223 passes this season (61.9%), while leading the conference in passing yards (1,974), passing touchdowns (19) and passing yards per game (219.3). Kastantin also had 100 carries for 530 yards (5.3 yards per rush) with five more touchdowns on the ground. His passing efficiency of 159.9 ranks 18th in all of Division II. 

Assumption recorded four of the seven major awards in the NE10, including Andy McKenzie being selected as Coach of the Year by his peers for the second time in his tenure with the Greyhounds. Jack Driscoll and Tindell Frick were named Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year, respectively, to add to Assumption's haul. 

McKenzie led Assumption to an 8-2 record (6-1 NE10) and its first trip to the NCAA Division II Championship since 2022. He wins Coach of the Year for the second time in the past four seasons (2022). Driscoll helped the Greyhounds become one of the best rushing teams in the NE10, averaging 168.8 yards per game and scoring 20 touchdowns this season. Frick was a force for Assumption, as he led the NE10 and ranked 10th in all of Division II in sacks (9.5), to go along with 62 tackles and 12.5 tackles for a loss. 

Bentley, the NE10 regular season champion, had Isaiah Decias named Offensive Player of the Year and Luke Warnock selected as Rookie of the Year. In just six games, Decias made his presence felt at the wide receiver position - catching 38 passes for 584 yards (97.3 per game) with seven touchdowns to become the first Bentley player to win Offensive Player of the Year in over a decade (2014). Warnock played all 10 games for the Falcons at quarterback, leading the NE10 in completions (165) and attempts (280) while ranking second in touchdown passes (18). 

The final major award went to Franklin Pierce linebacker Geno Facchetti, who won Defensive Player of the Year after a huge season where he tallied nine sacks and a league-high 15.5 tackles for a loss. He had 62 tackles for a Raven's defense that surrendered a league-low 17.1 points per game to opponents. He is the first Franklin Pierce player to ever win the honor. 

Assumption led all NE10 programs with 14 All-Conference selections, while Bentley was second with 13 and Franklin Pierce was third with 10. Assumption also had the most First Team selections with 10. 

For a full list of All-Conference recipients, please see below. 

Most Valuable Player: Jay Kastantin, Assumption
Offensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Decias, Bentley
Defensive Player of the Year: Geno Facchetti, Franklin Pierce
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Jack Driscoll, Assumption
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Tindell Frick, Assumption
Rookie of the Year: Luke Warnock, Bentley
Coach of the Year: Andy McKenzie, Assumption

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Jay Kastantin, Assumption
RB: Kieran Falzon, SCSU
RB: Reimello Hyde, Franklin Pierce
WR: Connor Smith, Assumption
WR: Isaiah Decias, Bentley
WR: Elizjah Lewis, Pace
WR: Israel Hiraldo, Post
TE: Pat Damon, Bentley
OL: Matthew Connolly, Assumption
OL: Jack Driscoll, Assumption
OL: Mike Boutros, Bentley
OL: Joe LoChiatto, Bentley
OL: Everett Michalski, SCSU
PK: Massimo Sgambati, Assumption
RS: Jhamier Howard, Pace
RS: Israel Hiraldo, Post
 
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Nevin Earl, AIC
DL: Wesley Ciceron, Assumption
DL: Tindell Frick, Assumption
DL: Jake Fredericks, Bentley
DL: Tsi Fofang, Franklin Pierce
LB: Owen Fitzgerald, Assumption
LB: Nick Smith, Assumption
LB: Henry Schouten, Bentley
LB: Geno Facchetti, Franklin Pierce
DB: Billy Gould, Assumption
DB: Mike DiPlacido, Bentley
DB: Damir Stone, Franklin Pierce
DB: Hugo Silsby, Saint Anselm
P: Decker McNally, Pace
 
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Luke Warnock, Bentley
RB: Jake Croce, Saint Anselm
RB: Kameron Robbins, Assumption
WR: Keith Mancini, Assumption
WR: Rashon Bradford, Bentley
WR: Kameron Massey, Franklin Pierce
WR: Divine Edwards, SCSU
WR: Seth Westover, SCSU
TE: Connor Marchi, Franklin Pierce
OL: Alexis Ruiz Ortiz, Assumption
OL: Jett Ellis, Bentley
OL: Eliseo Polanco, Franklin Pierce
OL: Colby Laursen-Rice, Post
OL: Kevin Coulther, Saint Anselm
OL: Vincent Ciulla, Saint Anselm
PK: Nathan Hawkins, Post
PK: Daniel Benzi, SCSU
 
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Donovan Munroe, Assumption
DL: Kieran Campbell, Bentley
DL: Quincy Pickett, Bentley
DL: Mason Clark, Franklin Pierce
DL: John Furno, Franklin Pierce
LB: Jakkai Stith, AIC
LB: Travis Osterhout, Pace
LB: Michael Gabettie, Post
LB: Imeer Johnson, Post
LB: Aidan Noke, Saint Anselm
DB: Jakob Flores, Bentley
DB: Da’Juan Banks, Franklin Pierce
DB: Ibrahim Diallo, Pace
DB: Dev Lee, Saint Anselm
P: Hayden Hall, Post
P: Thomas Murray, Saint Anselm

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Mikai Gamble, AIC
Andres Perez, AIC
Will McNamara, Assumption
Alexis Ruiz Ortiz, Assumption
Kieran Campbell, Bentley
Jett Ellis, Bentley
Luke Warnock, Bentley
Logan Kielty, Franklin Pierce
Jah’rece Matthews, Franklin Pierce
Jazaire Aurelus, Post
Nathan Hawkins, Post
Israel Hiraldo, Post
Domingo Meade, Saint Anselm
Jason Paganis, Saint Anselm


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