Team Awards Bestowed at Team Banquet

Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach Buddy Teevens

Photo by: Jack Moore

4/1/2019 2:10:00 PM | Football

The football team gathered for its banquet at the Hanover Inn on Sunday

By: Rick Bender

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth football team gathered for its annual banquet yesterday to hand out the team awards. The Coach Bob Blackman Trophy, bestowed upon the team MVP, went to senior linebacker Jack Traynor.

Traynor (Lake Forest, Ill.) was a unanimous All-Ivy League First Team selection at linebacker for the second straight year and chosen for the Division I All-New England Team. The tri-captain finished eighth in the Ivy League in tackles per game (7.0) while registering 6.5 tackles for a loss, two pass break ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as the anchor of the Big Green defense that ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (12.0 points per game) and rushing defense (79.7 yards per game), plus fourth in total defense (280.4 yards per game). An engineering major with a 3.65 GPA, Traynor was also named an FCS Athletics Directors Academic All-Star for the second consecutive season.

Receiving the Jake Crouthamel Award as the offensive player among the underclassmen who made the most significant contribution to the success of the team was junior Jared Gerbino (Rush, N.Y.). The 6-4, 230-pound wildcat quarterback was chosen for the All-Ivy League Second Team as he ran for 700 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries (6.1-yard average) to finish fourth in the Ancient Eight with 87.5 yards per game while splitting time behind center. He topped 100 yards in three games with a season-high 183 in a 24-17 win over Harvard and also threw four touchdown passes in just 21 attempts as he helped Dartmouth to a 9-1 record and top-20 rankings from both STATS and the coaches in the polls at the end of the season.

Junior Isiah Swann (Queen Creek, Ariz.) was bestowed with the Kenneth T. Young Award as the top defensive player among the underclassmen for the second time in his career. The nation's leader with nine interceptions (a school record), Swann was named a first-team FCS All-American by no less than seven organizations, including the Associated Press and the America Football Coaches Association (AFCA), while also being named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS, and earning the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League's best defender. The 6-0, 190-pound cornerback will return for one more season with the Big Green owning 13 interceptions, tied for the team record.

The Alan Hewitt '34 and Robert Hewitt '40 Award, given to the player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement, was earned by senior wide receiver Drew Hunnicutt (Argyle, Texas). A government major with a 3.42 GPA, Hunnicutt was the team's top deep threat with 26 catches for 409 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-1, 195-pound senior was a second-team All-Ivy selection and a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Jackson Perry (Las Vegas, Nev.) was the recipient of the Lester R. Godwin Award, presented to the senior football squad member who has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team. The 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle overcame injuries in each of the previous two years to earn All-Ivy League First Team honors as he commanded double teams on practically every snap. He finished the year with 41 tackles, 8.5 for a loss to tie for sixth in the league, and sacked the quarterback four times.

Senior Matt Kaskey (Winnetka, Ill.) received the Frank Hershey Award as the player who, judged by his teammates, possesses a genuine zest for life, a strong, upbeat attitude and a sincere desire to win because of his dedication and love for the game, his team and Dartmouth College. A 6-7, 325-pound offensive lineman, the tri-captain developed into an NFL prospect during the course of his career and anchored a line that ranked sixth among FCS teams in fewest sacks allowed while opening holes for a rushing offense that was 11th in the nation with 254.7 yards per game. His performance earned numerous accolades, including All-America Second Team honors from STATS and the AFCA, Division I All-New England and All-Ivy League First Team unanimously.

Earning the Gordon P. Bennett Award as the outstanding lineman was fifth-year senior Rocco Di Leo (Elmhurst, Ill.). Named an All-American by the AFCA (second team) and STATS (third team), as well as Division I All-New England and All-Ivy League First Team unanimously, Di Leo led the Ivy league with 12.5 tackles for a loss and ranked second in the conference (and 15th nationally) with 8.5 sacks. The 6-3, 285-pound defensive end finished the season with 43 tackles and forced a fumble, plus batted down six passes at the line of scrimmage, the most by a defensive lineman in the Ancient Eight.

Bun Straton (Honolulu, Hawaii) was given the Earl Hamilton Varsity Award as the senior who displayed a sincere friendliness and sense of humor plus appreciation of the outdoors that characterized Hamilton, the freshman football coach from 1955-65 and varsity backfield coach from 1966 until his passing in 1968. A 6-0, 195-pound safety, Straton brought his hang-loose attitude from his hometown and recorded 40 tackles for the season while forcing a fumble in the win at Harvard and intercepting a pass while returning it 13 yards in a victory over Penn.

Taking home the Earl Hamilton Freshman Award was Zack Bair (Rumson, N.J.) as the freshman who made the biggest contribution to the team and had the characteristics of Hamilton as well. Used primarily as a third-down back, the rookie fit right into the running-back-by-committee utilized by the Big Green this year, carrying the ball 20 times for 167 yards (8.35 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, while also catching six passes for 82 yards (13.67 yards per catch) and returning a kickoff 27 yards.

Jake Guidone (East Walpole, Mass.) was the recipient of the Doten Award as the member of the sophomore class who made a significant contribution to the success of the team. Listed as a 6-2, 275-pound lineman on the roster, Guidone made the switch to tight end early in the year and was a blocking force that helped give Dartmouth one of the top rushing teams in the country. But he also showed he could perform the receiving duties of the position, twice catching passes in the end zone.

The Stubby Pearson Award, established in 2007 and presented to an underclassman on the football team whose character, leadership on campus, high academic standing and performance on the playing field most resembles that of Charles "Stubby" Pearson '42, was handed to junior Drew Estrada (Argyle, Texas). The 6-0, 190-pound wide receiver not only led the team with 27 catches for 273 yards (10.1 yards per catch) with one touchdown, he also took a handoff 20 times for 140 yards (7.0 per carry) with another score.

Seniors David Chalmers (Leesburg, Va.) and Harry Kraft (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) shared the John M. Manley '40 Award for demonstrating the most improvement through their efforts in the weight room. A 6-4, 300-pound defensive tackle, Chalmers earned a spot on the All-Ivy League second team, making 29 tackles with three for a loss and two assisted sacks. A 5-8, 170-pound quarterback, Kraft was a reserve throughout his career but proved to be one of the most dedicated players on the team with his work ethic in both the weight room and the film room.

The 12th Man Award, presented to the member of the varsity football team who demonstrated hard work and dedication regardless of playing time, was given to senior Matthew Shearin (El Cajon, Calif.). The diminutive running back was a constant source of energy for the team and saw action in four games this past fall, carrying the ball eight times for 25 yards with his last touch being a 7-yard touchdown run against Brown, the second scoring scamper of his career.

Jake Moen (Gilroy, Calif.) took home the Special Teams Award. Known more for his work as a starting linebacker, the 6-4, 255-pound senior was part of the shield block on punts that kept opponents from blocking a single kick all season while getting in on a pair of tackles on punt coverages as well. Moen finished the year with 35 tackles, 7.0 for a loss, with 3.0 sacks and three pass breakups.

The scout team players of the year were senior wide receiver Kamana Hobbs (Honolulu, Hawaii) for offense and freshman linebacker Jalin Mackie (Miramar, Fla.) on defense.

The recipient of the Reggie Williams Award, presented to the member of the Big Green football program who through leadership in action and word has made Dartmouth a better place, went to fifth-year senior tri-captain Kyran McKinney-Crudden (Glastonbury, Connecticut) for the second straight year. The nickelback was selected to the All-Ivy League First Team and Academic All-District I Team, and led the team with 69 tackles (5.0 for a loss) while breaking up four passes, intercepting another, forcing one fumble and recovering two.

Finally, senior David Emanuels (Mercer Island, Wash.) was honored with the Manners Makyth Man Award. This distinction goes each year to the player who best conducted himself to the advantage of Dartmouth and displayed good manners in the sense of William Wykeham's phrase, "Manners Makyth Man." The 6-1, 225-pound linebacker was an Academic All-America Second Team honoree with a 3.96 GPA as a biomedical engineering major. He also was third on the team with 51 tackles with 2.5 going for a loss.