Shaffer and Stanton named to NEFW All-New England team

MANCHESTER, N.H. – A pair of Salve Regina football players earned their second postseason award as senior Floyd Shaffer (Conshohocken, Pa.) and sophomore Hayden Stanton (Wallingford, Conn.) were named New England Football Writers (NEFW) Division II/III All-New England Team selections, as announced Tuesday afternoon.

Shaffer and Stanton earned top honors in their respective positions from the New England Football Conference, as Shaffer was the league's Offensive Lineman of the Year and Stanton was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

28 players representing 21 different teams have been named to the 2013 NEFW Division II/III All-New England team. A pair of players from Endicott join Shaffer and Stanton on the all-region team as the NEFC had four athletes selected.

Click here for the complete All-New England Team.

Shaffer anchored one of the best offensive lines in the conference. Despite the o-line shuffle because of injuries and position changes, the Salve Regina offense got better week to week. The Seahawks set a new program record with 604 total yards of offense against Maine Maritime. The record broke the previous mark set earlier this season against Western New England. Against the Golden Bears, Salve Regina put up 594 yards of offense, including 246 yards on the ground. Salve Regina averaged 406.9 yards a game this season and 184.2 yards rushing. The team topped 150 yards rushing eight of its 10 games this season, including a season high 265 yards against Nichols.

The Salve Regina offense set a new school record for passing yards in a season, finishing the year with 2,450 – 229 yards more than the previous mark. The Seahawks also set a program record for passing touchdowns with 23 this year. The total offense yard mark of 4,476 set a new single-season record as well at Salve Regina and the 68 touchdowns scored tied the programs record.

Stanton has become a proven force on the defensive line for the Seahawks. This season, Stanton led the league with 11.5 sacks and 17.0 tackles for loss, totaling 94 yards lost. Stanton was fifth on the team with 57 tackles. Stanton had at least a half sack in every game but three this year, including four games with multiple sacks. Stanton ranks in the top-five in several single-season categories, including being tied for second for yards from tackles for loss (94), tied for third with 2 blocked kicks, fourth in quarterback sacks (11.5), fifth in yards from sacks (64) and tied for fifth for tackles for loss (17.0).

Stanton was a large part of the defense that allowed just 20.2 points per game and 168.8 passing yards and 157.8 rushing yards a game.