(Graphic Courtesy: ECFC)
FRANKLIN, MA – Despite the football team’s 75-17 road loss on Friday, September 29th, at Husson University, the Bulldogs came away with a bright spot as first-year wide receiver Dy’Riece Smith (Boston, MA) grabbed the ECFC Rookie of the Week honor. Smith caught four passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the road matchup while setting career highs for receiving yards and touchdowns that night.
His most dazzling play of the night came in the first quarter as he snarled in a career-long 33-yard touchdown pass in the opening minutes that put the Bulldogs ahead 7-6. Smith has shown flashes of greatness under offensive coordinator Tom Keane in his first collegiate season. Now, Smith hopes to piece together a nice end to the 2023 season in the next few weeks.
For now, Smith and his teammates enjoy their bye week ahead of next Saturday, October 21st’s homecoming matchup vs Anna Maria College at noon. Smith said, “It has been great to get a rest this week. Though we want to keep playing games. A bye is a crucial piece of any successful program’s season, and now that we’ve reached this point, we gear up and look to finish strong.”
Speaking to the ECFC Rookie of the Week honor, Smith stated, “I feel like a lot of my work, and the work I put in goes unnoticed. For it to finally be noticed and acknowledged with a distinction like this feels really good.”
Smith joins fellow first-year player Kevin Smith Jr. (Liberty City, FL) of the offensive line as the two Dean Bulldogs to grab this award this season. The season has had its ups and downs, but it is positive attitudes that have kept the team pushing forward. Smith said, “We’ve tried not to let the lows get too low or the highs get too high.”
The now 1-5 Bulldogs take that mentality to Longley Field next Saturday (10/21) for their homecoming game vs Anna Maria College which is set for a 12 p.m. kickoff.