Navy Sprint Football Announces Team Award Winners

A total of six awards were presented to the team on Tuesday night

	Senior defensive team captain Ryan Engle

Dec. 6, 2006

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy sprint football squad presented its six team-award winners during its annual team banquet on Tuesday night in the Bo Coppedge Room at Alumni Hall.

Junior running back Richard Engel (Medford, N.J.) was voted the 2006 team MVP by his teammates after leading the CSFL in rushing. Engel, a First-Team All-CSFL selection, finished the year with 659 yards and nine touchdowns on 115 carries (5.7 ypc). In Navy's two wins over Army, the junior rushed for 302 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior defensive team captain Ryan Engle (Reed City, Mich.) was named the recipient of the Sexton Leadership Award, which is presented to a senior that is most outstanding in character, leadership and sportsmanship. The linebacker made 38 tackles, four for a loss with a sack and recovered a fumble during his senior year.

Senior defensive lineman Dave Novotney (Chesterton, Ind.) was presented the Lt. Cmdr. Albert A. Shaufelberger, III Award, which is given to the Most Valuable Player of the Army-Navy N-Star game. In this year's 17-6 N-Star win over Army, Novotney led the team with 11 tackles, two of which came behind the line of scrimmage. For the season, he led the team with three sacks and made 33 stops, 6.5 for a loss of 24 yards.

Sophomore Brian Smith (Gainesville, Fla.) earned the Special Forces Award, which is given to the player who displayed the most determination, tenacity and skill on special teams throughout the year. Smith tied for second on the team with his four tackles on kickoff coverage, while his 39 overall tackles on the year led the Midshipmen.

Sophomore running back Enrique Harris (Crawfordville, Fla.) was selected for the William J. Gooding '52 Award for the team's Most Improved Player. Starting at fullback this fall, Harris finished second on the team and fifth in the league with 334 yards rushing on 52 carries (6.4 ypc) and three touchdowns.

Freshman Tyler Hawkins (Canyon Country, Calif.) received the John S. Degnan '52 Award for Most Outstanding Freshman this season. Hawkins led all freshmen with 21 tackles, three for a loss with a sack and forced a fumble. Starting at middle linebacker against Cornell, he tied the team-high in tackles this year with 14 stops.

The Midshipmen finished the year with a 5-1 record, 3-1 in CSFL action. Navy defeated Army twice in the same season for the third-straight year, as the Mids topped the Black Knights at the Pride Bowl and again for the N-Star in Annapolis.