Football: Husson unanimous pick to repeat as ECFC champ‏

CASTLETON, Vermont - Husson has been selected as the unanimous preseason favorite to repeat as the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference champion in a vote conducted by the league's coaches, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon. This marks the first time in league history a team has been picked unanimously to win the league title.

The Eagles, who went 7-0 in league play a season ago, received all eight first place votes and 64 points after finishing 8-2 during the 2014 season and reaching the NCAA Division III National Championship. Fifteen players who started at least five games in 2014 and 78 letterwinners return for the 2015 campaign. The returnees include six position starters and 39 letterwinners on offense and nine starters and 39 letterwinners on defense.

The offense features six starters of at least five games from a year ago: quarterback Joe Seccareccia, tailback John Smith, wide receiver Deon Wiggins and linemen Matt Archer,Seth Batty and Jon Walker.

The defense also includes nine starters back from 2014: linemen Matt Pellerin, Luke Washburn and Jeff Turcotte, linebackers Ellis Throckmorton and Bryant Wade, safeties Rick Orio and Kenny Sweet, and cornerbacks Jordan Hersom and Marquis Jiminez.

Kick returner Dylan Walton is the team's top returning specialist.

Norwich (Vt.) placed second in the poll receiving 52 points followed by Castleton (Vt.) and Mount Ida (Mass.). The trio tied for second place with identical 5-2 marks in league play last season. Maine-Maritime placed fifth followed by Gallaudet (D.C.), Becker (Mass.), and Anna Maria (Mass.).

Husson kicks off the year at Winkin Sports Complex, hosting Alfred (N.Y.) on Sept. 5.