Four weekly CSFL awards for Franklin Pierce this season

RINDGE, N.H. (October 16, 2013) -- Franklin Pierce University sprint football standouts Ryan O'Kelly (West Warwick, R.I.) and Mike Abrams (Newark, N.J.) on Wednesday were named the Collegiate Sprint Football League's (CSFL) Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for their impressive performances in last Friday's 33-27 overtime win at Penn.

It marks the first weekly conference awards for the players this season. Overall, Franklin Pierce has garnered four weekly CSFL awards this season, as running back D.J. MacDonald (Mattapoisett, Mass.) has picked up a pair of offensive awards previously.

O'Kelly, a freshman quarterback, earned the top offensive award after he produced 340 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the victory over the Quakers. O'Kelly passed for 242 yards and a score, while rushing for 98 yards and two TDs. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Michael Holdridge (Peru, N.Y.) with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter tied the game up at 27-27, and allowed the Ravens to force overtime where they eventually won. O'Kelly scored on touchdown runs of 11 and 31 yards.

Despite being just a rookie, O'Kelly finds himself among the league leaders in multiple categories, including seventh in passing yards per game (117.4 ypg) and 10th in rushing yards per game (40.4 ypg).

Abrams, a sophomore defensive back, had an amazing all-around performance in Friday's win, as he did it offensively, defensively, and on special teams. On special teams, he blocked his second kick of the season, while also returning a pair of kickoffs for 60 yards, including a 41-yarder in the first quarter.

Offensively, Abrams rushed for a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and defensively, he logged six solo tackles.

Abrams' weekly award is the second major individual honor for him this season, as he was named most valuable player of the Allegiance Bowl back on Sept. 21 in Franklin Pierce's 13-6 win over Cornell. Abrams also blocked a kick in that game, while making a game-high 10 tackles and forcing a fumble.

Franklin Pierce (3-2) has won two straight heading into this Saturday's contest versus Mansfield (Pa.), as the Ravens will play host to the Mounties at 7 p.m. on Arthur Hurd Field at Oakmont Regional H.S. in Ashburnham, Mass.

For more information on Franklin Pierce sprint football, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce sprint football apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)