Saint Francis’ Caputo Tabbed Top Offensive Player in the Northeast Conference By Street & Smith’s
LORETTO, Pa. (June 28, 2006) – Saint Francis University All-American wide receiver Michael Caputo (Bethel Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle) has been named the top offensive player in the Northeast Conference by Street & Smith’s, in the publication’s annual preseason yearbook, which hit newsstands on Tuesday.
In addition to Caputo’s honor, Street & Smith’s picked the Red Flash football team to finish second in the eight-team league, behind perennial conference power Albany. Street & Smith’s also chose Saint Francis’ Oct. 21st game at Albany as the “Game to Watch” in the conference this season.
“Powered by prolific passing, Saint Francis is poised to take a huge step forward this year, but will be tested by Albany’s strong defense,” said a statement in the publication.
The Street & Smith’s honor isn’t the first of the year for Caputo. The Sports Network previously named Caputo and senior wide receiver Luke Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) as the No. 1 wide receiver tandem in the country, and the same publication ranked Caputo as the No. 6 wide receiver overall with Palko coming in at No. 18.
Caputo led all I-AA receivers with 92 receptions in 2005, and was third in the nation with 1,433 yards, and tied for fifth nationally with 12 touchdowns to lead a Saint Francis offense that finished as one of the best through the air in 2005. The receptions and yardage totals broke Saint Francis and Northeast Conference records. Caputo notched a career day with 14 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns in a game at Sacred Heart, and the yardage total held up as the top mark in Division I football in 2005. Caputo enters his senior season with 182 receptions, 2,607 yards and 23 touchdowns during his career, which puts him in very elite company. Caputo is fourth among active receivers in catches, second behind New Hampshire’s David Ball in yardage, and third in touchdowns. Caputo has caught at least one pass in 14 straight games, and has caught at least one pass in 30 of 32 career games.
Saint Francis begins its season with a 1 p.m. tilt against Saint Peter’s on Sept. 2, at DeGol Field. Single-game, season and group ticket packages are now on sale for the 2006 Red Flash football season. Season tickets to all six home games will cost $30 for adults, and $12 for students. Single-game tickets will be $7 for adults, and $4 for students. Single-game group tickets will be $3 for adults, and $2 for students. Group tickets are available in groups of 15 or more. To purchase tickets, fans can call Director of External Affairs for Athletics, Jim Brazill, at 814-472-2774, or mail checks payable to Saint Francis University, c/o Jim Brazill, 145 Stokes Athletics Center, Loretto, Pa. 15940. Be sure to indicate what tickets you are ordering.