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NEC’s Cenesca named top defender

HENNIKER — New England College junior linebacker Ethan Cenesca was named the Conference of New England (CNE) Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending on September 20, his second time earning the weekly recognition through three weeks this season.

Cenesca, who played at Manchester Central, was all over the field in Saturday’s 23-22 upset win over Fitchburg State, leading the team with 12 tackles, including 4.0 tackles-for-loss totaling 17 yards. He contributed to multiple fourth-down stops early in the game as the Pilgrims held onto a narrow lead.

The defense’s calling card on the day were turnovers, and Cenesca provided two on his own: The first came early in the second quarter as Cenesca punched the ball loose from an FSU ball carrier to give the ball back to the Pilgrims; The second came with a minute left in the first half when he jumped a pass in the middle of the field for his second interception of the season. The turnover came just inside the NEC 10-yard line and snuffed out a Falcon scoring opportunity right before halftime.

As NEC defended its lead in the fourth quarter, Cenesca came up with a sack to force a Falcons three-and-out with under nine minutes to play. The Pilgrims went on to win the game, 23-22, in the second-year program’s biggest win to date.

Through three weeks, Cenesca leads the CNE in tackles (34) and tackles-for-loss (9), shares the lead in interceptions (2), and ranks tied for third in sacks (2).

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