Dereck Pacheco of Hyannis, Mass., Earns Liberty League Football Defensive Player of the Week Accolades

2015 Sep 21

WPI sophomore Dereck Pacheco has been named the Liberty League Football Defensive Performer of the Week while junior Blaine Bursey claimed the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week citation for the second time this season. Senior Dan Eckler was placed on the honor roll.

Pacheco, who was also named the WPI Men's Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday, continued his strong start to the season by posting a career-high 11 tackles in WPI's 27-10 victory over Norwich on Saturday afternoon. The sophomore defensive lineman amassed 3 1/2 sacks to increase his Liberty League season-leading total to six, and also blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt to help the Engineers move to 3-0 for the first time since 2009.

Bursey connected on field goals of 22 and 29 yards for the Engineers on Saturday The junior also registered touchbacks on all five of his kickoffs and, after an injury to the punter, deposited a pair of fourth quarter pooch punts inside the Norwich 20 yard line.

Eckler continued his sizzling start to 2015, tossing three touchdowns passes on Saturday afternoon. The junior signal caller connected on 13-of-20 pass attempts for 206 yards and ran for another 60 yards on 10 carries as WPI wrapped up non-conference play.

Through three weeks, the Engineers have taken home at least one offensive (Eckler - Sept. 7), defensive (Pacheco - Sept. 21) and special teams (Bursey - Sept. 7, Sept. 21) accolade and a trio of Boynton Hillers have appeared on the honor roll; Brandon Eccher on September 14, Bursey on September 14, and Eckler on September 21.

Football, ranked fourth in the initial New England Division III Football Poll, opens league action at 1pm on Saturday with the annual Transit Trophy game versus RPI (2-1) as part Homecoming Weekend.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Projects Program. There are more than 40 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.