Hartwick junior running back Lindy Crea received his second straight first-team Empire 8 All-Conference honor in football, the college announced Thursday.

Crea, one of six Hawks on the E8 all-conference teams, finished the 2006 season with 1,087 rushing yards, 718 receiving yards on 38 catches, and 348 yards on kickoff returns. He also scored 15 touchdowns, including 11 on the ground.

Crea ranks first among NCAA Division III players all-purpose yards with 215.1 per game _ 30 more than his closest competitor, Nate Kmic of Mount Union College. He also ranks 30th in the nation in rushing yards per game (108.7). In the E8, Crea ranked first in all-purpose yards (215.1) and receiving yards (71.6) per game.

Junior receiver Rich Sands and offensive lineman Mike Jecko won second-team accolades. Sands had 28 catches for 532 yards and seven touchdowns. Jecko was an integral part of the Hartwick line, which helped generate 388.6 yards per outing and protected the league’s top passing quarterback _ sophomore Jason Boltus.

Boltus, senior linebacker Joe Flaherty and sophomore defensive back Justin Oelgeschlager were honorable mentions.

Boltus, the 2005 E8 and Eastern College Athletic Conference Northwest Rookie of the Year, completed 141 of 266 passes for 2,408 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was first in the league in passing yards (240.8 pg) and total offense (262.9 pg).

Flaherty ranked third in the E8 in tackles (79), tied for third in sacks (4.5) and tied for fourth in tackles for loss (10). He also was selected as Hartwick’s Sportsman of the Year.

Oelgeschlager finished with 49 tackles, including a season-best 13 against Springfield, and three interceptions.

Springfield’s Chris Sharpe won E8 Offensive Player of the Year, and St. John Fisher’s Gene Lang earned Defensive Player of the Year.

Rookie of the Year went to Alfred’s Jared Manzer. Springfield’s Mike DeLong won Coach of the Year.