POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Fifth-year senior safety Andrew McElroy of the Marist football team was honored as Pioneer Football League Defensive Player Of The Week on Sunday.
 
McElroy sealed Marist's 26-14 victory over Valparaiso on Saturday in his final collegiate game. With the Crusaders down five and inside the red zone with under a minute to play, McElroy intercepted a pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. It was his first collegiate interception, and first collegiate touchdown. He added two tackles and also had a pass break-up on Valparaiso's second-to-last drive.
 
McElroy finished the 2019 season with 41 tackles, four-and-a-half stops for loss, four pass break-ups, a forced fumble in addition to his interception returned for a touchdown. He played all 44 of Marist's games the last four seasons, and was a three-year starter.
 
In his career, McElroy has earned several honors for his work in the classroom. This fall, he was a national semifinalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, known as the "Academic Heisman." He was named Second Team PFL All-Academic each of the last two seasons, and has been named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll each of the last four years.
 
The Marist football team concluded the 2019 season at 4-7 overall and 4-4 in the PFL. The Red Foxes won three of their last five. They have had a PFL record of at least .500 in seven of their 11 seasons in the league.