Although they had no assurances they would even be playing another game, the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners held a full week of practice last week after finishing the regular season.

That decision paid off Monday when the Eastern College Athletic Conference announced its 2005 postseason selections and picked Alfred University to host MMA in an ECAC Division III Championships first round game Saturday at noon in Alfred, N.Y.

The good news didn’t end there for the Mariners as fullback Don Thibodeau of Shawmut was named New England Football Conference offensive player of the year and one of two NEFC All-Conference first team selections along with guard Joe Crowe of Gorham.

Thibodeau led the NEFC in rushing with 1,531 yards and scored a team-high 15 touchdowns.

Head coach Chris McKenney was named the NEFC’s coach of the year after leading the Mariners to a 7-2 overall mark and 4-2 record in the Bogan Division.

Three other Mariners were second team selections: center Jesse Hensley, offensive tackle Cam Rand of Gorham, and linebacker Chris Metcalf. All of MMA’s all-conference selections are seniors.

Two other MMA players, junior defensive back Brandon Hamilton of Skowhegan and junior defensive lineman David Dutkiewicz of Eliot, were named honorable mention picks.

They will all be in action Saturday as the NEFC’s top rushing team (4.9 yards per carry and 276.1 yards per game for 2,485 yards) takes on the Saxons, who bring an 8-2 record into the game, which is one of six first round games.

The Saxons went 5-1 in the Empire 8 Conference.