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EDINBORO, PA – Edinboro University
captured two of the major awards given out by the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference as the league announced its All-PSAC
Football Teams today.
Chris Amico (Webster, NY/West Irondequoit)
was named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year while Lou
Tepper was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year for the second
time in three years. He was previously honored in 2003.
California(Pa.) running back Antoine Bagwell was named the
Offensive Player of the Year, while Indiana(Pa.) linebacker
Terrence Jackson was chosen the Rookie of the Year.
Amico, a 6’0”, 250 lb. defensive
tackle, exemplified the undersized but aggressive Fighting Scot
defense. He becomes the second Fighting Scot in two years to win
the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Seth Fragale
(Emporium, PA/Cameron County) earned the accolade a year ago.
A second team selection a year ago, the third-year sophomore moved
up to the first team with a dominating season as Edinboro’s
defense ranked among the tops in Division II. The Fighting Scots
are ranked first in the country in scoring defense (9.3 ppg.),
first in rushing defense (53.7 ypg.) and second in total defense
(211.2 ypg.). The Fighting Scots led the PSAC in sacks with 39.
Amico finished third on the team in tackles with 49, with 14.5
tackles for losses totaling 72 yards, second on the team. He led
Edinboro with 8.5 sacks, second in the PSAC. In addition, Amico
forced a pair of fumbles, with one recovery. He ranks 21st in
Division II in sacks and 34th in tackles for losses.
“It’s a well-deserved honor,”
noted a pleased Tepper. “Chris is a real physical marvel. He’s
such a powerful, fast, dynamic player. Chris is a joy to coach and
just a dominant player.”
Tepper guided Edinboro to its third straight
PSAC West crown with a 5-1 record, joining a select group of teams
to win back-to-back-to-back titles. The Fighting Scots finished
with an 8-2 record and are currently ranked 22nd in the AFCA Top
25. With 2 wins over the last seasons, Edinboro set a new record
for wins in a three-year period.
“I’m humbled by this award,”
Tepper commented, and just hope people understand that the reason
for the honor is our staff and our players. One person shouldn’t
be focused upon. It does say a lot about our program.”
The Fighting Scots were well represented, with
13 players recognized, including eight to the first team. That
matches last year’s total, which was one shy of the school
record of 14 in 2003. Three players repeated as first team
selections, while three other players moved up from the second to
the first team.
The first team included a pair of offensive
linemen, as offensive tackle Greg Bzorek (Saxonburg, PA/Knoch)
was named to the first team for the second year in a row after
being a second
team selection in 2003. Chris Kaczor (Brook
Park, OH/Berea) is a two-time second team selection who moved
up to the first team at center. Tight end C.J. Trivisonno
(Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) was a second team selection in 2003,
then was an injury redshirt a year ago. He enjoyed a strong second
half of the season and was named to the first team.
Edinboro’s nationally-ranked defense had
five players named to the first team and two more selected to the
second team. All four of Edinboro’s defensive linemen were
honored, with Amico named to the first team along with Fragale and
noseguard A.J. Cousins (Chillicothe, OH/Chillicothe).
Fragale and Cousins were both first team choices in 2004.
Defensive end Greg MacAnn (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena)
landed on the second team.
Chris Avery (Berea, OH/Berea) moved up
from the second team the last two years to a berth on the first
unit at cornerback, while inside linebacker Ben Stroup
(Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) was named to the first team
in his first year as a starter. The final defensive player
recognized was Jim Soltis (Garrettsville, OH/Cardinal).
The outside linebacker was named to the second team.
After two years as the first team quarterback,
Justin Bouch (Brackenridge, PA/Highlands) earned All-PSAC
honors for the third straight year, earning a spot on the second
team. He was joined by a pair of newcomers to the PSAC awards
process, with Ryan Valasek (Natrona Heights, PA/ Highlands)
and Kelvin Collins (Glen Burnie, MD/Old Mill) named to the
second team at wide receiver and running back, respectively.
Here’s a profile on the Edinboro honorees
(excluding Amico):
ALL-PSAC WEST FIRST TEAM SELECTIONS
- Chris Avery (CB, 5’10”, 173
lbs., Sr., Berea, OH/Berea) – after two seasons as a
second team selection, the senior was named to the first team
for his third All-PSAC honor. Avery led the Fighting Scots with
7 interceptions, tied for the PSAC lead and ranking 11th in
Division II. In addition, his return yards of 196 yards is a new
school record, and includes a 99-yard return for a touchdown at
California(Pa.). A week later he blocked a punt at IUP and
recovered it for a touchdown. Avery’s final interception
came last Saturday at Lock Haven, and was the 20th of his
career, a new school record. He totaled 10 tackles.
- Greg Bzorek (OT, 6’6”, 330
lbs., Sr., Saxonburg, PA/Knoch) – the senior was
recognized by the PSAC for the third straight year, and for the
second straight campaign he was a first team choice. Bzorek
concluded a career in which he started 44 of 45 career games. He
has not allowed a sack the last two seasons, and helped the
offense average 199. 3 ypg. rushing and tie for the PSAC lead in
fewest sacks allowed (7). A year ago he was a third team
Associated Press Little All-America.
- A.J. Cousins (NG, 6’1”, 275
lbs., Jr., Chillicothe, OH/Chillicothe) – the junior
teamed with Amico to form a dominating duo in the interior of
the line. He earned first team honors for the second straight
year, finishing the season with 47 tackles, fifth on the team.
He had 10.5 tackles for losses and was second on the team in
sacks with 6. He also blocked a punt against Slippery Rock which
was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
- Seth Fragale (DE, 6-2, 217 lbs., Gr.,
Emporium, PA/Cameron County) – a year ago Fragale was
named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year while leading
the Scots with 100 tackles. His numbers weren’t nearly that
impressive this year, but it was due in large part to a
different defensive scheme and teams staying away from him. The
first team selection exhibits the respect opposing coaches still
had for him. He still finished with 47 tackles in nine games to
earn first team accolades for the second straight year. He still
had 10.5 tackles for losses with 3 sacks and a fumble recovery.
- Chris Kaczor (C, 6’2”, 293
lbs., Jr., Brook Park, OH/Berea) – a three-year
starter, he has now started all 34 games in his career, the last
two seasons as the starting center. The junior was a second team
All-PSAC West selection at offensive guard as a redshirt
freshman, then moved to center and earned second team honors a
year ago. Along with Bzorek, he helped the offense average 199.
3 ypg. rushing and tie for the PSAC lead in fewest sacks allowed
(7).
- Ben Stroup (ILB, 6’1”, 205
lbs., Jr., Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) – Tepper
predicted greatness for the first-year starter at the beginning
of the season, and he was correct. Stroup led Edinboro with 76
tackles, and also had a team-leading 15.5 tackles for losses (57
yards), leading the PSAC in that category. He had 5.5 sacks and
an interception. He led the team in tackles in four games, with
a career-high 12 tackles, 3 for losses, at East Stroudsburg.
- C.J. Trivisonno (TE, 6’4”, 258
lbs., Sr., Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) – in 2003 he was a
second team choice at tight end, but a year ago he missed all
but two games due to an injury. After catching just six passes
over the first five games, he caught fire with 6 catches for 68
yards and a touchdown in the next game at California(Pa.). Over
the final five contests Trivisonno would catch 16 passes. He
ended the year second on the team in receptions with 22 for 197
yards and 3 TDs, in addition to being a strong run blocker.
Trivisonno concluded his career with 62 receptions for 577 yards
and 7 TDs.
ALL-PSAC WEST SECOND TEAM SELECTIONS
- Justin Bouch (QB, 6’3”, 211
lbs., Sr., Brackenridge, PA/Highlands) – after earning
first team All-PSAC West honors the last two years, the senior
had to settle for a spot on the second team this year. He still
enjoyed an excellent year despite playing several games with a
broken finger, among other injuries. Bouch completed 130 of 227
passes for 1,508 yards with 16 TDs and 8 INTs, adding 104 yards
rushing. He set career record for passes completed (555) and
attempted (953) and completion percentage (58.2 pct.) and
concluded his career ranked second in career total offense
(7,294 yards), career passing yards (7,013 yards), and career
touchdown passes (55). Edinboro posted a 28-12 record with Bouch
as the starter.
- Kelvin Collins (RB, 6’0”, 230
lbs., Sr., Glen Burnie, MD/Old Mill) – despite starting
just three games, the senior earned a spot on the All-PSAC West
second team. A transfer from Bowie State in his lone season as a
Fighting Scot, Collins battled injuries early in the year and
was not really used consistently until the fourth game. He
finished as Edinboro’s leading rusher with 791 yards on 149
carries, a 5.3 yard average, with 6 TDs, adding 3 receptions for
12 yards. Over the last five games he averaged 102.2 yards per
game. Collins had a career-high 133 yards on 25 carries against
Slippery Rock, and gained 118 yards on 21 carries with 2 TDs at
Lock Haven.
- Greg MacAnn (DE, 6’4”, 226
lbs., Sr., Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) – a relentless
yet undersized performer, the senior avoided injuries this year
and put together an all-star season. He finished with 35
tackles, with 10 of those for losses and 3.5 sacks. MacAnn also
led Edinboro with two fumble recoveries and blocked a kick. He
started 30 games in his career. Tepper noted that many times
MacAnn was the forgotten man on the defensive front.
- Jim Soltis (OLB, 6’3”, 196
lbs., Jr., Garrettsville, OH/Cardinal) – Soltis may
have been Edinboro’s best defensive performer in the two
playoff games in 2004, and he continued that performance as a
junior. He finished second on the team in tackles with 64,
including a team-leading 35 solo. In addition, he had 11.5
tackles for losses, with 1.5 sacks, and broke up 3 passes.
Soltis also blocked a pair of kicks, including a punt against
Kutztown that was recovered for a touchdown, forced a pair of
fumbles, and recovered one.
- Ryan Valasek (WR, 5’9”, 170
lbs., Jr., Natrona Height, PA/Highlands) – with last
year’s leading receiver, Justin Lipscomb, no longer in the
program, “Pickle” became Edinboro’s big play
threat. The junior earned All-PSAC accolades for the first time
after leading Edinboro with 28 receptions for 509 yards, an 18.2
yard average, with 5 TDs. He had the best game of his career in
the season finale with 7 receptions for 150 yards and a
touchdown. Valasek is tied for 12th in career receptions with 68
and stands eighth in career receiving yards with 1,233.
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