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EDINBORO, PA – A total of seven Edinboro
University football players have been named to the 2005 Daktronics
Division II All-Northeast Region Team. The Northeast Region is
comprised of teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference, the Northeast 10, and the West Virginia
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Of the seven players honored, five earned spots
on the first team and will now go on the national ballot. Leading
the way was Chris Amico (Webster, NY/West Irondequoit),
who was the leading vote-getter at defensive line and was recently
named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year.
He was joined on the first team by C.J.
Trivisonno (Kirtland, OH/Kirtland), who was voted in at tight
end, offensive tackle GregBzorek (Saxonburg, PA/Knoch),
inside linebacker Ben Stroup (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson),
and cornerback Chris Avery (Berea, OH/Berea). Center Chris
Kaczor (Brook Park, OH/Berea) and outside linebacker Seth
Fragale (Emporium, PA/Cameron County) were accorded second
team honors. Bzorek and Fragale were first team all-region
selections a year ago.
Edinboro finished with an 8-2 record this past
season. Under head coach Lou Tepper, the Fighting Scots earned
their third straight PSAC West championship. Here’s a look at
Edinboro’s seven honorees:
FIRST TEAM ALL-NORTHEAST REGION
- 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 All-PSAC
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 in his final game at Lock Haven, and was the
20th of his career, a new school record. He totaled 10 tackles.
- Chris Amico (DT, 5’10”, 250
lbs., Webster, NY/West Irondequoit) -- the 6’0”,
250 lb. defensive tackle exemplified the undersized but
aggressive Fighting Scot defense. He recently became the second
Fighting Scot in two years to win the PSAC Defensive Player of
the Year Award. He enjoyed 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. He was the
leading vote-getter of the defensive linemen on the team.
- Greg Bzorek (OT, 6’6”, 330
lbs., Sr., Saxonburg, PA/Knoch) – the senior was named
to the Daktronics All-Northeast Region first team for the second
straight year. He was previously 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 did not allow 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.
- 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.
Stroup previously earned first team All-PSAC West honors.
- C.J. Trivisonno (TE, 6’4”, 258
lbs., Sr., Kirtland, OH/Kirtland) – in 2003 he was a
second team All-PSAC West choice at tight end, but a year ago he
missed all but two games due to an injury. He returned to earn
first team all-conference honors, and now add the Daktronics
team to his resume. 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.
SECOND TEAM ALL-NORTHEAST REGION
- 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. He was also a first team Daktronics
All-Northeast Region selection 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
All-PSAC first team selection and Daktronics balloting 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).
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