|
EDINBORO, PA – The Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference announced its All-PSAC Football Teams today,
and Edinboro was well-represented. The Fighting Scots had a total
of 12 players named to the teams, with seven players voted to the
All-PSAC West first team, and an additional five players earning
spots on the second team. Edinboro completed its first season
under head coach Scott Browning with a 6-5 record.
In addition, Edinboro took home two of the
major awards, as linebacker Ben Stroup (Columbus, OH/ Hilliard
Davidson) was named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the
Year, and quarterback Trevor Harris (Waldo, OH/Marion
Pleasant) was voted the Rookie of the Year. It marks the third
straight year that a Fighting Scot has been honored as the
division’s Defensive Player of the Year. IUP’s Chris
Morgan was named the Offensive Player of the Year, and Lou Tepper
of IUP the Coach of the Year.
Stroup, a 6’1”, 213 lb. senior, led
the Fighting Scots with 105 tackles, the most since 1996. He also
paced the team in tackles for losses (17.5), sacks (5.5), and
passes broken up (7), while intercepting two passes and forcing a
pair of fumbles. He had a career-high 19 tackles against
California(Pa.), and had 14 tackles with a pair of sacks vs.
Bloomsburg. He leads the PSAC in tackles and ranks 18th in
Division II, along with being ranked fourth in the league and 22nd
nationally in tackles for losses. He was also a first team
selection a year ago, when Edinboro’s defense led Division II
in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
Harris is a 6’3”, 194 lb. redshirt
freshman who enjoyed few shaky moments in his first season as the
starting quarterback. He grabbed a lot of attention late in the
year when Edinboro placed more of an emphasis on the passing game,
averaging 349.3 ypg. over the final three games. He ended up
rewriting the record books, completing 192 of 313 passes for 2,547
yards, all school records. He threw 20 touchdowns, tied for third,
with just seven interceptions.
In addition to setting the season records for
yards passing and total offense, Harris shattered the single-game
record with 437 yards passing and 416 total yards against
Shippensburg. He tied the school record that day for TD passes
with five. He ended the year with 353 yards against Lock Haven,
tied for the third-highest total in a game. He threw for
200-or-more yards in five games.
The stout Boro defense, ranked first in the
PSAC in rushing defense and total defense, and third in scoring
defense, had four players earn first team honors. In addition to
Stroup, Chris Amico (Webster, NY/West Irondequoit), last
year’s Defensive Player of the Year, repeated as a first team
member at defensive tackle, and he was joined on the line by
noseguard A.J. Cousins (Chillicothe,
OH/ Chillicothe), who earned first team
honors for the third straight year. Strong safety Damion
Malott (Akron, OH/Akron North) was the fourth member of the
defense to earn first team accolades.
On the offensive side, Chris Kaczor (Brook
Park, PA/Berea) became one of the few Edinboro players to earn
All-PSAC West honors all four years, the last two as the first
team center. Record-setting wide receiver Ryan Valasek
(Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) moved up from the second team
to earn a spot on the first team. The third offensive member was
junior tight end Kyle Witucki (Tarentum, PA/Highlands).
If there was one disappointment for Browning,
it was that Jim Soltis (Garrettsville, OH/ Cardinal) only
earned a spot on the second team. It marks the second year Soltis
earned a spot on the second team at linebacker.
He was joined by free safety Tom Davidson
(Geneva, OH/Geneva), who previously was named to the second
team in 2004. Harris earned a spot on the second team offense, as
did Houston Brown (Westerville, OH/Westerville Central) at
running back. The final Fighting Scot recognized was Kody
Robertson (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson). The senior was the
first team kicker in 2004, and this year was named as the second
team punter.
Here’s a look at Edinboro’s honorees,
in addition to Stroup and Harris:
First Team
- Chris Amico (DT, 6-0, 253, Jr., Webster,
NY/West Irondequoit)
Earned first team honors for the second straight year at
defensive line after being chosen to the second team in 2004 as
a redshirt freshman. Finished fifth on the team in tackles with
61, including 9.5 for losses and 4.5 sacks. He now has 17.5
career sacks, good for eighth all-time.
- A.J. Cousins (NG, 6-1, 278, Sr.,
Chillicothe, OH/Chillicothe)
Teamed with Amico to give Edinboro a powerful one two punch on
the line. This marks his third straight season as a first team
All-PSAC West selection. He finished with 49 tackles, with 4 for
losses and a sack. He ranks tenth in career sacks with 15.
- Chris Kaczor (C, 6-2, 293, Sr., Brook
Park, PA/Berea)
One of the few Fighting Scots to earn All-PSAC honors four
times. He was selected to the first team at center the last two
years after earning second team honors at center in 2004. As a
redshirt freshman in 2003, he was a second team choice at guard.
He ended up starting all 45 games in his career.
- Damion Malott (SS, 5-10, 181, Sr.,
Akron, OH/Akron North)
Moved from free safety to strong safety this season, and had a
big year. Finished as the fourth-leading tackler with 62 stops,
adding 3 tackles for losses and a sack. He tied for the team
lead with 4 interceptions, returning one 41 yards for a
touchdown against Shippensburg. He ranks fourth in Division II
in forced fumbles (5), recovering a pair of fumbles and breaking
up four passes.
- Ryan Valasek (WR, 5-9, 175, Sr., Natrona
Heights, PA/Highlands)
Diminutive wide receiver who set school record for receptions in
a season while becoming just the second player in Edinboro
history to catch passes for more than 1000 yards in a season.
Ended the year with 64 receptions for 1,032 yards with 10 TDs,
ranking second in the PSAC in receptions per game and fourth in
yards receiving per game, along with 10th and 22nd in Division
II, respectively. He ended his career with at least one
reception in the last 26 games, and in 2006 caught at least two
passes in every game. Had five games with 100-or-more yards,
including 10 catches for 159 yards against Shippensburg and 7
receptions for 142 yards vs. Slippery Rock. Concludes his career
ranked third in receptions (132), second in yards receiving
(2,265) and second in TDs (20). Was a second team selection in
2005 when he caught 28 passes for 509 yards and 5 TDs.
- Kyle Witucki (TE, 6-3, 237, Jr.,
Tarentum, PA/Highlands)
Earned first team honors in first year as a starter. After
catching 22 passes for 6 TDs in his first two seasons, hauled in
31 passes for 455 yards with 5 TDs. Tied for eighth in career TD
passes. Caught at least one pass in all but one game, with two
touchdown receptions vs. Shippensburg. Had career-best 5 catches
for 80 yards and a TD against St. Anselm.
Second Team
- Houston Brown (TB, 5-9, 195, Fr.,
Westerville, OH/Westerville Central)
Enjoyed a storybook season. Came off the bench at West Chester
to earn PSAC Rookie of the Week honors on defense, intercepting
a pair of passes and recovering a fumble in a reserve role.
Started the next six games at cornerback before moving to
tailback in week number eight. Started the final four games at
tailback, finishing with 414 yards on 85 carries with 7 TDs. Had
157 yards on 34 carries in his first game at Clarion, adding 125
yards and 4 TDs on 17 carries in the season finale at Lock
Haven.
- Tom Davidson (FS, 6-1, 199, Jr., Geneva,
OH/Geneva)
Switched places with Malott, moving back to free safety, where
he earned second team All-PSAC West honors in 2004. Ended the
year with 28 tackles and 2 interceptions for 72 yards. Also
broke up three passes, recovered a pair of fumbles and blocked
two punts. Ranks third in career interceptions with 14.
- Kody Robertson (P, 5-10, 221, Sr.,
Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson)
Previously made the first team as a placekicker in 2004, now is
the second team punter. Punted a total of 52 times for an
average of 37.6 yards. More impressive, 13 punts ended inside
the 20 and 15 were fair catches.
- Jim Soltis (OLB, 6-3, 196, Sr.,
Garrettsville, PA/Cardinal)
Earned second team All-PSAC West honors for the second straight
year, once again ending as the second-leading tackler. Finished
with 81 tackles, and was also second in tackles for losses
(14.5) and sacks (5.0). Also had 5 passes broken up, a pair of
interceptions and forced two fumbles, with one fumble recovery.
Had a career-high 16 tackles with a sack against Slippery Rock,
and a week later had 10 tackles, a sack and an interception vs.
Shippensburg.
|
