Division III All-America Team After Averaging 24 Yards Per Kick Return This Year
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NEWS RELEASE 100 Legends Lane • Waco, Texas 76706 • (254) 754-9900 • Fax: (254) 754-7373 • www. a f c a . c o m FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 15, 2004 AFCACONTACT: Todd Bell, Director of Media Relations 254 754-9900 WOOSTER’S TO N YS U T TON, WAS H I N G T ON &JEFFERSON’S FRANK PILATO South of the Border HEADLINE THE 2004 AF C A DIVISION III COACHES’AL L - A M E R I C AT E A M The 22 seniors on this year’s A F C A Division III C o a c h e s ’ A l l - WACO, TEX. — Wooster’s Tony Sutton and Washington & Jefferson’s Frank Pilato, America Team earned invitations to two of four returnees from 2003, headline the 2004 AFCA Division III Coaches’ All- play on the AFCA’s Division III all- America Team announced today by the American Football Coaches Association. star team that met a team of Mexican The AFCADivision III Coaches’All-America Team is made up of players from NCAA college all-stars in the Aztec Bowl on Division III institutions. December 11 in Cancun. The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in Eighteen of those players made all four of its divisions. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones the trip as the U.S. defeated Mexico, chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves. 23-3. THE OFFENSE Team Background Wooster’s Tony Sutton, a senior from Akron, Ohio, rushed for 2,240 yards and aver- The AFCA has selected an All- aged 186.7 yards per game this season to lead all of Division III in that category. He also America team every year since 1945. led the nation in all-purpose yardage with an average of 219.5 yards per game and in scor- ing at 16.5 points per game. The four teams now chosen for Sutton is joined in the backfield for the second consecutive year by Wilkes’ Brett each AFCA division evolved from a Trichilo. Trichilo rushed for 1,685 yards and 21 touchdowns this season and averaged single 11-player squad in 1945. 168.5 yards per game. Quarterbacking this year’s AFCA Division III Coaches’ All-America Team is Brett From 1945 until 1967, only one Elliott of Linfield. Elliott has thrown for 4,313 yards and 59 touchdowns to lead the team was chosen. From 1967 Wildcats to the Northwest Conference title and a berth in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl this through 1971, two teams, University season. His 59 touchdown passes set a new school record. Division and College Division, were Rounding out the offensive skill positions are wide receivers Brad Musso of Wheaton selected. and Nick Cushman of Albright and tight end Vince Dargush of Ithaca. Musso caught 98 passes for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished the season In 1972, the College Division was second in the nation in receptions per game with an average of 8.9 and his 117.5 yards per split into College I and College II. In game was No. 4 nationally. Cushman led Division III in receiving yards per game at 152.9, 1979, the University Division was catching 101 passes for 1,682 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also finished No. 1 in recep- split into two teams — Division I-A tions per game at 9.2. Dargush was one of the top tight ends in Division III this season, the and Division I-AA. senior from Amsterdam, N.Y., caught 41 passes for 463 yards and seven touchdowns. He set a new school single-season record for catches by a tight end. In 1996 the College I and College The offensive linemen on this year’sAFCADivision III Coaches’All-America Team are II teams were renamed Division II Hobart’s Alex Bell, Concordia-Moorhead’s Nick Didier, Christopher Newport’s Tommy and Division III respectively. Fitzgerald, Rowan’s Scott Blum and Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Jeff Oliver. Bell was a four-time all-conference selection for the Statesmen and cleared the way for From 1965-81, a 22-player (11 an offense that averaged 210.6 yards rushing per game. Didier was named the Minnesota offensive, 11 defensive) team was Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Lineman of the Year in 2004 for Concordia. Fitzgerald chosen. In 1982, a punter and place- is the first All-America selection in Christopher Newport football history. Blum anchored kicker were added to the team. In a Rowan line that helped the Profs average a league-leading 428.3 yards per game in total 1997 a return specialist was added, offense. Oliver was part of an offensive line that helped UMHB set conference records for giving us the current 25-player team. points scored and rushing yardage in 2004. The Award THE DEFENSE Members of the AFCA Coaches’ The defense is led by returning AFCA All-American Frank Pilato of Washington & All-America Team receive a plaque Jefferson. The senior defensive back ended his career as Washington & Jefferson’s all-time commemorating their selection to the leader in interceptions. team. -(MORE)- 2004 AFCA DIVISION III COACHES’ALL-AMERICATEAM PAGE 2 OF 3 Pilato is joined in the secondary by Trey Bell of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Brian McIntire of Wartburg and Scott Greenberg of John Carroll. Bell had 34 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the Warhawks this season. McIntire led the Knights with 68 tackles and posted 6.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three interceptions and blocked two kicks. Greenberg was an All-Ohio Athletic Conference selection for the Blue Streaks in 2004. Simpson’s Jason Ripke, Willamette’s Nate Matlock, Bridgewater’s (Va.) Lawrence Frierson and Ohio Northern’s Jason Trusnik are the defensive linemen on this year’s AFCA Division III Coaches' All-America Team. Ripke set a school record for tackles for a loss with 30.5 for Simpson this year. Matlock was a two-time All-Northwest Conference selection at Willamette. Frierson keyed a Bridgewater defense that surrendered only 89 yards per game on the ground this year. Trusnik was the Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Gustavus Adolphus’Isaac Sieling, Mount Union’s Shaun Spisak, and Curry’s Brian Robitaille are the linebackers on this year’s AFCA All-America Team. Sieling led Gustavus with 157 total tackles this year. Spisak was a part of a Purple Raider defense that led the nation in rushing defense at 44 yards per game. Robitaille was a two-time New England Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year. THE SPECIALISTS Franklin & Marshall’s Dan Eggertsson averaged 40.7 yards per punt for the Diplomats. Augustan’s Mike Clark finished his career as Augustana’s all-time field goal leader with 31. DePauw’s Jamarcus Shephard makes his second appearance on the AFCA Division III All-America Team after averaging 24 yards per kick return this year. 2004 AFCA Division III Coaches’All-America Team Offense Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School) WR Brad Musso 6-0 204 Sr. Wheaton Mike Swider Hinsdale, Ill. (Central) WR Nick Cushman 6-0 180 Sr. Albright E.J. Sandusky Perkiomenville, Pa. (Pius X) TE Vince Dargush 6-3 240 Sr. Ithaca Mike Welch Amsterdam, N.Y. (Amsterdam) OL Alex Bell 6-3 330 Sr. Hobart Mike Cragg Modena, N.Y. (Wallkill) OL Nick Didier 6-3 275 Sr. Concordia-Moorhead Terry Horan Helena, Mont. (Capital) OL Tommy Fitzgerald 6-1 315 Sr. Chris. Newport Matt Kelchner Chatham, Va. (Chatham) OL Scott Blum 6-3 315 Sr. Rowan Jay Accorsi Howell, N.J. (Howell) OL Jeff Oliver 6-2 300 Sr. UMHB Pete Fredenburg China Spring, Texas (China Spring) QB Brett Elliott 6-3 200 Jr. Linfield Jay Locey Lake Oswego, Ore. (Lake Oswego) RB Tony Sutton* 5-11 200 Sr. Wooster Mike Schmitz Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban) RB Brett Trichilo* 5-11 232 Sr. Wilkes Frank Sheptock Dunmore, Pa. (Dunmore) Defense Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School) DL Jason Ripke 6-4 231 Jr. Simpson Jay Niemann Newell, Iowa (Newell-Fonda) DL Nate Matlock 6-4 265 Sr. Willamette Mark Speckman Boise, Idaho (Capital) DL Lawrence Frierson 5-11 250 Sr. Bridgewater (Va.) Mike Clark Stafford, Va. (Hargrave Military Acad.) DL Jason Trusnik 6-5 230 Jr. Ohio Northern Dean Paul Macedonia, Ohio (Nordonia) LB Isaac Sieling 6-2 220 Sr. Gustavus Adolphus Jay Schoenebeck Watertown, Minn. (Watertown-Mayer) LB Shaun Spisak 5-11 215 Sr. Mount Union Larry Kehres Sagamore Hills, Ohio (Nordonia) LB Brian Robitaille 5-10 210 Sr. Curry Steve Nelson Shrewsbury, Mass. (Shrewsbury) DB Trey Bell 5-11 186 Sr. Wis.-Whitewater Bob Berezowitz Racine, Wis. (Case) DB Frank Pilato* 6-1 185 Sr. Wash. & Jeff. Mike Sirianni Macedonia, Ohio (Nordonia) DB Brian McIntire 6-1 210 Sr. Wartburg Rick Willis Clear Lake, Iowa (Clear Lake) DB Scott Greenberg 6-0 190 Sr. John Carroll Regis Scafe Mayfield, Ohio (Solon) Specialists Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School) P Dan Eggertsson 6-1 180 Sr. Franklin & Marshall Shawn Halloran Royal Palm Beach, Fla. (Suncoast) PK Mike Clark 6-5 233 Sr. Augustana (Ill.) Jim Barnes Bettendorf, Iowa (Pleasant Valley) RS Jamarcus Shephard* 6-0 200 Sr. DePauw Bill Lynch Fort Wayne, Ind. (Northrop) *-2003 AFCAAll-American -(MORE)- 2004 AFCA DIVISION III COACHES’ALL-AMERICATEAM PAGE 3 OF 3 Top Teams: The leaders are Wittenberg and Augustana (Ill.), which have both been represented a total of 16 times by 15 players chosen since 1972.