2011 All-PSAC West Football Teams (pdf)
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Lock Haven, Pa. – Mercyhurst wide receiver Trevor Kennedy has been named the PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season while California defensive back Rontez Miles has been picked as the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year, highlighting the 2011 All-PSAC West football teams. Mercyhurst freshman running back Richard Sanders has been selected as the PSAC West Freshman of the Year while head coach Dr. George Mihalik of PSAC West co-champion Slippery Rock has been named the PSAC West Coach of the Year.
California, which shared the PSAC West championship with Slippery Rock to earn at least a share of its seventh straight divisional title, led the way with both 12 overall selections and eight first team selections. Quarterback Peter Lalich is the second straight Vulcan signal caller to be named the first team quarterback and it marks the seventh straight year that a Vulcan quarterback has been named either the first or second team quarterback on the all-conference team. Running back Lamont Smith earns his second straight first team honor while tight end Blake Williamson is also on the first team for the second straight year. Guard Rishaw Johnson and wide receiver Thomas Mayo are the Vulcans other offensive representatives on the first team. Miles is one of three defensive selections on the first team for the Vulcans. Defensive linemen Thomas Mulabah and Steve Santia are the other two.
IUP had eight overall selections, which was just the fourth-most, but the Crimson Hawks’ six first team picks were the second most. Running back Harvie Tuck is a first team pick for the second straight year as he is one of three backs in the PSAC that has gone over 1,000 yards this season. He was joined on the first team offense by teammate Byron Dovales, a tackle, and kicker Brett Ullman. Senior linebacker Mark Jackson, senior defensive back Johnny Franco and senior punter Grant Shallock are the Hawks on the first team defense. Mercyhurst’s 10 overall selections were led by Kennedy, who for the second straight year in on the first team as both a receiver and a return specialist. He is the only player on the West squad to earn all-conference honors this season at multiple positions. Joining Kennedy on the first team from the Lakers are Sanders, the Freshman of the Year, at running back, tackle Kevin Poropat, and linebacker Ian Wild. Edinboro had the next most overall selections with nine, led by guard Rob Stoner, defensive lineman Keir Jeter, linebacker Ryan Skelton and defensive back James Jackson on the first team. Cody Harris is the second team quarterback. His older brother, Trevor, was a four-time All-PSAC West selection at quarterback and a two-time PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year. The younger Harris distinguished himself this season as he led the PSAC in completion percentage at 72.2 percent and among starting QBs, threw the fewest interceptions with seven while ranking sixth in the league in passing yards per game with 196.1.
Other highlights on the West team include Gannon senior defensive lineman Randy Colling, who is on the first team for the third straight season and is one of seven individuals to earn his third career all-conference honor, but the only one now with three first team honors now on his resume. Slippery Rock wide receiver Devin Goda is on the first team for the first time in his career after two previous second team selections. Both Miles and Wild are on the first team for the second straight year and are all-conference picks for the third time in their careers. Cal receiver Chedrick Cherry is on the second team for the third straight year, as are IUP junior defensive lineman Carl Thornton and Gannon defensive back Chris Cook. In total, 36 of the 58 selections on the All-West teams are first time honorees.
Kennedy, the Offensive Player of the Year, led the PSAC in five different offensive categories this season, including receptions per game (8.0), receiving yards per game (126.3), overall scoring (8.7 points per game), touchdowns scored (16) and all-purpose yards per game (202.9). He also was second in punt return average at 11.7 yards per return, and third in kick return average at 25.1 yards per return, including one for a touchdown. He also ranked fourth in the country in all-purpose yards and second in receiving yards per game.
Miles, the Defensive Player of the Year, is the third different California player in the last five seasons to be named the Defensive Player of the Year, following former teammate Willie Walker in 2009 and Gary Butler in 2007. Miles, the 2009 PSAC West Freshman of the Year, has anchored the talented Vulcan secondary, which has allowed the second-fewest passing yards in the league and the fewest passing touchdowns, with just 10. His 59 total tackles ranks fourth on the team and he also made 6.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions and totaled 11 passes defended and blocked a kick.
Sanders is the first Mercyhurst player to be named the West Freshman of the Year. He provided a much-needed boost to the Laker running game this season, which had lost its top rushers from last year, as he totaled 532 yards on the ground (4.0 yards per carry) and six rushing touchdowns. He was also his team’s fourth-leading receiver, catching 18 passes for 167 yards.
Mihalik is the Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career but for the first time since 1999. He guided The Rock to its first PSAC West title since 2000 and its first appearance in the PSAC championship game since 1974. Mihalik, who was the West Coach of the Year for three straight years from 1997-99, just completed his 24th season as Rock’s head coach and his 161 career wins rank him fourth among active PSAC head coaches.
2011 All-PSAC West Football Team
First Team Offense
Quarterback
Peter Lalich California Jr. Springfield, Va./West Springfield
Running Back
Richard Sanders Mercyhurst Fr. Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic
Lamont Smith* California Jr. Penn Hills, Pa./Central Catholic
Harvie Tuck* IUP Jr. Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary
Offensive Tackle
Byron Dovales IUP So. Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg
Kevin Poropat Mercyhurst Jr. Mentor, Ohio/Mentor
Offensive Guard
Rishaw Johnson California Sr. Hammond, La./Hammond
Rob Stoner* Edinboro Sr. Edinboro, Pa./General McLane
Center
Austin Fedell Slippery Rock Jr. Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny
Tight End
Blake Williamson* California Jr. Houston, Pa./Chartiers-Houston
Wide Receiver
Devin Goda^^ Slippery Rock Sr. Monongahela, Pa./Elizabeth Forward
Trevor Kennedy* Mercyhurst Sr. Akron, Ohio/Firestone
Thomas Mayo California Sr. Reston, Va./South Lakes
Placekicker
Brett Ullman IUP Fr. Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall
First Team Defense
Defensive Line
Randy Colling** Gannon Sr. Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer
Keir Jeter^ Edinboro Sr. Moon Township, Pa./Moon
Barrington Morrison* Clarion Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills
Thomas Mulabah^ California Sr. Sterling, Va./Parkview
Steve Santia California Sr. Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield
Linebacker
Mark Jackson IUP Sr. Canton, Ohio/McKinley
Ryan Skelton^ Edinboro Sr. Edinboro, Pa./General McLane
Jake Wickline Slippery Rock Sr. Beaver Falls, Pa./Riverside
Ian Wild*^ Mercyhurst Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin
Defensive Back
Johnny Franco IUP Sr. Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone
James Jackson Edinboro So. New Smyrna Beach, Fla./New Smyrna Beach
Rontez Miles*^ California Jr. Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills
Brandon Watters Slippery Rock Sr. Wilkinsburg, Pa./Woodland Hills
Return Specialist
Trevor Kennedy* Mercyhurst Sr. Akron, Ohio/Firestone
Punter
Grant Shallock IUP Sr. Webster, N.C./Smoky Mountain
Second Team Offense
Quarterback
Cody Harris Edinboro So. Waldo, Ohio/Marion Pleasant
Running Back
Brandon Akins Clarion So. Erie, Pa./Strong Vincent
Brandon Brader Lock Haven So. Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty
Jeff Groene Mercyhurst So. Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin
Offensive Tackle
Shane Hess* Edinboro Gr. Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg
A.J. Hopp Slippery Rock Sr. Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban
Offensive Guard
Anthony Herko Lock Haven So. Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park
A.J. Vercelli Clarion Jr. Gibsonia, Pa./Deer Lakes
Center
Steve Reinhardt Mercyhurst So. Bradford, Pa./Bradford
Tight End
R.J. Miller Mercyhurst So. Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills
Wide Receiver
David Bostic^ Edinboro Sr. Tavares, Fla./Tavares
Chedrick Cherry^^ California Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller
Lawrence Coleman Gannon Sr. Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding
Placekicker
Alex Romanias Edinboro Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair
Second Team Defense
Defensive Line
Dusty Galich Mercyhurst So. Erie, Pa./McDowell
Ian Jeffers Gannon Jr. Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook
Jeff Thompson Slippery Rock Jr. Clairton, Pa./Clairton
Carl Thornton^^ IUP Jr. Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls
Skyler Wool Lock Haven Jr. Waterville, Pa./Jersey Shore
Linebacker
Brian Justice California So. Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral
Zach Sheridan^ Slippery Rock Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-LaSalle
Nate Sipes Clarion Jr. Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville
Kevin Williams Mercyhurst Sr. Valley Stream, N.Y./Holy Cross
Defensive Back
Chris Cook^^ Gannon Sr. Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw
Andre Henderson* IUP Sr. Erie, Pa./Strong Vincent
Erik Harris* California Sr. New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford
Patrick Swearinger California Sr. Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone
Return Specialist
Justin Caliste Gannon Fr. Roseville, Calif./Oakmont
Punter
Ryan Genco Edinboro Sr. Silver Creek, N.Y./Silver Creek Central
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year
Trevor Kennedy, WR/KR, Mercyhurst (Akron, Ohio/Firestone)
PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year
Rontez Miles, DB, California (Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills)
PSAC West Freshman of the Year
Richard Sanders, RB, Mercyhurst (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic)
PSAC West Coach of the Year
Dr. George Mihalik, Slippery Rock