2007 All-PSAC Football & Awards
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced its postseason football awards for 2007. Selections are made by the league’s coaches.
Bloomsburg running back Jamar Brittingham earned the Offensive Player of the Year for the Eastern Division and Edinboro quarterback Trevor Harris represents the West. A pair of linebackers claimed defensive honors for the second consecutive year as West Chester's Lateef Ferguson repeated as the Eastern Division winner while Gary Butler of California earned the honors in the Western Division.
Rookie of the Year honors go to Millersville quarterback Jamal Smith and Clarion's Alfonso Hoggard, representing the Eastern and Western Division selections respectively. West Chester's Bill Zwaan and California's John Luckhardt were chosen by their peers as Coaches of the Year.
Brittingham, a senior out of Levittown (Neshaminy HS), earns his second Eastern Division Athlete of the Year Award after becoming the all-time leader in the PSAC in rushing yards (5, 689). He gained 1,435 yards on 244 carries while scoring 23 touchdowns (T-3rd, PSAC single-season) in his final campaign, marking his second-highest career totals in both yards and touchdowns while establishing a career-high in attempts. He led the league in rushing and ranked ninth in Division II with his 143.5 yards per game. In addition, he led the league in scoring at 14.2 points per game (4th - DII) and all-purpose yards (185.3). Brittingham also was named the East's Athlete of the Year in 2005, the same season in which he set the league's single-season records in rushing yards (2,260) and rushing touchdowns (32) en route to finishing third in the Harlon Hill voting. Prior to that, Brittingham was named East Rookie of the Year in 2004. For his career, Brittingham owns 27 PSAC and Bloomsburg records, including career rushing touchdowns (83) and is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection. The senior is also a Northeast Region Finalist for the Harlon Hill Award.
Harris, a sophomore from Waldo, Ohio (Waldo HS), finished the 2007 campaign as the league's leader in passing average (297.1 ypg), total offense (7th DII -319.8 ypg) and touchdowns thrown (30). His season marks established new Edinboro records in attempts (426), completions (292), yards passing (3,628) and touchdowns. Harris amassed 3,518 yards of total offense, the best Edinboro total to date and the sixth-highest single-season total in PSAC history. His season passing yards also rank ninth in the PSAC. He is the first Fighting Scot to be honored as Offensive Player of the Year since the league began awarding offensive, defensive and rookie honors in 1996. He also extends Edinboro's streak to five years in which the Fighting Scots have claimed one of the three player awards. Last season, Harris earned second-team honors and was named the Rookie of the Year. The sophomore is also a Northeast Region Finalist for the Harlon Hill Award.
Ferguson, a senior from Philadelphia (Dobbins Tech), leads his team into the NCAA playoffs for the fourth straight year. During that streak, Ferguson has led the Golden Rams in tackles every year, having registered 106 tackles (2nd - PSAC). He has also added five tackles for loss (-20 yds), two sacks (-13 yds), four pass break ups and a forced fumble. He collected a game-high 12 tackles against Cheyney in the season-finale to become West Chester's career tackles leader (404) and the charter member of the 400-tackles club. Ferguson has now recorded 100 tackles in each of the last three seasons. For his career, he is a two-time Eastern Division Athlete of the Year (2006) and a two-time All-PSAC First Team selection.
A senior from Pittsburgh (Langley HS), Butler has guided California to its first 11-0 mark, its first undefeated PSAC West crown and a No.1 seed in the NCAA II Northeast Region playoffs. The playoff berth is the first ever for the Vulcans program. Butler is an integral part of a California defense that ranks first in the nation in total defense (188.6 ypg), rushing defense (49.1 ypg) and scoring defense (8.0 ppg). He ranks fourth on the squad in tackles with 47, and leads the team with 16 tackles for loss (-82 yds) and nine sacks (-58 yds). A three-year starter at outside linebacker, Butler also earned his first All-PSAC West honor as a first-team selection.
Smith, a freshman from Camp Hill (Trinity HS), showcased a solid arm for the Marauders in his first year under center with 63 completions in 164 attempts for 807 yards and four touchdowns. The rookie also established himself as a very mobile quarterback and a threat to run, finishing with 633 yards rushing on 163 attempts and five touchdowns. His touchdown total led Millersville while he finished second in scoring and third in all-purpose yards (57.5 ypg).
Hoggard, a rookie from Philadelphia (Caravel Academy), split time as a wide receiver and return specialist for Clarion. The diminutive freshman stood tall for the Golden Eagles, ranking eighth in the conference in all-purpose yards (116.1 ypg) while adding the team's second-best receiving figures with 48 catches for 505 yards and three touchdowns. He had at least five receptions in four contests for Clarion, including a season-high nine receptions for 91 yards and touchdown against IUP.
Zwaan earns his second East Coach of the Year honor after winning the award in 2004. The fifth-year head coach has led West Chester into the postseason in four consecutive seasons, including this year. He enters Saturday's NCAA II Northeast Region playoff game against IUP with a 9-2 record and a 47-17 overall record, fourth-best in Golden Rams history. West Chester is ranked 16th in both the AFCA and D2football.com rankings.
Luckhardt has guided the Vulcans to its first 11-0 season in program history, setting a school record for victories and consecutive victories, as well as finishing 6-0 in the PSAC West for the first time in team history. The sixth-year head coach has guided California to three consecutive Western Division titles, with the Vulcans earning a share of the titles in 2005 and 2006. Luckhardt also made history when his team was selected as the NCAA II Northeast Region's top-seed, earning the program's first-ever NCAA playoff berth. The Vulcans will host the winner of No. 5 Bryant at No. 4 Southern Connecticut St. on Nov. 24.
