Bagent, Taylor, Beach and Clements Garner Major Awards; PSAC East All-Conference Released
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released the 2021 PSAC East Football major awards winners and all-conference teams Wednesday afternoon. Shepherd University quarterback Tyson Bagent was named offensive athlete of the year, West Chester University’s Jackson Taylor was named defensive athlete of the year, and Shepherd’s Ryan Beach was rookie of the year, while Kutztown University head coach Jim Clements was coach of the year.
The all-conference and major award winners are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Quarterback Tyson Bagent of Shepherd University ranks first among Division II football players in four statistical categories. He’s averagint 355.8 passing yards per game for a total of 3,914 passing yards, 360.1 yards of total offense per game, and is responsible for 290 points this season. Bagent also set program records in single-season touchdown passes, career pass attempts, and career passing yards. He was named PSAC Athlete of the Week five times this season as Shepherd finished second in the PSAC East and earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region 1 for the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. He was a Harlon Hill candidate in 2018 and 2019 and is a candidate again this season.
A West Chester athlete was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season as Jackson Taylor is this year’s honoree, following Jarey Elder. Taylor recorded 98 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He was named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week following a game where he recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Shepherd wide receiver Ryan Beach received the Rookie of the Year honor. Beach was a primary target for Bagent this season catching 70 passes for 939 yards. He scored 13 touchdowns, which ties him for the league lead. Beach averaged 13.4 yards per reception, 6.4 receptions per game, and 85.4 yards per game. He helped Shepherd earn its 18th appearance in the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs.
Kutztown Head Coach Jim Clements led his team to its first PSAC title in 10 years this season. The Golden Bears posted a 10-1 record and claimed the No. 1 seed in Super Region 1 for the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. This is Clements’ third time earning Coach of the Year honors. He previously received the award in 2019 and 2016. Under his leadership, seven Golden Bears were named all-conference players this season.
Eight athletes are making repeat appearances as all-conference selections.
A full list of honorees is below.
PSAC FOOTBALL EAST MAJOR AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyson Bagent, Shepherd
Defensive Player of the Year: Jackson Taylor, West Chester
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Beach, Shepherd
Coach of the Year: Jim Clements, Kutztown
PSAC FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| QB |
Tyson Bagent^ |
Shepherd |
Jr. |
Martinsburg, W.Va. / Martinsburg |
| RB |
Gunner Anglovich |
East Stroudsburg |
R-Sr. |
Bethlehem, Pa. / Liberty |
| RB |
Ronnie Brown |
Shepherd |
So. |
Baltimore, Md. / Dundalk |
| RB |
Ja’Den McKenzie* |
West Chester |
So. |
Morton, Pa. / Springfield-DELCO |
| OT |
Joey Fisher |
Shepherd |
Jr. |
Hagerstown, Md. / Clear Spring |
| OT |
Eric Ostrow* |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Owings Mills, Md. / Franklin |
| OG |
Devin Hannan |
Kutztown |
R-So. |
Belle Vernon, Pa. / Belle Vernon |
| OG |
Cole Weaver |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Keyser, W.Va. / Keyser |
| C |
Albert Glasgow |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Huntingdon Valley, Pa. / Archbishop Wood |
| TE |
Alex Wetzel |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Keedysville, Md. / Boonsboro |
| WR |
Ryan Beach |
Shepherd |
R-Fr. |
Frederick, Md. / Northwest |
| WR |
Rece Bender^ |
East Stroudsburg |
Sr. |
Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Township |
| WR |
Jerome Kapp |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Barto, Pa. / Boyertown |
| RS |
Josh Gontarek |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
New Market, Md. / Shippensburg |
| PK |
Jaxson Montross |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Tunkhannock, Pa. / Tunkhannock |
PSAC FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| DL |
Juwan Addison |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Richmond, Va. / Monacan |
| DL |
Deshawn McCarthy |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Northeast |
| DL |
Ryan Meyers |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Hellertown, Pa. / Saucon Valley |
| DL |
AJ Simon |
Bloomsburg |
R-Sr. |
Tobyhanna, Pa. / Pocono Mountain West |
| DL |
Tyler Tate |
Millersville |
R-Jr. |
Norristown, Pa. / Norristown |
| LB |
Amani Justice |
Kutztown |
R-Sr. |
Salem, N.J. / Salem |
| LB |
Chrys Lane |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
Baltimore, Md. / Dundalk |
| LB |
Isaiah Onuschak^ |
Millersville |
R-So. |
Bethlehem, Pa. / Bethlehem Catholic |
| LB |
Jackson Taylor |
West Chester |
So. |
Glenside, Pa. / Abington |
| DB |
Ponce DeLeon^ |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Greenbelt, Md. / Montgomery Blair |
| DB |
Quentin Gaskill |
Bloomsburg |
Jr. |
Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro |
| DB |
Nick Palmer^ |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Montville, N.J. / Bergen Catholic |
| DB |
Tyler Watson |
East Stroudsburg |
R-Sr. |
Warrington, Pa. / Central Bucks South |
| P |
Dean Krcic |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Saylorsburg, Pa. / Pleasant Valley |
PSAC FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| QB |
Shane Dooley |
West Chester |
R-Fr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Father Judge |
| RB |
Darryl Davis-McNeil |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Roslyn, Pa. / Abington |
| RB |
Kaleb Monaco |
Bloomsburg |
Fr. |
Pocono Pines, Pa. / Pocono Mountain West |
| RB |
Phil Poquie |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Virginia |
| OT |
Luke Lozowicki |
Kutztown |
R-Sr. |
Broomall, Pa. / Marple Newtown |
| OT |
Brendan Ruskowski |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan |
| OG |
Anthony Barber |
Lock Haven |
Sr. |
Johnstown, Pa. / Saint Francis |
| OG |
Anthony Capitini |
East Stroudsburg |
R-Jr. |
Phillipsburg, N.J. / Phillipsburg |
| C |
Josh Zacher |
Shippensburg |
R-Jr. |
Livingston, N.J. / Livingston |
| TE |
Dave Balint III |
Shippensburg |
R-Jr. |
Landenberg, Pa. / St. Mark’s (Del.) |
| WR |
Seth Degree |
West Chester |
So. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / West Catholic |
| WR |
Josh Gontarek |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
New Market, Md. / Shippensburg |
| WR |
Ian Sheehan |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Feasterville, Pa. / Neshaminy |
| RS |
Phil Poquie |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Virginia |
| PK |
Devin Bartholomew |
East Stroudsburg |
R-So. |
Schnecksville, Pa. / Parkland |
PSAC FOOTBALL EASTERN DIVISION ALL-CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| DL |
Andre Eldridge |
East Stroudsburg |
R-Sr. |
South Brunswick, N.J. / South Brunswick |
| DL |
Michael Gobora |
West Chester |
So. |
Newtown, Pa. / Pennsbury |
| DL |
Omar Peterkin^ |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Willow Grove, Pa. / Archbishop Wood |
| DL |
Ricky Robinson |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Mathias W.Va. / East Hardy |
| DL |
Jacoby Sherard |
Shippensburg |
So. |
Lawrenceville, N.J. / Lawrenceville |
| LB |
Shane Scott |
Lock Haven |
Jr. |
Mount Laurel, N.J. / Lanape |
| LB |
Chris Thomas^ |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Norwood, Pa. / Interboro |
| LB |
Tyler Whary |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Hereford, Pa. / Upper Perkiomen |
| LB |
Cole Zapf |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West |
| DB |
Antaun Lloyd |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Ambler, Pa. / Wissahickon |
| DB |
Trey Paul |
Shippensburg |
Sr. |
Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin |
| DB |
Steve Sweeney |
Millersville |
R-Jr. |
West Chester, Pa. / Bishop Shanahan |
| DB |
Shawn Turber-Ortiz |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Northumberland, Pa. / Shikellamy |
| P |
Nate Reed |
East Stroudsburg |
Fr. |
Manheim, Pa. / Manheim Central |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC First Team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC Second Team selection