JMU Duke Dog
December 9th, 2005, 04:51 PM
http://www.jmusports.com/Team/Stories/2_3574.asp?TeamID=2&NewsID=3574
LeZOTTE AND MAGERKO NAMED TO WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICA SQUAD
FROM THE ATLANTIC 10
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos and safety Tony LeZotte of James Madison, the 2005 Atlantic 10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, are among nine standouts from the Atlantic 10 Football Conference named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation I-AA All-America Team, announced on Friday.
One of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, Santos led the A-10 in five offensive categories, including passing yards (3,797) and touchdown passes (39). The first sophomore to be named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year since former UNH standout Jerry Azumah in 1996, Santos surpassed the 300-yard passing mark seven times this season, tops in the Conference, while averaging 292.0 passing yards per game, the most by a sophomore in league history.
LeZotte collected 95 tackles and broke up seven passes in anchoring a James Madison defense that led the Conference in rushing yards per game (106.8) and ranked second in scoring (15.2 ppg.). The Augusta, GA., native shared the league-lead with three forced fumbles and tied an Atlantic 10 record with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown on November 19 in the Dukes' 55-14 win over Towson. He is the first player to earn first-team A-10 All-Conference acclaim as a freshman and sophomore since former Boston University offensive lineman Bob Speight (1978-79).
Joining Santos on the All-America offensive unit are New Hampshire junior wide receiver David Ball and senior tight end Jonathan Williams, along with senior offensive lineman Matt Magerko of James Madison. LeZotte is joined on defense by senior linebacker Brian Hulea of Villanova, Massachusetts senior defensive back Shannon James, and UMass punter Christian Koegel. The 2005 Atlantic 10 Special Teams Player of the Year, Koegel led the Conference with a 43.0 average on 49 punts, 18 of which he dropped inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
With three selections on the 25-player squad, New Hampshire had the most players represented of any team in I-AA. The Atlantic 10 had the most selections (nine) of any conference, followed by the Big Sky with four and the MEAC and Southern conference with three players each. Ball and James were joined by Cal Poly senior defensive lineman Chris Gocong as the only repeat selections.
Walter Camp, "The Father of American Football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. A former Yale University athlete and football coach, Camp is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting All-America teams for 1-A and 1-AA.
LeZOTTE AND MAGERKO NAMED TO WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICA SQUAD
FROM THE ATLANTIC 10
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos and safety Tony LeZotte of James Madison, the 2005 Atlantic 10 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, are among nine standouts from the Atlantic 10 Football Conference named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation I-AA All-America Team, announced on Friday.
One of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, Santos led the A-10 in five offensive categories, including passing yards (3,797) and touchdown passes (39). The first sophomore to be named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year since former UNH standout Jerry Azumah in 1996, Santos surpassed the 300-yard passing mark seven times this season, tops in the Conference, while averaging 292.0 passing yards per game, the most by a sophomore in league history.
LeZotte collected 95 tackles and broke up seven passes in anchoring a James Madison defense that led the Conference in rushing yards per game (106.8) and ranked second in scoring (15.2 ppg.). The Augusta, GA., native shared the league-lead with three forced fumbles and tied an Atlantic 10 record with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown on November 19 in the Dukes' 55-14 win over Towson. He is the first player to earn first-team A-10 All-Conference acclaim as a freshman and sophomore since former Boston University offensive lineman Bob Speight (1978-79).
Joining Santos on the All-America offensive unit are New Hampshire junior wide receiver David Ball and senior tight end Jonathan Williams, along with senior offensive lineman Matt Magerko of James Madison. LeZotte is joined on defense by senior linebacker Brian Hulea of Villanova, Massachusetts senior defensive back Shannon James, and UMass punter Christian Koegel. The 2005 Atlantic 10 Special Teams Player of the Year, Koegel led the Conference with a 43.0 average on 49 punts, 18 of which he dropped inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
With three selections on the 25-player squad, New Hampshire had the most players represented of any team in I-AA. The Atlantic 10 had the most selections (nine) of any conference, followed by the Big Sky with four and the MEAC and Southern conference with three players each. Ball and James were joined by Cal Poly senior defensive lineman Chris Gocong as the only repeat selections.
Walter Camp, "The Father of American Football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. A former Yale University athlete and football coach, Camp is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting All-America teams for 1-A and 1-AA.