Nov. 25, 2008

2008 Patriot League Football All-League and Major Award Winners Release

Center Valley, Pa. - For the first time in Patriot League history, both the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors in football are repeat selections. Holy Cross senior quarterback Dominic Randolph (Amelia, Ohio/St. Xavier) earns the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Lafayette senior linebacker Andy Romans (Allendale, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) won his second straight Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award, it was announced on Tuesday. The remaining major award winners both come from Patriot League champion Colgate, as Head Coach Dick Biddle tied a League record with his fourth Coach of the Year honor and freshman Nate Eachus (Drums, Pa/Hazleton) became the fifth consecutive running back to win the League's Rookie of the Year honor.

Colgate also led the way in both overall and First-Team All-League selections. The Raiders had 12 student-athletes selected to the All-League team, including eight First-Team honorees. Holy Cross followed the Raiders with 11 All-League selections, including five First-Team picks that all came on the offensive side of the ball. Lafayette had 10 student-athletes earn All-League status, while Lehigh had seven of its nine selections named to the First Team. Fordham had five All-League selections, Bucknell had four and Georgetown had two as every team was represented on the squad.

Randolph becomes just the second Patriot League student-athlete to win two Offensive Player of the Year honors, and the first to do it since Lafayette's Erik Marsh claimed the award in 1992 and 1993. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award given to the Most Outstanding Player in the Football Championship Subdivision, Randolph led Holy Cross to a 7-4 overall and 5-1 Patriot League record with an outstanding season where he set numerous single-season and career League records. Randolph completed 340-of-520 passes for 3,838 yards with 34 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The 340 completions set a Patriot League single-season record, and Randolph also set a League mark with eight 300-yard passing performances, which came in Holy Cross' final eight games. His 34 touchdown passes tied a Patriot League record. Randolph also recorded four rushing touchdowns, which gave him a Patriot League record 38 touchdowns responsible for the season. Randolph earned numerous honors throughout the season, as he was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week five times and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions. Randolph won the League's Offensive Player of the Week honor four consecutive times from Oct. 27-Nov. 17, and won consecutive ECAC honors on Nov. 4 and 11. He was also named national Offensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network after throwing for 430 yards and four touchdowns in Holy Cross' 41-34 win over Brown on Oct. 11. Randolph leads the FCS in passing yardage, total offense and completions per game in 2008, and ranks second in points responsible for per contest.

Randolph's 2008 season adds to an already stellar career. He became the Patriot League career leader in completions (821) and passing touchdowns (83) during the season, and also moved up to third on the League's career list in passing yardage (9,679) and second in total offense (9,984) and passing attempts (1,301). Randolph leads all active FCS players in passing yards and completions per game in his career, and is second in career total offense per contest and passing touchdowns. While Randolph is the just the second player to earn a pair of Offensive Player of the Year honors, he does join a list of multiple winners from the Patriot League's Player of the Year award, which was given out from 1986-2000. Holy Cross' Gordie Lockbaum (1986 and 1987) and Colgate's Ryan Vena (1996, 1997, 1999) both won that award more than once. Marsh also won that honor in 1994 after winning Offensive Player of the Year in the previous two seasons, and Holy Cross quarterback Tom Ciaccio was named Offensive Player of the Year in 1990 and Player of the Year in 1991. Randolph's honor gives Holy Cross five Offensive Player of the Year awards, including three in the last four seasons.

Romans becomes the second Patriot League student-athlete to earn two overall and consecutive Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors, following Colgate's Tem Lukabu who received the award in 2002 and 2003. A finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the Top Defensive Player in the FCS, Romans made 96 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick for the Leopards, who finished 7-4 overall and 3-3 in Patriot League play. He led a Lafayette defense that placed first in the Patriot League and in the top 20 nationally in rushing, total and scoring defense. Romans earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors three times in 2008, coming in consecutive weeks from Oct. 6-20. He received both the Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Oct. 20, as he recorded 12 tackles and a blocked punt that he returned for a touchdown in Lafayette's 35-21 win at No. 14 Liberty on Oct. 18. He was also named a National All-Star by College Sporting News for that performance. Romans finishes his career with 326 total tackles, good for 10th place among active FCS players. His Defensive Player of the Year award is the fourth in Lafayette's history, with the last before Romans' back-to-back honors coming when Dan Bengele won in 1997.

Biddle earns his fourth Coach of the Year honor after leading Colgate to its sixth Patriot League title in his 13-year tenure, and the first for the Raiders since 2005. The four Coach of the Year honors tie Holy Cross' Mark Duffner for the most in Patriot League history, as Biddle previously won the award in 1996, 2003 and 2005. He led the Raiders to a record of 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the Patriot League, completing the first undefeated campaign for any League team since leading Colgate to a 7-0 record in 2003. The Raiders won their final eight games of the season, a streak that trails only No. 1 James Madison and No. 2 Appalachian State heading into Colgate's first-round game in the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday at Villanova. The Raiders were picked to finish third in the Patriot League in the preseason, but claimed the title by finding a way to win close games throughout the season. Colgate trailed in every one of its Patriot League games, and rallied from 10 or more points down for victories against Fordham, Lafayette and Lehigh before claiming the Patriot League title by coming back from a 24-14 halftime deficit to defeat Holy Cross, 28-27, on Saturday. A finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award given to the Coach of the Year in the FCS, Biddle led Colgate to its sixth Patriot League title, with the previous crowns coming in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005. He will also lead the Raiders to the postseason for the sixth time in his tenure on Saturday at Villanova, as Colgate previously made the field in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005.

Eachus is the fifth consecutive running back to earn the Patriot League Rookie of the Year Award, and the first for Colgate since his backfield mate, senior Jordan Scott, received the honor in 2005. Eachus came on late in the season when Scott went down with an injury, and excelled with 162 carries for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also played linebacker at times throughout the year, and finished with 10 tackles and a sack. Eachus won the Patriot League Rookie of the Week award after each of the final five games that Colgate played, receiving the honor four times consecutively from Oct. 20-Nov. 10 and again on Monday after rushing for 118 yards and touchdown to help lead the Raiders to the Patriot League Championship with a 28-27 win over Holy Cross on Saturday. Eachus had his breakout performance on Oct. 18 against Cornell, as he came in at running back in the second quarter and carried 37 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns in the Raiders' 38-22 victory. That performance also earned Eachus a National All-Star award from College Sporting News. He followed it up by rushing for 214 yards and three touchdowns in Colgate's win over Bucknell on Oct. 25, and ended up rushing for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of the Raiders' final five games. Eachus scored a five-yard touchdown with 13:05 to play for the game-winning points in Colgate's 28-27 victory over Holy Cross on Saturday, and helped the Raiders run out the clock with 15 carries on Colgate's final two drives in the contest. Eachus is the seventh running back in the last eight years to earn Rookie of the Year honors. He is the fifth Colgate student-athlete to receive the award.

In addition to the major award winners, a pair of First-Team All-League selections earned a significant spot in Patriot League annals. Both Scott and Lehigh senior punter Jason Leo were named to the All-League squad for the fourth time in their careers, becoming the ninth and 10th players to receive the honor four times. Scott was a Second-Team selection in 2005 before earning First-Team honors at running back in each of the last three seasons, while Leo was a Second-Team punter in 2005, First-Team kicker in 2006 and Second-Team punter in 2007 before receiving First-Team honors at punter this season. Scott was also the League's Rookie of the Year in 2005, while Leo was the Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006.

Randolph, Scott and Eachus headline a First-Team All-League Offense that is dominated by Colgate and Holy Cross, who combined for 11 of the 14 selections. Randolph earns First-Team All-League honors for the second year in a row at quarterback, and Scott is a First-Team All-League running back for the third consecutive season. Despite missing action late in the year due to injury, Scott did enough to receive the First-Team honor and set multiple Patriot League career records in 2008. Scott carried 194 times for 1,054 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2008, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 131.8 rushing yards per game. He became the eighth player in FCS history and first Patriot Leaguer to rush for four 1,000-yard seasons in his career. Scott opened the year with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games, setting a Patriot League record with 18 consecutive and 29 career 100-yard rushing efforts. Scott also heads into Colgate's playoff tilt at Villanova as the Patriot League career leader in rushing yardage (5,527), carries (1,213), rushing touchdowns (54) and total points (340). His 1,213 carries are also an FCS record, and just two away from tying the Division I record of 1,215 held by Colorado State's Steve Bartalo (1983-86). Eachus claims the other running back position on the First-Team offense, while Lafayette senior Joe Russo is the First-Team selection as the fullback/H-Back spot for the second year in a row. Russo had 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns to go with 14 receptions for 150 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Colgate and Holy Cross also make up the entire group of First-Team wide receivers and tight ends. Holy Cross senior Jon Brock and Colgate junior Pat Simonds are the First-Team honorees at wide receiver, with Holy Cross senior Ryan McGuire named as the First-Team tight end for the second consecutive year. Brock notched 60 receptions for 927 yards and a Patriot League-best 13 receiving touchdowns for the Crusaders, while Simonds recorded 59 receptions for 1,054 yards and eight scores for the Raiders. McGuire led all Patriot League tight ends with 30 receptions for 343 yards and four touchdowns in 2008.

After helping their team lead the Patriot League and rank fifth nationally with 273.4 rushing yards per game, the Colgate offensive line was honored with three players on the First-Team Offense. Seniors Nick Hennessey, Steve Jonas and Rich Rosabella all represented the Raiders on the First-Team Offensive Line, with Jonas making the First-Team for the second consecutive year and Hennessey on the All-League squad for the second straight season as well. The group was joined by Holy Cross junior Aaron Jones and Lehigh sophomore Will Rackley to fill out the First-Team selections on the offensive line.

Holy Cross senior kicker Matt Partain and Bucknell junior return specialist A.J. Kizekai both earned a spot on the First-Team offense for the second consecutive year. Partain tied a Holy Cross record with 12 field goals, as he converted 12-of-17 field goals and 48-of-49 extra points to lead the Patriot League with 84 points for the season. Kizekai returned 37 kickoffs for 973 yards and one touchdown for the Bison. He ranked fifth nationally with 184.0 all-purpose yards per game, and was 15th in the country with a 26.3 kickoff return average.

Lehigh led the First-Team All-League Defense with six selections, including a pair of players on the defensive line. Junior BJ Benning was named to the First-Team Defensive Line from the Mountain Hawks after recording 35 tackles and six sacks in 2008, and was joined by senior teammate Brian Jackson who made the First Team for the second straight year after totaling 49 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Lafayette senior Jason Mills and Fordham senior Greg DeMarco complete the First-Team Defensive Line. Mills finished with 40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, while DeMarco had 43 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

The First-Team All-League Linebackers all come from the Lehigh Valley, and are all repeat selections on the All-League team. Romans earns his third consecutive All-League selection, and second straight First-Team honor, after his stellar season for the Leopards. He is joined by junior teammate Mark Leggiero, who finished with 93 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception to earn First-Team All-League status after receiving Second-Team honors last year. Lehigh senior linebacker Tim Diamond is on the First Team for the second year in a row after recording a Patriot-League best 104 tackles to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. Junior Matt Cohen joins Diamond as a First-Team Linebacker from Lehigh, as he improves on last year's Second-Team honor by recording 53 tackles and leading the Patriot League with 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while sharing the League lead with three interceptions.

Colgate has a pair of players in the First-Team Defensive Back positions. Senior Chris Ekpo recorded 48 tackles, an interception and seven pass breakups for the Raiders, while junior Wayne Moten is an All-League pick for the second straight year after recording 35 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups in 2008. Lehigh senior Quadir Carter and Fordham senior Matt Loucks fill out the First-Team Defensive Back spots. Carter had 81 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions for the Mountain Hawks, while Loucks had 56 tackles and five pass breakups for the Rams.

Leo fills out the First Team at the punter position. He punted 44 times for 1890 yards in 2008, good for a 43.0 average that led the Patriot League and placed seventh in the country. Leo helped Lehigh rank third in the FCS with a 37.0 net punting average.

Filling out the second-team offense are: Colgate sophomore Greg Sullivan at quarterback, Holy Cross senior Mike Kielt and Kizekai at running back, Lafayette senior Shaun Adair and Bucknell sophomore Shaun Pasternak at wide receiver, Lafayette senior Mike Conte at tight end, Lehigh senior Kevin Bayani, Lafayette junior Ryan Hart-Predmore and senior Leo Plenski, Holy Cross senior Chris Poole and Fordham senior Justin Sarabez on the offensive line, Adair at return specialist and Lafayette sophomore Davis Rodriguez at kicker.

On the second-team defense, Colgate juniors Paul Mancuso and Austin Douglas, Georgetown senior Ataefiok Etukeren and Fordham senior Ryan Mehra are on the defensive line; Fordham junior James Crockett, Colgate junior Greg Hadley and Holy Cross juniors Marcus Rodriguez and Sean Lamkin are at linebacker; Holy Cross senior Daryl Brown and junior Michael Wright, Lehigh sophomore Jarard Cribbs and Georgetown junior Travis Mack are the defensive backs; and Bucknell senior Phil Azarik is the punter.

Scott and Leo earned their fourth All-League selections, while Romans was named to the team for the third time. In addition, 16 players were selected to the All-League team for the second time. Randolph, McGuire, Jonas, Russo, Partain, Kizekai, Jackson and Diamond were all selected to the First Team for the second consecutive season, while Hennessey, Leggiero, Cohen and Moten were named to the First Team this season after receiving Second-Team honors in 2007. Adair, Conte, Mehra and Crockett were selected to the Second Team for the second straight time. Thirty-two of the 51 All-League student-athletes were honored for the first time.

Kizekai and Adair are the first players honored at two positions on the All-League team since Fordham's Matt Fordyce was named the First-Team kicker and punter in 2002.

The complete 2008 All-Patriot League football team can be found below.

2008 All-Patriot League Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year: Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross, Sr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year: Andy Romans, Lafayette, Sr., LB
Rookie of the Year: Nate Eachus, Colgate, Fr., RB
Coach of the Year: Dick Biddle, Colgate

First-Team Offense

QB Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross, Sr.
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Fr.
RB Jordan Scott, Colgate, Sr.
FB/HB Joe Russo, Lafayette, Sr.
WR Jon Brock, Holy Cross, Sr.
WR Pat Simonds, Colgate, Jr.
TE Ryan McGuire, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL Nick Hennessey, Colgate, Sr.
OL Steve Jonas, Colgate, Sr.
OL Aaron Jones, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL Will Rackley, Lehigh, So.
OL Rich Rosabella, Colgate, Sr.
RS A.J. Kizekai, Bucknell, Jr.
K Matt Partain, Holy Cross, Sr.

First-Team Defense

DL BJ Benning, Lehigh, Jr.
DL Greg DeMarco, Fordham, Sr.
DL Brian Jackson, Lehigh, Sr.
DL Jason Mills, Lafayette, Sr.
LB Matt Cohen, Lehigh, Jr.
LB Tim Diamond, Lehigh, Sr.
LB Mark Leggiero, Lafayette, Jr.
LB Andy Romans, Lafayette, Sr.
DB Quadir Carter, Lehigh, Sr.
DB Chris Ekpo, Colgate, Sr.
DB Matt Loucks, Fordham, Sr.
DB Wayne Moten, Colgate, Jr.
P Jason Leo, Lehigh, Sr.

Second-Team Offense

QB Greg Sullivan, Colgate, So.
RB Mike Kielt, Holy Cross, Sr.
RB A.J. Kizekai, Bucknell, Jr.
WR Shaun Adair, Lafayette, Sr.
WR Shaun Pasternak, Bucknell, So.
TE Mike Conte, Lafayette, Sr.
OL Kevin Bayani, Lehigh, Sr.
OL Ryan Hart-Predmore, Lafayette, Jr.
OL Leo Plenski, Lafayette, Sr.
OL Chris Poole, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL Justin Sarabez, Fordham, Sr.
RS Shaun Adair, Lafayette, Sr.
K Davis Rodriguez, Lafayette, So.

Second-Team Defense

DL Austin Douglas, Colgate, Jr.
DL Ataefiok Etukeren, Georgetown, Sr.
DL Paul Mancuso, Colgate, Jr.
DL Ryan Mehra, Fordham, Sr.
LB James Crockett, Fordham, Jr.
LB Greg Hadley, Colgate, Jr.
LB Sean Lamkin, Holy Cross, Jr.
LB Marcus Rodriguez, Holy Cross, Jr.
DB Daryl Brown, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB Jarard Cribbs, Lehigh, So.
DB Travis Mack, Georgetown, Jr.
DB Michael Wright, Holy Cross, Jr.
P Phil Azarik, Bucknell, Sr.