WEXFORD, Pa. (Nov. 16, 2009) – Ten members of the 2009 Thiel College football team have been named to All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference teams, the league has announced. The Tomcats landed two players on the first team – second only to league champion Thomas More, two on the second team, and six to the honorable mention squad.
Offensive lineman J.R. Kenna (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) received a first team nod to wrap up a standout career. Kenna was three-year letterman and was also named to the All-PAC Honorable Mention team last season.
Receiver Brendan Taylor (Girard, Pa./Girard) was also named to the first team, after compiling one of the best pass-catching campaigns in program history. Taylor ranked in the top ten nationally in receptions per game (9.3) and receiving yards per game (119.9) while establishing the Thiel records for receptions in a season (93) and receptions in a game (17).
Thiel was represented on the second team by junior defensive lineman Will Haase (Latrobe, Pa./Derry Area) and freshman punter Anthony Rozzi (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin).
Haase racked up 30 tackles this season, including a team-high 8.5 for a loss. He also tied for the team lead in sacks with three.
Rozzi performed well in his rookie campaign, averaging 36.8 yards per punt, including two punts of over 50 yards and nine which landed inside the 20 yard line. His longest punt of the season – an 83-yarder vs. Saint Vincent – was the second-longest in Thiel history.
Earning selections to the All-PAC Honorable mention team were freshman wide receiver Tyler DeJong (Columbiana, Ohio/Columbiana), senior tight end Dan Mackall (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver), senior quarterback Willie Bova (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany), senior linebacker Sam Swartzfager (Shippenville, Pa./Keystone), junior free safety Bryan Villegas (Spring Hill, Fla./Springstead), and sophomore kicker John Madeline (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard).