CLARION, Pa. – West Chester University was well represented on the 2007 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Northeast Region squad, which was announced recently. The Golden Rams placed eight players in all on the all-region team, including two first-team selections and three second-team picks.
This marks the sixth year Football Gazette has selected NCAA Division II All-Region teams. The national publication has selected NCAA Division II All-America teams since 1988. The first- and second-team selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2007 NCAA Division II Football Gazette All-America team will be selected by the end of January.
A total of 100 players representing 27 universities in the Northeast Region are represented on this team.
Lateef Ferguson and Mike Mignogno were both selected to the first-team while Mike Washington, Kevin O’Neill and Vladimir Garbovsky were all named to the second team. Bill Zwaan Jr., Osagie Osunde and Kennis Jones were third-team picks.
Ferguson, the PSAC’s Eastern Division defensive player of the year two years running and a first team all-league selection, earned his second first-team all-region nod. He was also named to Daktronics, Inc., All-Norheast team earlier this month. The Philadelphia native has been accorded a plethora of postseason honors since his final campaign ended last November.
The inside linebacker finished his career at West Chester University with a school record 414 tackles, 244 of which were solo efforts, which accounts for another school mark. Ferguson ended the season with 116 total tackles, marking the fourth straight year in which the co-captain led the team in tackles and the third straight year in which he reached the century mark in stops.
In the Rams’ final game of the regular season, Ferguson passed former West Chester linebacker Lee Woodall’s school record for career tackles and became the first Golden Rams player to reach 400 career stops.
Ferguson also posted 70 solo tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and four passes broken up. He also forced one fumble and was credited with one QB hurry. The preseason All-American was also selected to the Daktronics All-Northeast Region first team in 2006. He placed 31st nationally and third in the PSAC with 9.7 tackles per game. Ferguson was 19th nationally in solo tackles per game (5.8).
Mignogno made a name for himself in the way that he played in WCU’s defensive backfield. The hard-hitting Mignogno finished ninth in the country in interceptions per game with (0.5), led the PSAC with 14 passes defensed and was tied for the league lead in interceptions with six. He was also a first-team All-PSAC selection at his safety position this fall.
Washington highlights the Golden Rams’ offensive selections to the all-region team. He provided the electricity for West Chester’s third-ranked passing offense. The junior wide receiver broke the school’s all-time record for career receiving yardage in just 34 games. He ended 2007 with 1,160 yards receiving, good for second in the PSAC and sixth nationally. He averaged 96.7 yards receiving per game, ranking 10th in the country, and caught 12 touchdown passes – which, ironically, is the lowest single-season TD total of his three-year career at West Chester.
Washington has caught a pass in 36 of his 37 career games and enters his senior season with 3,515 yards receiving to his credit. The Philadelphia native has caught for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons in college. He is vying to become just the third college player at any level to record 1,000 yards receiving in a single season all four years. If Washington reached 1,000 yards next fall, he would join the elite company of Brad Duesing (Washington Univ. of St. Louis, 2002-05) and Mark Bartosic (Susquehanna Univ., 2000-03) as the only three college football players to catch for 1,000 yards all four years in school.
Washington was also named to Daktronics, Inc., All-Northeast Region second team as well as first team All-PSAC East and All-ECAC in 2007.
O’Neill was the anchor of an offensive line that helped West Chester rank fourth in total offense in the PSAC by averaging better than 400 yards per game. The Golden Rams were sixth in scoring offense, third in passing offense and seventh in rushing offense. West Chester tied for eighth in the conference in sacks allowed with 26.
Garbovsky enjoyed his best season ever in his final college campaign. The Ridley, Pa., native contributed 37 tackles and led the PSAC with 8.5 sacks. He was a second team All-PSAC selection as well.
Zwaan threw for 2,973 yards while registering 28 touchdowns. He placed second in the league in all three categories while finishing second in the PSAC in pass efficiency with a 150.9 rating. The Golden Rams have Zwaan to thank for orchestrating the conference’s third-ranked passing offense.
The senior tri-captain placed fifth all-time at West Chester University in both career passing yards (6,298) and career touchdown passes (65). He is one of only five Golden Ram quarterbacks to pass for 6,000 career yards and 60 TDs. His 2,973 passing yards in 2007 stands fifth on the school’s all-time single-season chart as does his 28 TD tosses last fall. Additionally, Zwaan set the school record by throwing a touchdown pass in 17 consecutive games spanning his junior and senior seasons.
The first-team All-PSAC East quarterback led the Golden Rams to an undefeated league mark of 5-0 while guiding West Chester to a 9-3 overall record and a ranking of 16th in the final AFCA Coaches’ Poll. Zwaan was also named the local college football player of the year by the Eagles’ Fly For Leukemia at that organization’s Bert Bell dinner in November.
Most recently, Zwaan was named the Tri-State player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club it was announced by club president and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Ron Jaworski.
Osunde finished his career this fall as the school’s third all-time leading rusher with 3,846 career rushing yards. He set the school record for career touchdowns (57) and career points (342) and was third all-time with 5,844 career all-purpose yards. He finished fourth in the PSAC in rushing yards per game this season (95.3) while earning first-team All-PSAC East Honors.
Jones was also a first-team All-PSAC selection for the Golden Rams, helping the offensive line protect Zwaan and open holes for Osunde. Jones is widely considered one of the top returning offensive linemen in the PSAC for next season. West Chester rank fourth in total offense in the PSAC by averaging better than 400 yards per game. The Golden Rams were sixth in scoring offense, third in passing offense and seventh in rushing offense. West Chester tied for eighth in the conference in sacks allowed with 26.
2007 Don Hansen=s Football Gazette All Northeast Region Team
First Team Offense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Steve Armstrong 6-2 225 Jr. So. Conn. St. Nutley, N.J. Nutley
RB Jamar Brittingham 6-0 203 Sr. Bloomsburg Levittown Neshaminy
RB Jarom Freeman 6-1 185 So. So. Conn. St. Peekskill, N.Y. Peekskill
RB Jerry Seymour 5-7 200 Jr. Glenville St. Miramar, Fl.
WR Almonzo Banks 6-2 220 Sr. West Liberty Washington, D.C. Dunbar
WR Elfren Quiles 6-2 205 Sr. Kutztown New Britain, Ct. New Britain
FB Aaron Dykes 5-11 237 Sr. Shippensburg West Chester Downingtown
TE Dan Pickens 6-4 240 Sr. IUP Bridgeville S. Fayette
OC Ryan Pope 6-4 297 Sr. Shepherd Elkridge, MD. Long Reach
OG Mackenzy Bernadeau 6-4 303 Sr. Bentley Waltham, Mass. Waltham
OG Bron Clouser 6-1 310 Sr. Slippery Rock Altoona Altoona
OT Tim McCutcheon 6-4 305 Sr. California Sewickley Quaker Valley
OT Mike Butterworth 6-7 330 Sr. Slippery Rock Northern Cambria No. Cambria
OT Bubba Brady 6-2 295 Sr. Shepherd Frederick, Md. Calvert
AP Dervon Wallace 5-6 175 Sr. Shepherd Lusby, MD. Calvert
PK Tyler Lorenz 5-11 175 So. California Savannah, Tenn. Hardin County
First Team Defense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Scott Miller 6-1 250 Sr. Bentley Reading, Mass. Reading
DL Chris Amico 6-0 267 Sr. Edinboro Webster, N.Y. W. Irondequoit
DE Kirby Griffin 6-2 275 Jr. California Rochester Rochester
DE Lee Robinson 6-4 260 Sr. Pace New Milford, Ct. New Milford
LB Gary Butler 6-1 235 Sr. California Pittsburgh Langley
LB Lateef Ferguson 6-0 245 Sr. West Chester Philadelphia Dobbins Tech
LB Vince Black 6-2 245 Sr. Fairmont St. Marietta, Oh. Parkersburg Cath.
CB Darren Banks 5-10 185 Sr. West Liberty Collingswood, NJ. Camden
CB Brandon Shelton 6-1 200 Sr. Millersville Gettysburg Gettysburg
SAF Brian Bingnear 6-0 200 Sr. Kutztown Boothwyn Chichester
SAF Mike Mignono 6-2 200 Sr. West Chester Glenside Abington
SAF Paul Tetzel 5-10 195 Sr. Bentley Millbury, Mass. Milbury
P Jace Amore 6-0 230 Sr. California Elizabeth Eliz. Forward
RS Jermaine Moye 6-3 215 Sr. California Rochester Rochester
Second Team Offense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Zach Amedro 6-0 185 Fr. West Liberty Moundsville, WV. John Marshall
RB Corey Manfull 5-11 200 Jr. Slippery Rock Kensington, Oh. United Local
FB Marcus Cameron 5-11 225 Sr. AIC Hempstead, N.Y. So. Conn.
WR Michael Washington 6-0 190 Jr. West Chester Philadelphia Frankford
WR Ken Witter 6-2 205 Jr. IUP Norristown Norristown
TE Kyle Witucki 6-4 249 Sr. Edinboro Tarentum Highlands
OC Rory Thomas 6-3 300 Sr. IUP Beaver Falls Beaver Falls
OG Kevin O’Neill 6-1 280 Sr. West Chester Aston Sun Valley
OG Matt Bosso 6-1 310 Jr. Bloomsburg Camp Hill Cedar Cliff
OT Pat Gildea 6-6 325 Sr. So. Conn. St. Willimantic, Conn. Windham
AP Alfonso Hoggard 5-4 160 Fr. Clarion Philadelphia Caravel Acad.
PK Tyler McNamara 5-10 185 So. Bentley Medway, Mass. Medway
Second Team Defense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Maurice Baker 6-4 260 Sr. C.W. Post Hempstead, N.Y. Kellenberg
DL Mike Spiegelberg 6-1 235 Jr. Shepherd Silver Spring, Md. Spring Brook
DE Jared Kelly 6-3 250 Sr. Assumption Canton, Mass. Xaverian
DE Vlad Garbovsky 6-3 250 Jr. West Chester Ridley Ridley
LB Terrence Jackson 6-0 235 Jr. IUP Media Penncrest
LB Brian Mohr 6-1 230 Sr. California Beaver Falls Riverside
LB Joe Streany 5-10 195 Sr. Pace Croton, N.Y. Harmon
CB Terrence Johnson 6-0 195 So. California Braddock Woodland Hills
CB Brandon Truesdale 5-11 170 Sr. W.Va. State Fayetteville, Ga. Fayette County
SAF Jonathan Aldridge 6-2 190 Sr. Shippensburg Pittsburgh Seneca Valley
P Zach Boyd 6-2 240 Jr. Concord Christiansburg, Va. Christiansburg
RS Samuel Tranks 6-0 185 So. Seton Hill Philadelphia M.L. King
Third Team Offense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Trevor Harris 6-3 205 So. Edinboro Waldo, Oh. Marion Pleasant
QB Bill Zwaan 6-2 210 Sr. West Chester Malvern Great Valley
RB Osagie Osunde 5-10 210 Sr. West Chester Bloomsburg Central Columbia
RB Brandon Lombardy 6-0 224 Jr. California Moureland Hills, Oh. Chagrin Falls
RB Antwarn Jones 5-7 165 So. Seton Hill Gwyann Oak, Md. Card. Gibbons
FB Garrett Lestochi 5-11 215 Sr. IUP Altoona Bishop Guilfoyle
WR Brahin Bilal 5-11 200 Sr. Bloomsburg Philadelphia Lincoln
WR Chris Bergeski 6-1 200 Jr. So. Conn. St. Mountainside, N.J. Gov. Livingston
WR Chris Bone 5-10 170 Sr. C.W. Post Inwood, N.Y. Lawrence
WR Chris Laham 5-10 180 Jr. Merrimack Westwood, Mass. Westwood
WR Jarrett Ponder 6-4 185 Sr. West Liberty St. Petersburg, Fl. Dixie Hollins
WR Pierre Odom 5-10 180 Sr. Clarion Trenton, N.J. Hamilton West
WR Nate Forse 6-4 220 Gr. California Uniontown Laurel Highlands
TE Ryan Salter 6-3 235 Sr. Merrimack Bridgewater, Mass. Arch. Williams
TE Charles Johnson 6-2 205 Sr. Cheyney Dallas, Tx. Skyline
OC Kennis Jones 6-2 295 So. West Chester Philadelphia Bartram
OG Ralph Squitierri 6-1 300 Sr. Bryant Orangeburg, N.Y. Bergen Cath.
OG Kyle Robinette 6-2 280 Sr. Fairmont St. Imperial West Allegheny
OG Jimmy O’Rourke 6-0 260 So. IUP Coraopolis West Allegheny
OG Jeremy Hairston 6-1 316 So. Shepherd LaPlata, Md. Lackey
OT Jason Atteberry 6-3 300 Sr. Glenville St. Murietta, Ga.
OT Mike Habel 6-4 321 So. E. Stroudsburg Brookhaven Sun Valley
OT Clark Lanzendorf 6-4 295 Sr. Shepherd Manassas, Va. Osbourn Park
OT Mike O’Brien 6-5 290 Sr. Clarion Minersville Minersville
AP Paul Favers 5-10 195 Sr. Slippery Rock Pittsburgh Perry
PK Greg Knauss 6-0 185 So. E. Stroudsburg Allentown Parkland
PK Billy Hager 5-10 190 Jr. West Liberty Ocala, Fl. Trinity Christian
Third Team Defense
POS NAME HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Anthony Guerra 6-2 265 Jr. IUP Belle Vernon Belle Vernon
DL Willie Walker 6-3 280 Jr. California Aliquippa Aliquippa
DL Clint Forsha 6-4 275 Sr. Slippery Rock Blairsville Blairsville
DE Corey Lacek 6-1 235 Sr. Slippery Rock Pittsburgh North Hills
DE Brandon Geary 6-3 245 Sr. Fairmont St. Fairmont, WV. East Fairmont
DE Jacob Owens 6-5 275 Sr. Fairmont St. Franklin, W.V. Pendleton County
LB Jayson Frank 6-2 238 Jr. E. Stroudsburg Greenbrook, N.J. Watchung Hills
LB Nick Harding 6-1 220 So. West Liberty Lackawanna, N.Y. Lackawanna
LB Tank Tunstalle 6-3 240 Sr. Concord Mullens, WV. Wyoming East
LB Darren Burns 6-3 225 Jr. California McKeesport McKeesport
LB Dustin Zitzmann 5-11 215 So. Assumption Pinellas Park, Fl. Dixie Hollins
CB Dionte Henry 5-11 200 Sr. California Imperial W. Allegheny
CB Tyree Cooper 6-1 175 Sr. Cheyney Piscataway, N.J. Piscataway
CB Mike Williams 5-9 170 Sr. Charleston Tampa, Fl. Brandon
CB Marcus Banks 5-10 190 Sr. Millersville Philadelphia G. Washington
SAF Ola Adams 6-1 190 Sr. Concord Reston, Va. South Lakes
SAF Corey Sample 5-9 195 Sr. IUP Philadelphia Northeast
P Nick Krut 5-11 180 Jr. E. Stroudsburg Clarks Summit Abington Hts.
P Brian Donnelly 6-1 170 Jr. Bryant E. Dennis, Mass. Yarmouth
RS Andrew Jackson 5-11 190 Jr. Merrimack New Britain, Ct. New Britain
