DANBURY, Conn. – West Chester University football produced 10 players on the 2017 All-ECAC squad, which was released by the same organization Tuesday morning. In addition to the All-ECAC performers, the Golden Rams brought home Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, as well as the Coach of the Year.
West Chester (9-4, 6-1 PSAC) clinched the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division crown this season. The Golden Rams also secured its first NCAA Division II Tournament victory since 2014 with a 27-6 victory over Shippensburg.
There were nine members of West Chester's squad selected to the All-ECAC First Team, while another was honorable mention.
The trio of major award winners were LB
Tyler Morrissey (Springfield, Pa./Springfield DELCO), WR
Rasheem James (Philadelphia, Pa./Ben Franklin), and head coach
Bill Zwaan.
Joining the likes of Morrissey and James on First Team All-ECAC were
Jarel Elder (Allentown, Pa. / Parkland), Tyler Karpinski (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), Frank Tranzilli (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), George Shipp (Harleysville, Pa. / North Penn),
Shaq James (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic), Andrew Cheggia (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), Brendan Paulison (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley), and
Jarey Elder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland). Receiving honorable mention for the Golden Rams was
Diquan Gilbert (Philadelphia, Pa./Comm Tech).
Morrissey was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the second time this off-season, previously earning the honor by the PSAC. He also tacked on All-ECAC first time honors for his efforts. The redshirt junior finished as the top tackler in the conference with 137 total tackles. He finished the 2017 campaign with the third most tackles in a single-season for the Golden Rams. His 137 were the most in a season since Lee Woodall recorded 140 tackles in 1993. Morrissey contributed a team-best 14.0 tackles for loss, while also registering seven sacks.
James came away as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. His impressive freshman campaign ended with 41 receptions for 674 yards and six touchdowns. The Philadelphia native was second on the squad in receiving yards and touchdowns. One of the best plays of the year had James registering an 85-yard touchdown, which proved to be a game winner against PSAC East rival Kutztown earlier in the season.
Head coach Bill Zwaan orchestrated a 9-4 season for the Golden Rams with a birth in the NCAA Division II Tournament to garner Coach of the Year. West Chester won the PSAC East title with a 6-1 conference record that allowed them to host the PSAC Championship game. Zwaan's squad produced a 27-6 victory over host Shippensburg in the opening round. It marked the first NCAA win since 2014. In 15 years on West Chester's sideline, Zwaan has masterminded a 125-58 (.683) record. West Chester has never suffered a losing season in conference play under Zwaan's tutelage either, authoring an 86-23 mark against the rest of the PSAC Eastern Division since 2003.
On the offensive side of the ball, Jarel Elder led Zwaan's attack by netting 1,230 yards this season for a 5.0 yards per carry average. The 2017 All-PSAC First Team honoree and Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 94.6 yards per page with 17 total touchdowns, 15 of which were on the ground. Through the air, Elder caught 23 passes for 339 yards. On special teams, he was the leading kick return by returning the ball 28 times for 561 yards. These three categories combined to give the senior 2,130 all-purpose yards on the year.
Elder finished his tremendous career seventh all-time on the school's rushing list with 3,356 rushing yards and third all-time on the school's all-purpose yards' list at 5,907 yards.
Karpinski was the leading receiver for the Golden Rams this season, contributing a team-leading 55 receptions for 787 yards and seven touchdowns. Teammate Frank Tranzilli allowed players such as Elder and Karpinski to excel, having started every single game this season. The offensive guard helped generate a 33.1 points per game average. West Chester was fifth in the PSAC with 188.7 rushing yards per contest. Through the air, the Golden Rams produced 218.3 yards for a grand total of 407 yards per game.
Three players were elected on the defensive side of the ball. On the defensive front, Shipp was second in sacks (8.5), second in tackles for loss (13), and tied for fourth on the squad in tackles (53). His sack total placed him fourth in the PSAC for that category. Fellow rusher Diquan Gilbert was third in the conference with a team-best nine sacks. Gilbert led the team in quarterback hurries (6), third in tackles for loss (12.5), and chipped in 39 tackles.
In the secondary, Shaq James provided a team-best three interception for a Golden Rams squad that forced 20 turnovers. James' 16 pass breakups was good enough for third in the whole conference. He produced 53 tackles as well, tying Shipp in that category. The team surrendered 22.9 points a game, while giving up 356.4 yards per contest that was fifth best in the conference.
A trio of players on special teams rounds out the 10 members for the Golden Rams. So., K Andrew Chegia went 9-12 on field goals (75%) for the Golden Rams with a long of 41. He went perfect from 30+, knocking down all four field he attempted from that range.
Punter, Brendan Paulison was one of the best punters in the nation all season long as he punted the ball 61 times for 2,692 yards for an average punt of 44.1 yards. His 2,692 yards and 44.1 yards per punt each set individual school records. The 44.1 yards per punt is the best average since Alex Walsh averaged 42.2 yards per punt back in 2008. His 2,692 yards surpassed the mark previously set by Don Wolf when he punted for a total of 2,430 yards back in 1977.
In the final game of the season, during the second round of the NCAA II Playoffs opposite IUP, Paulison punted six times for a total of 275 yards, averaging 45.8 yards per punt. On the year, Paulison also tallied 17 punts over 50 yards, and he forced 16 fair catches, while also downing 23 punts inside the 20-yard line. The All-PSAC East punter also ranked third in the NCAA and first in the PSAC in average yards per punt on the year.
Last but not least was return specialist Jarey Elder, who averaged 8.3 yards per punt return. Elder returned 18 punts for 149 yards with a long of 30. He also managed one kick return for nine yards.
MAJOR AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Marc Jones - Gannon University, Jr.,
Defensive Player of the Year
Tyler Morrissey - West Chester University, R-Jr., LB
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Rasheem James - West Chester University, R-Fr., WR
Coach of the Year
Bill Zwaan – West Chester University
ALL-ECAC First Team
Marc Jones – Gannon University, Jr., RB
Jarel Elder – West Chester University, Sr., RB
Markell Castle – Newberry College, Jr., WR
Andre Price – Lincoln University, Sr., WR
Tyler Karpinski – West Chester University, Sr., WR
Ryne Griesenauer - Southern Connecticut State University, Sr., TE
Dakota Mozingo – Newberry College, Sr. OL
Joe Buissereth – Southern Connecticut State University, So., OL
Kiley Smith Jr. – Gannon University, So., OL
Brady Bowling – Gannon University, Jr., OL
Frank Tranzilli – West Chester University, Jr., OL
Keito Jordon – Newberry College, So., DL
Jamarcus Henderson - Newberry College, Jr., DL
Noah Harris-Lyles - Gannon University, So., DL
George Shipp - West Chester University Sr., DL
Joe Blue – Newberry College, Jr., LB
Anthony Howard - Gannon University, Jr., LB
Tyler Morrissey – West Chester University, R-Jr., LB
Matthew Corrie – Pace University, R-Sr., LB
Jawanza Adams – Newberry College, Jr., DB
Deion Miller – Lincoln University, Jr., DB
Shaquille James – West Chester University, Sr., DB
Andrew Chegia – West Chester University, So., K
Brendan Paulison – West Chester University, Jr., P
Jarey Elder – West Chester University, So., RS
ALL-ECAC Honorable Mention
Jhalen Bien-Aime – Pace University, R-Jr., RB
Keon Hughes – Cheyney, Sr., OL
Jorge Geronimo – Pace University, Sr., OL
Matt Weiss – Southern Connecticut State University, So., DL
Diquan Gilbert – West Chester, Jr., DL
