Somerset, NJ -- There is an air of familiarity among the Northeast Conference postseason football award winners with three individual honorees being repeat winners. Robert Morris senior quarterback Tim Levcik (Ford Cliff, PA/Ford City) corrals NEC Offensive Player of the Year honors for a second straight season, as does the NEC Defensive Player of the Year, Sacred Heart junior linebacker Kayode Mayowa (Providence, RI/LaSalle Academy). Stony Brook sophomore wide receiver Londre Blocker (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset) picks up Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, while St. John’s freshman defensive back Orion Sykes (Brooklyn, NY/Christ The King) nabs the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. For the second straight season, Sacred Heart’s Jim Fleming takes home NEC Coach of the Year accolades. Award winners were selected by a vote of league head coaches.
Sacred Heart (seven first team, three second team), Robert Morris (7/3) and Albany (6/4) are each represented with ten all-conference selections. Monmouth (3/5) and Wagner (0/8) land eight all stars, followed by St. John’s (1/1), Central Connecticut State (1/1) and Stony Brook (0/1).
Levcik joins Wagner’s Rick Sarille (1996, 1999) as the only two players in NEC history to twice earn recognition as Offensive Player of the Year. A four-time NEC Player of the Week award winner this season, he completed 152-267 passes (56.9 percent) and ranked second in the conference with 2,110 yards passing and 22 touchdowns. In league play, Levcik completed 61.9 percent of his passes and fired 21 touchdowns passes, while throwing just five interceptions. Levcik finished his career as the NEC’s all-time leader in passing yardage (7,222 yards), total offense (7,082 yards), touchdown passes (76) and completions (537). The Ford Cliff, PA native established new single-season school records for completions, touchdown passes and passing yardage this season, breaking his own record in each category. Levcik, a three-time NEC first team all-star, led Robert Morris to a 28-11 record, three NEC titles and the #1 ranking in the Don Hansen Gazette Mid-Major Poll in 1999 and 2000.
The first two-time Defensive Player of the Year in league history, Mayowa is the ringleader of an impressive Sacred Heart defense that ranks fourth nationally in total defense and seventh in scoring defense. He leads the Pioneers and ranks seventh in the conference with 95 tackles, 47 of which were of the solo variety. Mayowa has also recorded eight tackles for losses, 2.0 sacks, five fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Armed with a big play mentality, the Providence, RI native scored three defensive touchdowns this season, including a 24-yard interception return to help the Pioneers knock off Robert Morris for just the third time in NEC play since the formation of the circuit in 1996. Mayowa is the third most prolific tackler in NEC history with 336 stops and is the league’s career leader with 51 tackles for losses.
Blocker’s emergence at wide receiver, along with the quick maturation of quarterback Scott Bard, resulted in an improved Stony Brook passing attack this season. The Seawolves ranked sixth in the NEC in passing offense last year, but jumped to third in 2001 as Blocker made 31 receptions for 482 yards and five touchdowns. Among first year players, he stands only behind CCSU’s Nick Dresko in receptions and receiving yardage. Blocker’s breakthrough game came against Wagner on October 6, when he reeled in seven passes for a school record 216 yards and three touchdowns in Stony Brook’s 52-30 victory.
Sykes joined a strong St. John’s secondary this season and made his presence felt with 56 tackles (32 solo), four tackles for losses, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. With 11 passes defended (tied for third in the league) he helped spark the Red Storm to a #15 national ranking in I-AA in passing defense.
Fleming’s success at Sacred Heart upon his arrival last season is nothing short of remarkable. After taking over a program that had lost 25 of its last 29 games, Fleming engineered a turnaround that recently brought the Pioneers their first NEC championship and a berth in the ECAC Bowl against Duquesne on December 1. An Eddie Robinson award finalist for the second straight season, Fleming has guided Sacred Heart to a perfect 10-0 record and a #1 ranking in both the Sports Network and Don Hansen Gazette Mid-Major polls this season. The Pioneers lead the nation in scoring, averaging 41.9 ppg, and set a new NEC record with 419 points on the season. In two years, Fleming’s teams have posted a 20-1 record.
Robert Morris junior Sam Dorsett (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) and Sacred Heart senior Marvin Royal (Pleasantville, NJ/Fairfield University) reprise their roles as the first team all-NEC backfield. Dorsett gained 1,166 yards and averaged 6.0 yards per rush, both tops in the NEC, and added ten touchdowns. The lightning quick tailback rushed for over 100 yards in seven of the Colonials’ nine games this season and ten of 12 going back to the 2000 campaign. Dorsett is second on the NEC career rushing list with 2,709 yards heading into his senior season. Royal has scored a school-record and NEC-high 16 rushing touchdowns in 2001, and with 972 yards on the ground, has one game remaining to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season. A punishing runner, he averages 4.2 yards on his league-leading 229 carries.
Sacred Heart senior DeVeren Johnson (San Diego, CA/Champlain JC) and Albany senior Chris Phillis (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) are the league’s first team all-NEC wide receivers. With great size (6-6), speed and leaping ability, Johnson is a pro prospect and one of the most dangerous receivers in NEC history. A three-time NEC Player of the Week, he established new single-season league records with 1,114 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also averaged a spectacular 23.7 yards per catch on 47 receptions. Johnson, who caught 23 passes for 574 yards and eight touchdowns in games against the Pioneers three chief competitors - Robert Morris, Albany and Monmouth - was a second team all-NEC pick last season. Phillis is one of the league’s great route runners, and despite being hampered by back and toe injuries over the final few weeks of the season, still managed to make a team-high 42 receptions for 609 yards and six touchdowns. He finished his career as the third most prolific receiver in NEC history with 124 receptions. Phillis earned second team all-NEC status in 2000, and was a first-team honoree in 1999.
Robert Morris sophomore Brent Hockenberry (Kittanning, PA/Kittanning) is the coaches’ choice at tight end. Hockenberry caught 39 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. He leads all NEC tight ends in receiving yardage and ranks second in catches and touchdowns. A second team all-NEC selection in 2000, he amassed 100+ receiving yards in three games this season.
There is a notable Robert Morris influence on the first team all-NEC offensive line, with Colonials players accounting for three of the five spots. Senior center Mark Leyenaar (Palm Harbor, FL/East Lake) is now a three-time first team all-star, while senior tackle Pat Linberg (Renovo, PA/Bucktail Area) earns his second first team nod. Colonial sophomore Kevin Wachhaus (Lancaster, PA/Manheim) was a second team selection in 2000 and is one of just two underclassmen to be awarded first team honors at any position. Another repeat winner is Albany junior guard Alex Argulewicz (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill Central), a second team performer last year. The remaining spot goes to Sacred Heart senior center Chris Hevey (Merritt Island, FL/Bedford), who helped anchor an offensive line that yielded just ten sacks all season.
There is a changing of the guard on the first team all-NEC defensive line this season with four new players in the spotlight. Sacred Heart senior Shaun Hubbard (Neptune, NJ/Fort Scott CC) is the only member of the line with previous all-star recognition, earning a second team accolade last season. One of the most feared pass rushers in the conference and a two-time Defensive Player of the Week, Hubbard leads the conference with 9.5 sacks and has totaled 16.5 in two seasons. He has also tallied 16 tackles for losses, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. Hubbard’s teammate, senior DJ Dymond (Woodbourne, NY/Tri-Valley), has made 46 stops, including 12 behind the line of scrimmage, along with 3.5 sacks. Monmouth junior defensive end Chris Ammacher (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) had an outstanding season for a Monmouth team that prides itself on its defense. Ammacher ranks second in the NEC with 8.5 sacks, and is tied with Hubbard for fourth with 16 takedowns for losses. He also broke up three passes and forced two fumbles. Junior tackle Mike Kirk (Stormville, NY/Carmel) is Central Connecticut State’s lone all-star this season following a campaign in which he registered 49 tackles, including nine for losses, and 2.0 sacks.
Along with Mayowa, Albany’s Josh Bazan (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) makes a return appearance as a first team all-NEC linebacker. In a position rich in talent, Bazan is one of the most NEC’s dominant linebackers. He led the Great Danes in tackles (100) and tackles for losses (17), and ranks fifth and second, respectively, in the league in those categories. Bazan also totaled 4.0 sacks, six passes defended and an NEC-high four forced fumbles. Robert Morris’ Reggie Chambers (Randallstown, MD/Mount St. Joseph) had a breakout year for the Colonials, compiling a team-high 108 tackles and ten stops in the backfield. Chambers, who ranks second in the NEC in tackles, also recorded one sack and one interception.
Albany junior Samson Brown (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) makes his third consecutive appearance as a member of the first team all-NEC secondary. A free safety, Brown is second in the NEC with five interceptions. He also made 43 tackles and broke up five passes. Monmouth senior free safety Aaron Edwards (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) also makes his third all-star team, following second team recognition in 1999 and first team status in 1998. He had a statistically dominant season for a Hawk team ranked eighth in the nation in passing defense. Edwards, who is the top-ranked tackler in the conference with 114 stops, ends his career as the NEC’s all-time leader with 353 takedowns. A three-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week this season, he also intercepted three passes, broke up five more, forced a fumble and blocked an NEC-high five kicks. Sacred Heart senior cornerback Kiheme Cowan (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) is yet another three-time all-star, though his initial selection came as a running back in 1999 prior to his conversion to defensive back last season. In a Pioneer secondary stockpiled with talent and ranked seventh in I-AA in passing defense, Cowan led the way and is tied for second in the conference with five interceptions. He has also broken up six passes, blocked four kicks and made 30 tackles. The lone newcomer to the all-NEC secondary is St. John’s senior Allistair Sebastien (Roosevelt, NY/Roosevelt), a terrific athlete with pro potential. Sebastien accumulated 40 tackles, picked off two passes and broke up seven others during the 2001 season.
Albany senior Bryan Bagstad (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) takes home all-NEC placekicking honors. Bagstad converted 9-14 field goal attempts and 27-29 PAT’s to rank second in the conference in scoring with 54 points. He made five of his last seven field goal attempts to close out the season.
Albany junior Billy Pike (Lawrence, NY/Lawrence) is the first team pick at punter. Pike is tied for second in the NEC with 34.5 yards per kick, but rates first with 19 boots inside the 20 yard line and ten fair catches. He also set a league record with a 73-yard punt in the Great Danes’ 24-14 win over St. Francis (PA) on October 27.
Monmouth junior Jason Roach (Toms River, NJ/Manchester) earns first team plaudits as a return specialist. Roach averaged 25.9 yards on his 16 kickoff returns to rank second in the NEC and 25th in I-AA in the category. During the first game of the season, Roach returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a score in Monmouth’s 23-15 win over Wagner.
The second team all-NEC offense is headed by Sacred Heart senior quarterback Justin Holtfreter (Lancaster, CA/Antelope Valley JC). Holtfreter threw for 2,393 passing yards during the regular season to set a new NEC single-season record. He also rifled 24 touchdown passes against just seven interceptions. The backfield is comprised of Monmouth senior Matt Merklinger (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) and Albany senior Brian Manigault (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale), both two-time second team honorees. Merklinger rushed for 819 yards and ten touchdowns, and leads all league running backs with 29 receptions for 411 yards and four scores. He closed out his career with 210 points and 35 touchdowns, tying Chris Reed’s school record in both categories. Manigault ate up 946 yards on the ground and scored seven times for the Great Danes, who lead the NEC in rushing offense. Manigault moved into fourth place on the school’s all-time rushing list with 2,252 career yards. St. John’s junior wide receiver Matt May (Medford, NY/Patchogue-Medford) leads the NEC with 60 receptions (for 825 yards), including a 13-catch effort in the Red Storm’s season finale. He collected five touchdowns on the season. He is joined at wideout by Wagner’s Lou Simone (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), who paced the Seahawks with 51 receptions for 622 yards, including six for scores. Simone’s teammate, senior tight end Daryn Plummer (Somerset, NJ/Franklin), leads all players at his position and ranks second in the conference with 11 touchdown receptions. A first team pick in 2000, Plummer recorded a school record 21 touchdown grabs in two seasons. The offensive line is comprised of Monmouth seniors Matt Herdman (Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) and Eric Buraszeski (Brick, NJ/Brick), Albany junior Regan Jones (Vero Beach, FL/Vero Beach), Albany freshman Geir Gudmundsen (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and Sacred Heart junior Jason St. John (Oakville, CT/Watertown). Herdman is the only repeat honoree - he was a first team choice last season - while Gudmundsen is the lone freshman this year to earn all-star recognition.
The second team all-NEC defense features four sophomore defensive lineman. Wagner’s John Harrison (Hart, CA/College of the Canyons JC) tied for second in the conference with 17 tackles for losses, while teammate Franklin Bright (Waltham, MA/Belmont) tied for fifth with 15 backfield stops. Albany’s John Bolt (Watervliet, NY/Watervliet) led Albany with 5.0 sacks and Monmouth’s Sean Kerr (Summit, NJ/Summit) was a run-stopper who added 2.0 sacks. Wagner linebacker Mike Steed (Poughkeepsie, NY/N.Y. Military Academy) finds himself an NEC all-star for the third straight season (first team in 2000) following an 87-tackle campaign. He also totaled 13 tackles for losses. Steed is joined by teammate Jeremy Balina (Neptune, NJ/Neptune), a junior who finished with an NEC-best 27 stops behind the line of scrimmage, the second best single-season total in league history. He also paced Wagner with 92 tackles and tied for the team lead with 5.0 sacks. Stony Brook’s Aden Smith (Rockville Center, NY/Malverne) ranks first in the NEC in tackles per game (12.4) and set a new school record with 112 takedowns this season. In the secondary, Sacred Heart junior Blake Neri (Dover, NH/Dover) is the league’s top pilferer, having picked off six passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Robert Morris junior Corey Oaks (Pittsburgh, PA/Perry) intercepted three passes and led the Colonials with 11 passes defended. Monmouth junior Michael Pitts (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) intercepted three passes, broke up eight more and forced three fumbles for the Hawks. Wagner’s Kharee Shorter (Wyncote, PA/Cheltenham) made 62 tackles from his free safety position and had three pickoffs.
Robert Morris’ Jeff Carlo (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Elmer Meyers) is the lone double winner this season, earning second team honors at both placekicker and punter. Carlo, a four-time all-star at placekicker, ends his career as the NEC’s all-time leader with 35 field goals. This season, he drilled 6-10 attempts, and was successful on 34-36 extra points. A first-time pick as a punter, Carlo averaged an NEC-high 34.9 yards per kick and dropped eight inside the 20 yard line. Return specialist Ryan Castellani (Peckville, PA/Valley View) of Wagner leads the conference and ranks 22nd nationally with 13.4 yards per punt return.
| 2001 NEC Football Major Award Winners |
| |
| Offensive Player of the Year |
|
| QB |
Tim Levcik |
Robert Morris |
6-6 |
230 |
Sr |
Ford Cliff, PA/Ford City |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Defensive Player of the Year |
|
| LB |
Kayode Mayowa |
Sacred Heart |
6-0 |
215 |
Jr |
Providence, RI/LaSalle Academy |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Offensive Rookie of the Year |
|
| WR |
Londre Blocker |
Stony Brook |
6-1 |
170 |
So |
Manhasset, NY/Manhasset |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Defensive Rookie of the Year |
|
| DB |
Orion Sykes |
St. John’s |
6-2 |
220 |
Fr |
Brooklyn, NY/Christ The King |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Coach of the Year |
|
| |
Jim Fleming |
Sacred Heart |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 NEC Football All-Conference First Team |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Offense |
|
|
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Ht |
Wt |
Yr |
Hometown/High School |
| QB |
Tim Levcik |
Robert Morris |
6-6 |
230 |
Sr |
Ford Cliff, PA/Ford City |
| RB |
Marvin Royal |
Sacred Heart |
5-10 |
205 |
Sr |
Pleasantville, NJ/Fairfield U. |
| RB |
Sam Dorsett |
Robert Morris |
5-9 |
190 |
Jr |
Hollywood, FL/Flanagan |
| WR |
DeVeren Johnson |
Sacred Heart |
6-6 |
215 |
Sr |
San Diego, CA/Champlain JC |
| WR |
Chris Phillis |
Albany |
6-1 |
195 |
Sr |
Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs |
| TE |
Brent Hockenberry |
Robert Morris |
6-3 |
195 |
So |
Kittanning, PA/Kittanning |
| OL |
Alex Argulewicz |
Albany |
6-1 |
295 |
Jr |
Wallkill, NY/Wallkill Central |
| OL |
Chris Hevey |
Sacred Heart |
6-2 |
255 |
Sr |
Merritt Island, FL/Bedford |
| OL |
Mark Leyenaar |
Robert Morris |
6-4 |
285 |
Sr |
Palm Harbor, FL/East Lake |
| OL |
Pat Linberg |
Robert Morris |
6-3 |
290 |
Sr |
Renovo, PA/Bucktail Area |
| OL |
Kevin Wachhaus |
Robert Morris |
6-4 |
265 |
So |
Lancaster, PA/Manheim |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Defense |
|
|
| DL |
Chris Ammacher |
Monmouth |
6-4 |
240 |
Jr |
Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne |
| DL |
DJ Dymond |
Sacred Heart |
6-0 |
250 |
Sr |
Woodbourne, NY/Tri-Valley |
| DL |
Shaun Hubbard |
Sacred Heart |
6-3 |
240 |
Sr |
Neptune, NJ/Fort Scott CC (KS) |
| DL |
Mike Kirk |
CCSU |
6-0 |
250 |
Jr |
Stormville, NY/Carmel |
| LB |
Josh Bazan |
Albany |
6-0 |
210 |
Jr |
Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman |
| LB |
Reggie Chambers |
Robert Morris |
6-0 |
225 |
Sr |
Randallstown, MD/Mount St. Joseph |
| LB |
Kayode Mayowa |
Sacred Heart |
6-0 |
215 |
Jr |
Providence, RI/LaSalle Academy |
| DB |
Samson Brown |
Albany |
6-1 |
200 |
Jr |
Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman |
| DB |
Kiheme Cowan |
Sacred Heart |
5-9 |
165 |
Sr |
Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge |
| DB |
Aaron Edwards |
Monmouth |
6-1 |
205 |
Sr |
Jackson, NJ/Jackson |
| DB |
Allistair Sebastien |
St. John’s |
6-0 |
180 |
Sr |
Roosevelt, NY/Roosevelt |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Special Teams |
|
|
| K |
Bryan Bagstad |
Albany |
5-10 |
185 |
Sr |
Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa |
| P |
Billy Pike |
Albany |
6-1 |
200 |
Jr |
Lawrence, NY/Lawrence |
| RS |
Jason Roach |
Monmouth |
5-10 |
180 |
Jr |
Toms River, NJ/Manchester |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2001 NEC Football All-Conference Second Team |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Offense |
|
|
| Pos |
Name |
School |
Ht |
Wt |
Yr |
Hometown/High School |
| QB |
Justin Holtfreter |
Sacred Heart |
5-11 |
210 |
Sr |
Lancaster, CA/Antelope Valley JC |
| RB |
Brian Manigault |
Albany |
5-9 |
195 |
Sr |
Hempstead, NY/Uniondale |
| RB |
Matt Merklinger |
Monmouth |
5-11 |
195 |
Sr |
West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep |
| WR |
Matt May |
St. John’s |
6-1 |
170 |
Jr |
Medford, NY/Patchogue-Medford |
| WR |
Lou Simone |
Wagner |
6-2 |
205 |
Sr |
Staten Island, NY/Tottenville |
| TE |
Daryn Plummer |
Wagner |
6-2 |
225 |
Sr |
Somerset, NJ/Franklin |
| OL |
Eric Buraszeski |
Monmouth |
6-1 |
260 |
Sr |
Brick, NJ/Brick |
| OL |
Geir Gudmundsen |
Albany |
6-6 |
285 |
Fr |
Saugerties, NY/Saugerties |
| OL |
Matt Herdman |
Monmouth |
6-2 |
260 |
Sr |
Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield |
| OL |
Regan Jones |
Albany |
6-2 |
270 |
Jr |
Vero Beach, FL/Vero Beach |
| OL |
Jason St. John |
Sacred Heart |
6-5 |
275 |
Jr |
Oakville, CT/Watertown |
| |
|
|
|
| Defense |
|
| DL |
John Bolt |
Albany |
6-4 |
240 |
So |
Watervliet, NY/Watervliet |
| DL |
Franklin Bright |
Wagner |
6-2 |
245 |
So |
Waltham, MA/Belmont |
| DL |
John Harrison |
Wagner |
6-0 |
225 |
So |
Hart, CA/College of the Canyons JC |
| DL |
Sean Kerr |
Monmouth |
6-0 |
240 |
So |
Summit, NJ/Summit |
| LB |
Jeremy Balina |
Wagner |
6-0 |
215 |
Jr |
Neptune, NJ/Neptune |
| LB |
Aden Smith |
Stony Brook |
5-10 |
220 |
Jr |
Rockville Center, NY/Malverne |
| LB |
Mike Steed |
Wagner |
5-11 |
225 |
Sr |
Poughkeepsie, NY/N.Y. Military Academy |
| DB |
Blake Neri |
Sacred Heart |
6-3 |
185 |
Jr |
Dover, NH/Dover |
| DB |
Corey Oaks |
Robert Morris |
5-11 |
191 |
Jr |
Pittsburgh, PA/Perry |
| DB |
Michael Pitts |
Monmouth |
5-11 |
180 |
Jr |
Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly |
| DB |
Kharee Shorter |
Wagner |
5-10 |
175 |
Jr |
Wyncote, PA/Cheltenham |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Special Teams |
|
| K |
Jeff Carlo |
Robert Morris |
6-0 |
195 |
Jr |
Wilkes-Barre, PA/Elmer Meyers |
| P |
Jeff Carlo |
Robert Morris |
6-0 |
195 |
Jr |
Wilkes-Barre, PA/Elmer Meyers |
| RS |
Ryan Castellani |
Wagner |
6-0 |
178 |
Jr |
Peckville, PA/Valley View |