Junior kicker C.J. Bahr, junior cornerback Robert Doiley, junior center Brandon Fusco and senior punter Kyle Witman each garnered a first-team honor in voting by the division's head coaches; three other Rock players attained second-team All-PSAC-West status
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- Four members of the Slippery Rock University football team were named Wednesday as first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division first-team selections in voting by the division's head coaches.
Junior kicking specialist
C.J. Bahr (#10), junior cornerback
Robert Doiley (#2), junior offensive center
Brandon Fusco (#74) and senior punter
Kyle Witman (#15) were each given the prestigious honor.
The first-team All-PSAC-West honor was the second earned by Fusco in as many seasons. Witman ascended to the first team this fall after being a second-team selection in 2008. Bahr and Doiley each earned the first all-conference honor of their collegiate career.
Three other Rock football student-athletes were named to second-team All-PSAC-West status: Junior wide receiver
Devin Goda, senior defensive end
Pat Marsilio and redshirt sophomore linebacker
Zach Sheridan.
All three second-team selections were named to all-conference status for the first time in their collegiate careers.
Bahr, a native of Boalsburg and graduate of State College High School, was The Rock's leading scorer this fall with 54 points on the strength of 27-for-28 and 9-for-14 efficiencies in extra points and field goals, respectively. He also averaged 55.8 yards per kickoff. The son of former Penn State and NFL kicker Chris Bahr and nephew of former PSU/NFL booter Matt Bahr, C.J. had a school-record string of 65 successful extra-point kicks snapped by a block Oct. 17 at Gannon. He currently ranks second on SRU's career extra points chart with 112, third on the career field goals list with 25 and seventh on the all-time scoring list with 187 points.
Doiley, a McKeesport native and graduate of McKeesport High School, led the PSAC in passes defended this fall with 11 (8 broken up, three interceptions). He returned one of his INTs 36 yards for a game-winning touchdown Sept. 12 at Kutztown. Doiley recorded 41 total tackles (31 solo, 10 assisted) in the first nine games before sustaining a season-ending injury and missing the final two contests. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss (minus-17 yards) and one quarterback sack (-10 yards).
Fusco, a Cranberry Township native and graduate of Seneca Valley High School, was the mainstay of a Rock offensive line that led the way to the Green and White ranking sixth in the PSAC in rushing offense (146.36 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (25.2 points per game). He is The Rock's candidate for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.
Witman, a Harrisburg native and graduate of Trinity High School, led the PSAC and ranked third among NCAA Division II punters with a 41.8 yards per punt average this fall. He matched his career-best mark when he booted a 65-yarder Sept. 12 at Kutztown, had 13 punts that travelled 50 or more yards and had 18 of his 54 punts land inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Goda, a native of Monongahela and graduate of Elizabeth Forward High School, was The Rock's leading receiver this fall with 31 pass receptions for 466 yards and three touchdowns.
Marsilio, who hails from Freedom and is an Ambridge High School graduate, led The Rock in tackles for loss (13.5 for minus-54 yards) and quarterback sacks (5 for minus-40). He also forced three fumbles, recovered one fumble, blocked two kicks (one punt, one extra point), battled down five passes and recorded three quarterback hurries while recording 41 total tackles (27 solo, 14 assisted).
Sheridan, a Pittsburgh native and Seton-LaSalle High School graduate, tied for the team lead in tackles with 60 (33 solo, 27 assisted) and was second on the team both in tackles for loss (8.5 for minus-17 yards) and QB sacks (2.5 for minus-7 yards). He also recorded two interceptions, batted down four other passes, had one QB hurry and forced one fumble.
The seven all-conference performers led The Rock to a 6-5 overall record this fall and a 3-4 PSAC-West mark that earned the Green and White a share of fourth place in the eight-team division.
Former Rock defensive coordinator Jay Foster, now the head coach at Clarion University, was selected by his peers as the PSAC-West "Coach of the Year" after leading the Golden Eagles to an 8-3 overall record and a 6-1 PSAC-West record good for second place in the eight-team division.