SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Senior fullback Jason Eck was the recipient of the Randy Zook Most Valuable Player Award as the Susquehanna University football team held its annual awards banquet at the Degenstein Campus Center on Saturday afternoon.

Senior split end Josh Kleha won the Best Offensive Player award while junior free safety Ben Gibb oney was named the recipient of the Best Defensive Player award.

Also honored were senior guard Mark Hamilton (Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year), senior tight end Bryan Strohl (Chris Vialonga Coaches Award), freshman quarterback Sean Daley (Offensive Scout Team), freshman linebacker Tom Eisenhart (Defensive Scout Team) and junior kicker Dwight Swaney (Dr. Neil Potter Special Teams Award).

Together, these players helped the Crusaders to a 4-6 overall record (3-6 Middle Atlantic Conference) under the direction of 15th-year head coach Steve Briggs (92-60).

Eck (Williamsport, PA/Loyalsock) , a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, was named first-team All-MAC as he ranked seventh in rushing with 588 yards on 121 carries (4.9 average) and 13 touchdowns. He holds the program career record with 45 rushing touchdowns and is second with 2,217 yards in his career.

Kleha (Shamokin, PA/Mount Carmel) was second-team All-MAC after he finished with 56 catches for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns to rank fourth in the MAC in receiving yards per game, sixth in receptions per game and second in touchdowns. He finished his career with 129 receptions for 1,805 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Gibboney (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) was named second-team All-MAC as led the Crusaders with four interceptions and nine pass breakups while making 71 tackles (55 solo) to rank second on the team. He tied for third in the MAC with 13 passes defensed and was tied for second with three fumble recoveries.

Hamilton (West Chester, PA/Downingtown H.S.) earned the Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year Award for the second straight season after repeating as first-team All-MAC and earning second-team All-East honors. The Crusaders ranked second in the MAC in scoring offense (30.6 points per game), fourth in rushing offense (181.2 yards per game) and fourth in passing offense (197.5 yards per game).

Strohl (Akron, PA/Ephrata) , also a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, made five catches for 53 yards this season and carried five times for 43 yards, while playing a key role on the Crusaders' special teams. He was a two-year starter at tight end after playing at fullback as a freshman and sophomore.

Daley (Lee, MA/Lee) did not see any varsity action for the Crusaders but appeared in junior varsity contests for Susquehanna this season.

Eisenhart (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) played in all 10 games for the Crusaders this season, primarily on special teams, and finished with two tackles.

Swaney (Mifflinburg, PA/Mifflinburg) was named second-team All-MAC after he set a program single-season record with 37 extra points (in 41 attempts) and ranked fifth in the league in PAT percentage at 90.2 percent. He converted 21 straight extra points at one stretch during the season and was also 3-for-4 on field goals. Swaney also had a strong season as the Crusader punter as he finished fourth in the MAC with an average of 36.4 yards per punt.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The Randy Zook Most Valuable Player Award is given in the memory of the Crusaders' All-America offensive lineman who passed away in March, 2002 at the age of 23 after starring for Susquehanna from 1997 to 2000.

The Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year Award is presented by the legendary 1951 graduate who has served as a Crusader assistant for 38 years, including the last 13 as offensive line coach under Steve Briggs. Pittello is a member of the Susquehanna Sports Hall of Fame and was honored in 2001 when the team's locker room was formally named in his honor.

The Dr. Neil Potter Special Teams Award is presented in the memory of Susquehanna's longtime chemistry professor and former men's soccer coach who coached the Crusader kickers for five seasons before passing away in an automobile accident in August, 2002.

The Chris Vialonga Coaches Award recognizes the 1993 graduate and two-year starter at left guard who died in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001 , and is presented by Crusader offensive coordinator Ron Miller, who started opposite Vialonga at right tackle on Susquehanna's 1991 South Region championship squad.