SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University junior cornerback Antonio Nash was named the 2001 football team Most Valuable Player and earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors as well at the annual awards banquet held at Front Street Station in Northumberland on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore split end Mark Bartosic was named the team's Best Offensive Player for the second straight year while senior linebacker Troy Sosnovik earned the Best Defensive Player award at the luncheon.

Also earning honors were sophomore fullback Josh Fuller and freshman defensive lineman Ben Larson, who were chosen as winners of the Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Award, respectively. Senior offensive tackle Rob Acheson earned the Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year award while junior defensive end Brent Stransky took home the Chris Vialonga Coaches Award.

Together, these players helped the Crusaders to a 4-6 overall record (4-5 Middle Atlantic Conference) under the direction of 12th-year head coach Steve Briggs (79-43, .648).

Nash (Washington, DC/Springbrook, MD H.S.) is a three-time MAC first-team All-Star and a three-time Football Gazette All-South Region team member. He led the Crusaders with six interceptions and finished second on the team with 76 tackles (53 solo). Nash’s 19 career interceptions are tied for third on the Susquehanna career list.

On special teams, Nash returned 13 punts for a 10.1 average (fifth in the MAC) and returned 19 kickoffs for a 20.9 average (fourth in the MAC). He was also a key member of the kick and punt coverage units, leading both units in tackles.

Bartosic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) repeated as a MAC All-Star and earned All-South Region third-team honors after setting single-season Susquehanna records with 72 receptions for 1,190 yards, and he caught 13 touchdown passes to rank second in the MAC in all three categories. He had eight games of at least 100 yards receiving and caught at least one touchdown pass in nine of 10 games this season

After just two seasons, Bartosic is Susquehanna’s career leader in receptions (123), yards (2,218) and touchdowns (28) and he has caught a touchdown pass in 18 of 20 career games.

Sosnovik (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere H.S.), a two-time first-team MAC All-Star, led the Crusaders with 113 tackles (85 solo) to finish third in the MAC in tackles. He posted double figures in tackles six times during the season and led the Crusaders in stops five times in 10 games. Sosnovik finished his career with 280 tackles to rank 11th in school history.

Fuller (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain H.S.) earned the Offensive Scout Team Award for the second straight season. He appeared in all 10 games for the Crusaders, playing primarily on special teams. He carried the ball three times for seven yards and caught two passes for 12 yards, with both receptions coming in the season opener at Western Maryland.

Larson (Mercersburg, PA/Mercersburg Academy) shifted from offensive to defensive line early in the season, appearing in just one varsity contest while also seeing time on the junior varsity squad.

Acheson (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown H.S.) earned MAC honorable mention All-Star honors as he started all 10 games at left tackle and keyed a unit that allowed Crusader quarterbacks to pass for 245.6 yards per game (third in the MAC). Overall, Susquehanna ranked fifth in the MAC in total offense with an average of 356.5 yards per game.

Stransky (Shickshinny, PA/Lake-Lehman H.S.) was the first winner of the renamed Coaches Award, presented in memory of the late Chris Vialonga ‘93¸ a two-year starter at left guard and former MAC All-Star who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11. Stransky appeared in six games in a reserve role and finished with two tackles, including a half-sack in the season finale against Lebanon Valley.