SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) – Susquehanna University senior defensive end Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) was named the football team's Most Valuable Player at the team's annual Quarterback Club Awards Banquet Friday night in the school's Evert Dining Hall and Degenstein Campus Center.
Freshman cornerback/punt return specialist Antonio Nash (Washington, D.C./Spring Brook, Md. H.S.) was the recipient of both the Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year awards, while senior offensive guard Todd Werley (Allentown/Allentown Central Catholic H.S.) was named Offensive Player of the Year.
Senior defensive tackle Casey Goff (New Milford/Montrose H.S.) earned the Coaches' Award, while junior center Dave Wonderlick (Shenandoah/Shenandoah Valley H.S.) was recipient of the Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. Sophomore strong safety Ryan McHugh (Brooklyn, N.Y./Poly Prep Country Day School) and freshman quarterback Craig Ulrich (Milton/Milton H.S.) took the team's defensive and offensive scout team awards respectively.
Together, these players helped Susquehanna repeat as Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League champions while posting the program's third-straight winning season and 14th-straight non-losing season – going 7-3 overall and 4-1 in league play. Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Steve Briggs (68-34, .667), the Crusaders were ranked 40th in the final regular-season Division III rankings by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.
Bowers was recently named the MAC's Defensive Lineman of the Year, as well as a repeat MAC Commonwealth League First Team All-Star. The 6-2, 235-pounder led the team with 16 tackles for losses of 68 yards, including a team best seven quarterback sacks, among his 35 tackles (24 solo). He also had a team high three blocked kicks, including a field goal in the championship-clinching 27-20 win at Albright, as well as a pass break-up. He was the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the 27-7 win at MAC total offense leader Juniata on October 9.
Bowers finished his Crusader football career second in career tackles for loss with 42 for 177 yards (Record: 43 for 152, John Heim, 1990-92), and fourth in career sacks with 19.5 (Record: 24, Heim, 1990-92). He had 114 tackles in his career.
He is a mathematics major and the son of Dennis and Pamela Bowers.
Nash was recently named the MAC Commonwealth League Rookie of the Year, as well as a first-team league All-Star at defensive back, and a second-team All-Star as a return specialist. He is also supposed to be included in a story on the top players in small college football in an upcoming issue of ESPN, The Magazine. A transfer from Division II Cheyney University, the 5-9, 170-pounder tied the Susquehanna school record for single-season interceptions with 10 (Other Record Holders: Mike Fabian, 1971; Cory Mabry, 1988; Jeremy Zeisloft, 1996), leading the MAC while tying for third in NCAA Division III (1.0 per game). He had a 9.0-yard interception return average. Nash also led the team in pass break-ups with seven, also blocking a kick and posting 50 tackles (33 solo) — two of them for losses of two yards. He also led the MAC and was tied for 17th in NCAA Division III punt return average at 13.2. That average was third-highest in a season at Susquehanna, and includes 224 yards in 17 returns with a touchdown. Nash was one of just two players to repeat as the team's Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week Award, sponsored by the Golden Corral Family Restaurant.
Nash is an accounting major and the son of Joann and Sampson, Nash, Jr.
Werley was a first-team MAC Commonwealth League All-Star offensive lineman and among the team leaders in knockdown blocks this season – his third as a starter since transferring from Division II Bloomsburg University. He was a top linemen on a Crusader offense which ranked second in the MAC in rushing (163.5 yards per game), and fifth overall (345.7 yards per game). The line only surrendered three sacks of freshman quarterback Mike Bowman over the final six games. The group was collectively honored as the Gus Weber Crusader Players of the Week in a 27-7 win at Juniata on October 9. It led a punishing attack which rolled up 285 yards rushing, 28 first downs, and didn't allow a sack, while keeping the ball for 37:28 against a Juniata defense which was ranked 11th in NCAA Division III against the rush (61.8 yards per game) at the time.
A public relations major, Werley is the son of Stanley Werley and Nikki Werley — both of Allentown.
The 6-2, 250-pound Goff played the entire season with a bulging disk in his lower back, keeping him from practicing throughout the season. Despite playing in pain with the injury, he led the team with three forced fumbles, and was third in lost yardage from tackle behind the line – posting 12 for 62 yards in just eight games. Despite missing those two games, he had 27 tackles (10 solo), including two-and-a-half quarterback sacks.
He is a history major and the son of Michelle Goff of New Milford, and William J. Goff, Jr., of Montrose.
The 5-10, 245-pound Wonderlick was named the team's top offensive lineman this season in his first year as a full-time starter. In addition to the team stats mentioned before with Werley, Wonderlick did not allow a sack in 289 pass plays, giving up just three-and-a-half hurries. He also led the squad in knockdown blocks with 16.
Also an Academic All-American candidate who has made the MAC Commonwealth League Football Honor Roll as a communications/theatre arts major with perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average, he is the son of Len and Louise Wonderlick.
The 5-11, 200-pound McHugh played on the varsity's special teams this season, making two tackles, including one solo. He also played on the 1-1 junior varsity.
He is a liberal arts major and the son of John and Ellen McHugh.
The 6-3, 170-pound Ulrich was the lone quarterback for the Crusader junior varsity as it beat Juniata (20-6), but lost to Lycoming (12-35) this season. In the Juniata win, Ulrich completed 12 of 22 passes for 161 yards with one interception – also running 10 times for 10 yards, including a six-yard touchdown run.
He is a business major and the son of Barry and Elaine Ulrich.
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