SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) — Susquehanna University freshman cornerback Antonio Nash (Washington, D.C./Spring Brook, Md., H.S.) is a 1999 All-South Region First Team selection by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, while senior defensive end and tri-captain Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) and junior offensive tackle Randy Zook (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) were second-team picks. Bowers and Zook are repeat All-South selections by Football Gazette, with Zook making the first-team and Bowers the second-team a year ago.
All three all-region picks qualify for Football Gazette’s Division III All-American ballot. That team will consist of three teams and honorable mentions and be released next week.
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 Football Gazette.
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 was also Susquehanna’s defensive and special teams player of the year. 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). 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 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.
An accounting major, he is the son of Joann and Sampson, Nash, Jr.
Recently named the team’s Most Valuable Player, Bowers is 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.
The 6-5, 260-pound Zook earned first-team MAC Commonwealth All-Star honors for the second time in as many seasons as a starter. He was one of the 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). Zook gave up just one quarterback sack all season, and had 16 knockdown blocks. The line allowed just three sacks of freshman quarterback Mike Bowman in the last six games. The group was honored as the team’s Gus Weber Crusader Players of the Week in a 27-7 win at Juniata on October 9 as it led an 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 nationally against the rush at the time.
Zook is a public relations major and the son of Raymond and Joann Zook.
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