When you’re the champs, you get rewarded.
And that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday to the Kutztown University football team.
The three-time PSAC champions swept three of the four major season-ending awards for the Eastern Division.
Quarterback Judd Novak was named the Offensive Athlete of the Year, linebacker Brandon Hiles was named the Defensive Athlete of the Year and Jim Clements won his third straight Coach of the Year award.
Novak, a redshirt junior from Manheim Central High School, threw for 2,292 yards, completing 154 of 231 passes for 19 touchdowns without an interception. He had a QB efficiency of 176.1. He also rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
Hile, a senior from Selinsgrove High School, had 48 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and four pass breakups this season as the Golden Bears (11-0) allowed just 10.5 points per game and 255.2 yards per game – both conference-best totals and ranked in the top five nationally for most of the season.
Clements earned his third consecutive PSAC title, and fourth in the last five years, with a 28-23 victory over IUP in the PSAC championship game. The Golden Bears are the No. 1 seed in Super One Region for the second straight season in the NCAA Division II playoffs and will host Bentley this Saturday at noon in the opening round.
Bloomsburg’s Declan Clancy, from Manheim Township High School, was named Freshman of the Year after carrying 145 times for 638 yards and scoring four touchdowns.
All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team
Offense
Quarterback – Judd Novak, Kutztown, redshirt junior.
Running backs – Jordan Barnett, Shepherd, redshirt, junior; Steven Burkhardt, Kutztown, redshirt junior; Matt Frame, East Stroudsburg, redshirt, junior.
Tackles – Brandon Carr, Shepherd, redshirt, senior; Ryan Schernecke, Kutztown, redshirt senior.
Guards – Billy Everitt, Kutztown, redshirt senior; Ty Lucas, Shepherd, redshirt senior.
Center – Josh Crummitt, Shepherd, junior.
Tight end – Beau Heyser, East Stroudsburg, senior.
Wide receivers – Jaylen Andrews, East Stroudsburg, sophomore; Kordell Batten, Shepherd, junior; Jerry Griffen-Batchler, Bloomsburg, senior.
Return specialist – Klayton Batten, Shepherd, graduate student.
Placekicker – Ty Quintois, East Stroudsburg, junior.
Defense
Linemen – Ashton Blose, East Stroudsburg; junior; Kyree Butler, Kutztown, junior; Mikey Gray, Kutztown, redshirt sophomore; Nathan Muhle, Shepherd, senior; Freddie Retter, Kutztown, redshirt junior.
Linebackers – Rocco Daugherty, Lock Haven, junior; Brandon Hile, Kutztown, senior; Nate Myers, Shippensburg, redshirt sophomore; Connor Noble, West Chester, redshirt senior.
Backs – Klayton Batten, Shepherd, graduate student; Lee Coleman, Kutztown, senior; Everette Dingle, East Stroudsburg, redshirt junior; Markel Morgan, Lock Haven, senior.
Punter – Daishaun Alexander, Shepherd, junior.
Second team
Offense
Quarterbacks (tie) – Jackson Ostrowsky, Lock Haven. graduate student; KJ Riley, Bloomsburg, senior.
Running backs – Declan Clancy, Bloomsburg, freshman; Damir Green, Lock Haven, graduate student; Jaedyn Stewart, Kutztown, redshirt junior.
Tackles – Guy Gilyard, East Stroudsburg, graduate student; Shane Hartman, Kutztown, redshirt junior.
Guards – Adam Conklin, Kutztown, redshirt junior; Pat Reynolds, East Stroudsburg, redshirt junior.
Center – CJ Conti, Kutztown, redshirt junior.
Tight end – Luke Maxwell, Kutztown, redshirt sophomore.
Wide receivers – Matthew Iuvara, West Chester, redshirt sophomore; Noah Kracyla, Kutztown, redshirt sophomore;Justin Popovich, Lock Haven, junior.
Return specialist – Elijah Carroll, East Stroudsburg, redshirt freshman.
Placekicker – Rylan Zuk, West Chester, redshirt freshman.
Defense
Linemen – Jack Baxter, Shepherd, graduate student; Ryan Epps, East Stroudsburg, redshirt freshman; Rhys McDonald, Lock Haven, graduate student; Eli Rodriguez, Shippensburg, redshirt freshman; Jake Williamson, East Stroudsburg, redshirt junior.
Linebackers – Bryce Beutler, Millersville, redshirt sophomore; Eden Johnson, Kutztown, redshirt junior; Brandon Strausser, Kutztown, redshirt senior; Makai Young, Shepherd, Junior.
Backs – Maurice Beverly, West Chester, redshirt junior; Malachi Bowman, East Stroudsburg, redshirt senior; Jhaisir Harden, Kutztown, redshirt sophomore; DJ Jackson, Shippensburg, senior.
Punter – Adam Noll, East Stroudsburg, redshirt sophomore.
