LYCOMING COLLEGE HONORS FOOTBALL TEAM
Announces 2005 Captains

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Twelve members of the 2004 Lycoming College football team received special awards, Saturday evening, at the team’s 29^th annual post-season banquet held at the Genetti Hotel.

Senior quarterback Phil Mann (Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain) received the Warriors’ highest honor for the second consecutive year as the team’s most valuable player. Mann was Lycoming’s top playmaker all season throwing for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns on 108-of-199 passing, while also rushing for 201 yards and six touchdowns on 81 carries. Mann was named second-team all-Middle Atlantic Conference for his efforts.

Juniors Matt Mangold (Marlton, N.J.; Cherokee) and Tony Kopp (Saint Mary’s, Pa.; Saint Mary’s) shared the offensive player of the year honors. Mangold, a fullback, was used primarily as a lead-blocker and pass-protector but did carry the ball 17 times for 48 yards. He also caught nine passes for 35 yards. Kopp was one of the Warriors’ top receivers catching 28 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns.

Offensive lineman of the year honors went to sophomore Lucas Baltz (Nazareth, Pa.; Nazareth). Baltz was the leader of an offensive line that cleared the way for 1,036 yards rushing, including 11 touchdowns. The line also allowed only 14 sacks in 341 passing attempts. Baltz was also honored by the conference by being named second-team all-MAC.

Fellow offensive lineman Jim Crompton (Jr./Warminster, Pa.; Archbishop Wood) earned the most improved offensive player award.

On the other side of the ball, senior Brian Kaspick (Clearfield, Pa.; Clearfield) and junior Luke Sterling (Lehighton, Pa.; Lehighton) shared the defensive player of the year award. Kaspick was second on the team with 52 tackles and led the secondary with three interceptions and a total of 10 passes defended. He also recovered two fumbles and forced another. Kaspick was named first-team all-MAC for his contributions. Sterling was Lycoming’s leading tackler for the second time in his career with 53 total stops. He also led the squad with four sacks, while intercepting a pass and forcing two fumbles.

Junior Mike Kozak (Drexel Hill, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner) was named the team’s defensive lineman of the year. Kozak, the emotional leader of the team, tallied 19 tackles at defensive tackle, including a team-high four sacks. He also recorded a total of eight tackles behind the line-of-scrimmage for a loss of 30 yards.

The most improved defensive player award went to junior Kevin LeSage (Darby, Pa.; Monsignor Bonner). LeSage recorded 44 tackles from his position at outside linebacker, including five behind the line-of-scrimmage. He also intercepted a pass, forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble.

Special teams player of the year honors went to senior Dylan Dupuis (Flemington, N.J.; Hunterdon Central), the Warriors’ punter. Dupuis averaged 34.1 yards per punt in 2004 and pinned opponents inside their own 20 yard line on 18 occasions.

Two special awards were also presented at the banquet. The David Busey Award is given to the player that excels not only on the field but also in the classroom. The Calistri Award is given to the player who best exemplifies the ideals of a “team-player”. Sophomore Matt Murdock (Elysburg, Pa.; Southern Columbia) earned the David Busey Award, while senior Nick Pinto (Philadelphia, Pa.; Archbishop Ryan) was given the Calistri Award. Murdock made contributions on both defense and special teams and was named second-team all-MAC as a kick returner. He was also a member of the MAC All-Academic team. Pinto battled injuries throughout the season, but was still a key member of the Lycoming secondary making 24 tackles and defending three passes.

Following the presentation of the awards, Warrior head coach Frank Girardi announced the captains for the 2005 season. Matt Mangold and Lucas Baltz will captain the offense, and Luke Sterling and Mike Kozak will captain the defense.