ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team placed six players on the 2008 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division teams released Thursday afternoon.
Jeremy Ditzler (Erie, Pa./Iroquois),
Sam Geldmaker (Bradenton, Fla./Manatee), and
Chris Murphy (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) landed spots on the All-PSAC Western Division first team.
Chris Cook (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaw),
Jon Richardson (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding), and
Matt Ward (Brockport, N.Y./Brockport) earned All-PSAC Western Division second-team honors.
Ditzler had the best season by a placekicker in school history, converting a school-record 15 field goals. The sophomore surpassed the previous record by five. He made 15-of-19 attempts, including 12-of-14 inside the 40-yard line.
The Erie, Pa., native kicked a career-long 45-yard field goal against Indiana (Pa.), the seventh-longest in school history. Ditzler ranks fourth all-time at Gannon with 17 career field goals, 10 shy of the school record. He was second among PSAC players and seventh nationally in field goals per game (1.36). His 78.9 field goal percentage topped all PSAC kickers with at least six field goal attempts. He ranked third in scoring (6.2) among kickers and eighth overall.
Geldmaker started every game at offensive tackle for the Golden Knights. The sophomore was part of a line that paved the way for the PSAC’s third-ranked red-zone offense, scoring 84.8 percent of the time inside the 20-yard line. He has been a two-year starter, receiving 12 starting assignments the last two seasons.
Murphy was one of the leaders on a defensive line that ranked third among PSAC schools in rushing defense (119.2). The senior defensive lineman was Gannon’s third-leading tackler with 53 stops (15 solo, 38 assisted). He also recorded 7.5 tackles for a loss (34 yards), 3.5 sacks (22 yards), and two pass break-ups. The Orchard Park, N.Y., native finished his career with 131 tackles (45 solo, 116 assisted), 12 tackles for a loss (50 yards), and five sacks (32 yards).
Cook turned in a solid first season at Gannon. The true freshman was Gannon’s sixth-leading tackler with 52 stops. He led Gannon in pass break-ups (9) and interceptions (5) while ranking second on the team in solo tackles (34).
The Cleveland, Ohio native ranked second among PSAC players and 30th nationally in interceptions. He was third among PSAC players in pass break-ups per game (1.27). Cook already ranks 10th all-time at Gannon in career interceptions despite playing only one season.
Richardson was Gannon’s leader in rushing yards (914) and all-purpose yards (1,169). The junior tailback ranked fourth among PSAC players in rushing yards per game (91.4), sixth in all-purpose yards per game (116.9), and ninth in scoring (5.4). He finished 33rd nationally in rushing yards per game and 71st in all-purpose yards per game. His 1,169 all-purpose yards fell one yard shy of the school’s single-season record.
The Warren, Ohio native ranks fifth all-time at Gannon in receptions (75), sixth in all-purpose yards (2,745), sixth in points (126), seventh in rushing yards (1,847), and 12th in total offense (1,847). His 914 rushing yards in 2008 equaled the sixth-highest single-season total in school history.
Ward completed a stellar collegiate career with arguably his best season. The senior defensive lineman led Gannon in solo tackles (37), assisted tackles (41), total tackles (78), tackles for a loss (17.5), and sacks (6). He led the PSAC and ranked 19th nationally in tackles for a loss.
The Brockport, N.Y., native ranked fourth among PSAC players in sacks per game (0.55) and 15th in tackles per game (7.1). Ward finished his career with 173 tackles, 30.5 tackles for a loss, and 13 sacks. His sack total ranks 12th all-time at Gannon. He fell 4.5 tackles for a loss shy of the school’s single-season record.
The complete 2008 All-PSAC football teams can be found at
http://www.psacsports.org.