ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon football team placed four student-athletes on the 2009 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division teams released Wednesday afternoon.
Jon Richardson (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) and
Randy Colling (Arcade, N.Y./Pioneer) were named to the All-PSAC Western Division first team.
Sam Geldmaker (Bradenton, Fla./Manatee) and
Matthew Neal-Mink (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) were selected to the second team.
Richardson earned all-conference honors for the third consecutive season, but landed on the first team for the first time. The senior tailback rushed for 943 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. In addition, he caught 22 passes for 145 yards and averaged 29 yards on two kickoff returns. In all, he produced 104.2 all-purpose yards per game.
The Warren, Ohio native ranked second among PSAC players in points per game (8.7), third in rushing yards per game (85.7) and sixth in all-purpose yards per game. He finished 18th among all NCAA Division II players in scoring and 42nd in rushing.
Richardson concluded an unbelievable collegiate career as Gannon’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards (3,891) and points (222). He ranks third all-time at Gannon in rushing yards (2,790), third in 100-yard rushing games (12), fifth in receptions (97), sixth in total offense (2,790) and eighth in receiving yards (716).
Colling had a break-out season in 2009, finishing third on the team in tackles (52). The sophomore recorded 27 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles, 12 tackles for a loss (61 yards), 6.5 sacks (53 yards), two forced fumbles and one blocked kick. He ranked eighth among PSAC players in sacks per game (0.59).
The Arcade, N.Y., native made at least two tackles in every game. Colling had 16 tackles, three tackles for a loss (15 yards), two sacks (14 yards), two forced fumbles and one blocked kick in the final two games. In the season finale, he helped Gannon upset 19th-ranked Bloomsburg by blocking a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation and forcing a game-ending fumble in overtime.
Geldmaker earned all-conference honors for the second consecutive season. The junior offensive lineman was named to the All-PSAC first team and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Super One Region third team last season. He landed a spot on the all-conference second team this season after anchoring an offensive line for a Gannon team that ranked second among PSAC teams and 37th among all NCAA Division II teams in rushing offense (178.9). The Golden Knights also ranked fourth among PSAC teams in turnover margin (0.36).
Neal-Mink led Gannon in solo tackles (39), assisted tackles (43) and total tackles (82) despite missing the final two games due to an injury. The junior linebacker added 6.5 tackles for a loss (16 yards), one sack (seven yards), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass break-up. He ranked fifth among PSAC players and 43rd among all NCAA Division II players in tackles per game (9.1).
The Moorestown, N.J., native reached double digits in tackles four times, including a season-high 14 stops against NCAA Tournament participant East Stroudsburg. Neal-Mink ranks 14th all-time at Gannon with 213 career tackles. He has 11.5 tackles for a loss (28 yards) and two interceptions in 31 career games.
Gannon finished the 2009 season with four consecutive victories and a 6-5 record. The Golden Knights recorded their first winning season since 2003 by knocking off 19th-ranked Bloomsburg in the season finale.
For the complete 2009 All-PSAC teams and major awards, please
click here.