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The New Jersey Athletic
Conference football award winners were highlighted as part of the 2005
Eastern College Football Awards Banquet presented by the ECAC and Field
Turf at the Meadowlands on February 8. A record crowd was in attendance to
honor the standout ECAC football players and teams from NCAA Division I,
Division I-AA, Division II, and Division III. In addition to their NJAC
honors, Rowan University was presented with the 2004 Lambert Cup, awarded
annually to the top Division III program in the East.
THE
2004 NJAC FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - MIKE ORIHEL, ROWAN UNIVERSITY
The 2003 NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year, Orihel threw for over 3,200
yards and 40 touchdowns on the season. The NJAC leader in passing yards,
passer efficiency rating, and passing touchdowns, he led the Profs to the
2004 NJAC Championship and the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.
A five-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Week selection in 2004, Orihel
finished the year ranked 14th nationally in passer efficiency
with a rating of 149.5.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -
STEVE SKAKUM, KEAN
UNIVERSITY
Skakum accumulated 100 total tackles in ten games played for the Cougars.
In total, he notched 42 solo stops, 13 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two
interceptions and one fumble recovery. Skakum finished the season ranked 1st
in the NJAC in tackles with an average of 10.0 per game, while ranking
second in the conference in tackles for a loss.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE
OF THE YEAR - A.J.
ROQUE, KEAN UNIVERSITY
A four-time NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week selection, Roque passed for
over 1,900 yards and 10 touchdowns in his rookie season for the Cougars. A
first-team all-conference selection at punter, he averaged over 35 yards
per punt on a conference-high 68 attempts during the season.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - SAL FAMA,
MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
Fama posted individual statistics of 53 total tackles, four tackles for a
loss, four interceptions, four pass breakups and three fumble recoveries.
A two-time NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week selection in 2004, he
finished his freshman year ranked 15th in the league in tackles
with an average of 6.6 per game.
COACH OF THE YEAR - JAY ACCORSI, ROWAN UNIVERSITY
Accorsi was selected as NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers for the
second-time in his three-year head coaching career after leading the Profs
to an 8-2 regular season record and the 2004 NJAC Championship. In three
seasons at the helm of the Rowan program, he has produced a 27-7 overall
record while leading the Profs to two NJAC Championships and two NCAA
Tournament appearances. In 2004, Accorsi guided Rowan to the national
semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
TEAM CHAMPION - ROWAN UNIVERSITY
Rowan posted an overall record of 10-3 and captured their 15th
NJAC crown with a perfect 6-0 league record. They also made their 12th
trip to the NCAA Tournament and posted two Tournament victories before
falling to the eventual National Champions in the NCAA Tournament
semifinals. |