Shafnisky, Coen garner major awards as Lehigh places 13 on All-Patriot League teams
11/22/2016 1:01:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky and head coach Andy Coen garnered major awards, while 11 Mountain Hawks earned a total of 13 all-league accolades as the Patriot League announced its football all-league teams and major awards on Tuesday.
Shafnisky was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Coen was named Coach of the Year. The Mountain Hawks were well represented on the all-league teams, with seven student-athletes garnering a league-best nine first-team honors and four others being named to the second team.
The major award and all-league teams are voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
Coming off a second straight MVP performance in the Lehigh-Lafayette game, Shafnisky becomes Lehigh's first Offensive Player of the Year since Chris Lum won the award in Lehigh's last championship season, 2011. Despite being limited to nine starts at quarterback due to injury, Shafnisky completed more than 66 percent of his passes for 2,448 yards and 20 touchdowns, compared to just five interceptions. Always a dual threat, Shafnisky was also Lehigh's second leading rusher with 302 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
A two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week during the season, Shafnisky threw for a career-high 461 yards against Princeton and later threw a career-best five touchdown passes in the league-opener against Colgate. His best day on the ground was a 108-yard, three-touchdown effort against Fordham. In addition to the Offensive Player of the Year award, Shafnisky is the first team all-league quarterback.
Coen was named Coach of the Year for the second time in this, his 11th season. He previously won the award following Lehigh's 2010 league championship campaign. Coen led Lehigh to its fourth league title and third NCAA playoff appearance in his 11 seasons. The Mountain Hawks enter the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak. Coen recently moved into second place on Lehigh's career wins list with 77 and was recently named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top coach in the FCS.
Senior linebacker Colton Caslow and junior wide receiver Troy Pelletier both became three-time All-Patriot League selections and two-time first-team honorees. The leader of Lehigh's defense, Caslow leads the Mountain Hawks with 72 tackles and 10 tackles-for-loss, anchoring a unit that improved tremendously from the previous two seasons.
Pelletier is one-half of one of the nation's top receiving duos. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in the FCS, Pelletier leads the Patriot League with 88 catches for 1,140 yards, and has caught 11 touchdowns, including a pair in last week's rivalry win at Lafayette. Pelletier sits fourth in school annals in both receptions and receiving yards.
Three members of Lehigh's offensive line were recognized with all-league laurels after paving the way for the league's top scoring offense and top passing offense. Senior right tackle Zach Duffy earned first team honors for the second straight year. On the opposite side, junior left tackle Tim O'Hara garnered second team accolades for the second consecutive season. Senior center Brandon Short picked up his first career all-league nod with a second team selection.
Two Mountain Hawks garnered first team honors at two different positions. Junior Gatlin Casey was recognized at both wide receiver and kick returner, while sophomore Ed Mish is the first team all-league kicker and punter.
Casey has enjoyed a breakout season with 58 receptions for 1,094 yards. With 14 touchdown receptions, he is one shy of the Lehigh and Patriot League single-season record. Casey is also averaging 26.8 yards on 25 kickoff returns, and had a big 93-yard return touchdown in Lehigh's win over Colgate on Oct. 8.
Mish recently set a Lehigh single season record with 59 extra point conversions (in 59 attempts), and is 6-for-10 on field goals having made five of his last six. He also has 26 touchbacks in 77 kickoffs this season. Mish also took over Lehigh's punting duties this season and is averaging more than 43 yards per kick. He was a five-time Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week.
Sophomore running back Dominick Bragalone earned first team honors for the second consecutive year. Bragalone became just the second Lehigh player to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his career. In 2016, he has carried 193 times for 1,106 yards and 13 touchdowns. He rushed for 374 yards and five touchdowns in back-to-back victories over Holy Cross and Fordham.
The second-team selections on Lehigh's defense are junior defensive lineman Tyler Cavenas and senior cornerback Brandon Leaks.
Cavenas was the top tackler on the defensive line with 48 stops. He added six tackles for loss and four sacks, including three in the win over Fordham. Cavenas has also blocked two extra points this season including one in Saturday's win at Lafayette.
The senior member of Lehigh's much-improved secondary, Leaks has 35 tackles on the season and is one of four Mountain Hawks who share the team lead with two interceptions. Leaks also leads the Mountain Hawks with six passes defensed.
Colgate claimed the other two major awards with defensive end Pat Afriyie earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and cornerback/return specialist Abu Daramy garnering the Rookie of the Year award.
The Mountain Hawks (9-2, 6-0 Patriot League) enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. No. 18/15 Lehigh will visit No. 22/21 New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Saturday from Wildcat Stadium in Durham, N.H. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 via the WatchESPN app. Audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) beginning at 1 p.m.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Shafnisky was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Coen was named Coach of the Year. The Mountain Hawks were well represented on the all-league teams, with seven student-athletes garnering a league-best nine first-team honors and four others being named to the second team.
The major award and all-league teams are voted on by the league's seven head coaches.
Coming off a second straight MVP performance in the Lehigh-Lafayette game, Shafnisky becomes Lehigh's first Offensive Player of the Year since Chris Lum won the award in Lehigh's last championship season, 2011. Despite being limited to nine starts at quarterback due to injury, Shafnisky completed more than 66 percent of his passes for 2,448 yards and 20 touchdowns, compared to just five interceptions. Always a dual threat, Shafnisky was also Lehigh's second leading rusher with 302 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
A two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week during the season, Shafnisky threw for a career-high 461 yards against Princeton and later threw a career-best five touchdown passes in the league-opener against Colgate. His best day on the ground was a 108-yard, three-touchdown effort against Fordham. In addition to the Offensive Player of the Year award, Shafnisky is the first team all-league quarterback.
Coen was named Coach of the Year for the second time in this, his 11th season. He previously won the award following Lehigh's 2010 league championship campaign. Coen led Lehigh to its fourth league title and third NCAA playoff appearance in his 11 seasons. The Mountain Hawks enter the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak. Coen recently moved into second place on Lehigh's career wins list with 77 and was recently named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top coach in the FCS.
Senior linebacker Colton Caslow and junior wide receiver Troy Pelletier both became three-time All-Patriot League selections and two-time first-team honorees. The leader of Lehigh's defense, Caslow leads the Mountain Hawks with 72 tackles and 10 tackles-for-loss, anchoring a unit that improved tremendously from the previous two seasons.
Pelletier is one-half of one of the nation's top receiving duos. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in the FCS, Pelletier leads the Patriot League with 88 catches for 1,140 yards, and has caught 11 touchdowns, including a pair in last week's rivalry win at Lafayette. Pelletier sits fourth in school annals in both receptions and receiving yards.
Three members of Lehigh's offensive line were recognized with all-league laurels after paving the way for the league's top scoring offense and top passing offense. Senior right tackle Zach Duffy earned first team honors for the second straight year. On the opposite side, junior left tackle Tim O'Hara garnered second team accolades for the second consecutive season. Senior center Brandon Short picked up his first career all-league nod with a second team selection.
Two Mountain Hawks garnered first team honors at two different positions. Junior Gatlin Casey was recognized at both wide receiver and kick returner, while sophomore Ed Mish is the first team all-league kicker and punter.
Casey has enjoyed a breakout season with 58 receptions for 1,094 yards. With 14 touchdown receptions, he is one shy of the Lehigh and Patriot League single-season record. Casey is also averaging 26.8 yards on 25 kickoff returns, and had a big 93-yard return touchdown in Lehigh's win over Colgate on Oct. 8.
Mish recently set a Lehigh single season record with 59 extra point conversions (in 59 attempts), and is 6-for-10 on field goals having made five of his last six. He also has 26 touchbacks in 77 kickoffs this season. Mish also took over Lehigh's punting duties this season and is averaging more than 43 yards per kick. He was a five-time Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week.
Sophomore running back Dominick Bragalone earned first team honors for the second consecutive year. Bragalone became just the second Lehigh player to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his career. In 2016, he has carried 193 times for 1,106 yards and 13 touchdowns. He rushed for 374 yards and five touchdowns in back-to-back victories over Holy Cross and Fordham.
The second-team selections on Lehigh's defense are junior defensive lineman Tyler Cavenas and senior cornerback Brandon Leaks.
Cavenas was the top tackler on the defensive line with 48 stops. He added six tackles for loss and four sacks, including three in the win over Fordham. Cavenas has also blocked two extra points this season including one in Saturday's win at Lafayette.
The senior member of Lehigh's much-improved secondary, Leaks has 35 tackles on the season and is one of four Mountain Hawks who share the team lead with two interceptions. Leaks also leads the Mountain Hawks with six passes defensed.
Colgate claimed the other two major awards with defensive end Pat Afriyie earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and cornerback/return specialist Abu Daramy garnering the Rookie of the Year award.
The Mountain Hawks (9-2, 6-0 Patriot League) enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. No. 18/15 Lehigh will visit No. 22/21 New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Saturday from Wildcat Stadium in Durham, N.H. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 via the WatchESPN app. Audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) beginning at 1 p.m.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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