Final 2007 Standings

PAC PLACES NINE ON ECAC SOUTHWEST ALL-STARS; WU'S HELLER EARNS TOP ROOKIE SLOT
A total of nine PAC football players have been named to the 2007 ECAC Division III Southwest Football All-Star team, released on January 8. Leading the way was Waynesburg freshman running back Robert Heller, who was tabbed ECAC D-III Southwest Rookie of the Year in addition to his All-Star selection. Heller was joined by three Yellow Jacket teammates in senior DL Mike Czerwien, senior LB Brendon Steele, and senior OL Alex Tempalski. Other honorees include junior QB Bobby Swallow, senior WR Tom McCafferty and junior OL Matt Houy from PAC champion Washington & Jefferson, junior DB Mike Baker from Grove City, and senior P Dusty Rhodes of Westminster.

CZERWIEN TABBED TO LITTLE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
The awards keep rolling in for Waynesburg senior DE Mike Czerwien. The 2007 PAC Football Player of the year, who previously earned All-America first team recognition from both the AFCA and D3Football.com, has been named to the Associated Press Little All-America Second Team.

FOUR NAMED D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICANS
A quartet of PAC football players have been named to the 2007 Division III All-America teams, released by D3Football.com on December 16. Leading the way was the 2007 PAC Player of the Year, senior DE Mike Czerwien of Waynesburg, who was a first team selection. Junior QB Bobby Swallow of Washington & Jefferson was named to the second team, while W&J junior OL Matt Houy and Waynesburg freshman RB Robert Heller each earned honorable mention recognition.

CZERWIEN, SWALLOW NAMED ALL-AMERICANS
A pair of PAC football standouts have been selected to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III All-America team, released on December 11. Waynesburg senior defensive end Mike Czerwien, the 2007 PAC Player of the Year, was joined by Washington & Jefferson junior quarterback Bobby Swallow. Czerwien in a four-time All-PAC first team selection who led the nation in sacks per game and finished with a total of 23 on the year. He is the NCAA’s all-time sack leader with 52.5. Swallow threw for 3,106 yards and 46 touchdowns with just three interceptions, as he directed the Presidents to a perfect regular season and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

SEVEN PAC FOOTBALL PLAYERS NAMED TO D3FOOTBALL.COM ALL-REGION TEAMS
Seven PAC football players have been named to the 2007 All-South Region teams by D3Football.com, including three first team selections. 2007 PAC Player of the Year, senior DE Mike Czerwien of Waynesburg, was joined on the top squad by junior QB Bobby Swallow and junior OL Matt Houy of Washington & Jefferson. Waynesburg freshman RB Robert Heller was a second team honoree, while third team laurels went to W&J junior C Dave Bucar and the Grove City duo of senior DT Justin Fowler and junior CB Mike Baker.

THREE PAC PLAYERS COMPETE IN AZTEC BOWL
Three PAC senior football standouts - Grove City OL Matt Gregg, Thomas More OL Brandon Lee, and Waynesburg DE Mike Czerwien - are among just 50 players in the nation selected as members of the United States roster for the 2007 Aztec Bowl. The U.S. team, which features a roster of senior NCAA Division III all-stars, posted a 37-19 win over the Mexican National Team on December 8 in Chihuahua, Mexico.

CZERWIEN AMONG SI'S "FACES IN THE CROWD"
Waynesburg University senior football standout Mike Czerwien is featured in this week's (December 10) "Faces in the Crowd" section in Sports Illustrated. Czerwien, the 2007 PAC Player of the Year, was honored for breaking the NCAA all-divisions career sack record (52 1/2) while leading the Yellow Jackets to an 8-3 record this season.

THIEL DUO NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Thiel College senior defensive end Chris Lorber and senior linebacker Michael Stimac were selected as first-team members of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine All-America College Division Football Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Nov. 29. This is the first time in history that Thiel has had two student-athletes from the same team recognized as Academic All-American selections.

THREE PAC TEAMS DROP 11/17 PLAYOFFS
Three PAC football teams saw their 2007 seasons come to an end on November 17 following playoff losses. Washington & Jefferson (10-1) dropped a 35-34 overtime decision to North Carolina Wesleyan in the opening round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. Waynesburg (8-3) also fell in overtime, 16-10, at Dickinson in the ECAC Division III Southwest Bowl. Finally, Geneva (8-3) fell at home 45-17 to NAIA member Malone College in the NCCAA Victory Bowl.

THREE PAC TEAMS EARN POSTSEASON BERTHS; 2007 ALL-PAC TEAMS ANNOUNCED ON 11/12
The 2007 football regular season is in the books, but three PAC teams have accepted bids for postseason play beginning this weekend. The unbeaten PAC champion Washington & Jefferson football team is the top seed in the South Region in the 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Presidents (10-0) will host North Carolina Wesleyan (8-2) in a first round game at Cameron Stadium in Washington on Saturday, November 17. Also on Saturday, the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets (8-2) travel to Carlisle, Pa., to face Dickinson College (8-2) in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Southeast Bowl. Finally, the Geneva Golden Tornadoes (8-2) will host NAIA member Malone College (7-3) in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl at Reeves Stadium in Beaver Falls beginning at 6 p.m. In addition, the PAC has released its 2007 all-conference football teams, with Waynesburg senior DE Mike Czerwien earning MVP honors and Mike Sirianni of Washington & Jefferson garnering Coach of the Year laurels.

W&J EARNS NCAA PLAYOFF BERTH, TOP SEED IN SOUTH REGION; PRESIDENTS TO HOST N.C. WESLEYAN IN FIRST ROUND ON NOVEMBER 17
The unbeaten PAC champion Washington & Jefferson football team is the top seed in the South Region in the 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Presidents (10-0) will host North Carolina Wesleyan (8-2) in a first round game at Cameron Stadium in Washington on Saturday, November 17.

W&J COMPLETES 10-0 SEASON; HESS SETS D-III SINGLE-GAME RUSHING HIGH; HELLER TOPS 2,000 IN WU VICTORY; GENEVA EDGES GROVE CITY
The final week of the 2007 PAC football regular season was a microcosm of the entire campaign, with offensive fireworks resulting in several record-setting performances. Conference champion W&J (10-0, 6-0) completed the school's seventh perfect regular season, as the Presidents scored 49 second half points to break open a close game at the half and defeat Bethany (4-6, 2-4 PAC) 77-39. The Presidents, who were ranked first in the NCAA Division III South Region, will find out their first round NCAA playoff pairing on Sunday morning at 11:30 p.m. when the 32-team Division III playoff bracket is announced live on ESPNU. In other action, Waynesburg freshman RB Robert Heller posted a school-record 312 yards rushing to surpass the 2,000-yard mark for the season, as the Yellow Jackets (8-2, 5-1 PAC) topped Westminster (5-5, 2-4 PAC at home 54-13. Despite his amazing performance, Heller was not the top PAC rusher for the day. That honor belonged to Thiel RB Dan Hess, who rushed for a school-record and NCAA Division III season-high 327 yards for the Tomcats (3-7) in a 62-14 victory at Saint Vincent (0-10). The final PAC matchup saw Geneva (8-2) record a three-yard scoring pass with nine seconds to play to post a come-from-behind 13-12 win over Grove City (4-6). Finally, Thomas More (4-6) dropped a 35-14 non-league decision to local rival Mount St. Joseph (9-1) in the 12th Annual Bridge Bowl in Cincinnati. Conference statistics are now online, while the PAC football weekly release will be online Monday.

PAC FOOTBALL REPORT FOR 11/10 ONLINE
The final PAC Football Report of the 2007 season for games on November 10, 2007, available in .mp3 format, is now online. (Right-click on the link to download).

PAC PLACES 10 FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS
A total of 10 PAC student-athletes have been honored as members of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District College Division football teams, released on Nov. 8 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Nine conference football standouts were honored on the District II team, including six first team selections who now move on to the Academic All-America ballot: Senior QB Bobby Swallow (3.27 GPA, business) and junior OL Matthew Houy (3.52 GPA, information technology leadership) of Washington & Jefferson, senior LB Mike Stimac (4.0 GPA, English) and senior DL Chris Lorber (3.8 GPA, business administration) of Thiel, senior OL Alex Tempalski (3.51 GPA, marketing) of Waynesburg, and junior OL Dave Salera (3.77 GPA, accounting) of Grove City. Second team honors went to sophomore RB Nick McKolosky (3.54 GPA, biology) of Westminster, senior DB Todd Keenan (3.28 GPA, business) of W&J, and senior LB Brendon Steele (3.49 GPA, nursing) of Waynesburg. In addition, Thomas More sophomore LB Brandon Kohrs (3.83 GPA, biology) was tabbed to the All-District IV second team.

THREE PAC TEAMS REMAIN NATIONALLY RANKED
Three PAC football teams continue to be ranked among the top teams in the country by the three Division III national polls for the week ending November 3, 2007. PAC champion Washington & Jefferson (9-0) remained in fifth place in the poll by Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette, while moving up one spot to fifth in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll and up one spot to eighth by D3Football.com. In addition, Geneva (7-2) and Waynesburg (7-2) are ranked 34th and 39th, respectively, by Hansen's. Waynesburg is among others receiving votes in the AFCA poll.

WAYNESBURG'S ROBERT HELLER NAMED ECAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK EIGHT
Yellow Jacket freshman running back Robert Heller was named the ECAC Division III Southwest Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 30 after his record setting performance against Washington & Jefferson on Oct. 27. Heller broke two school records in the process as rushed for 289 yards on 30 carries and scored two touchdowns. His two touchdowns give him the school record of 21 touchdowns this season. 

JOYNER LAUDED AS ECAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bethany senior quarterback Milton Joyner was named ECAC Division III Southwest Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Westminster. Joyner completed 26 of 35 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a pair of scores on the ground in helping the Bison seniors defeat the Titans for the first time sine 2001.

W&J's MCCAFFERTY EARNS ECAC RECOGNITION
Washington & Jefferson senior wide receiver Tom McCafferty was selected as the ECAC Division III Southwest Offensive Player of the Week. He earned the honors after he set a new single game school record with four touchdown receptions in the Presidents' 58-18 win over Westminster. McCafferty finished the game with eight catches for 146 yards.

STIMAC NAMED DRADDY AWARD SEMIFINALIST
Thiel College senior linebacker Michael Stimac has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious 2007 Draddy Trophy, and is just one of 24 semifinalists from NCAA Division III football-playing institutions. One of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, the Draddy Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

D3FOOTBALL.COM SELECTS THIEL'S MINTON AND W&J's GRABNER TO TEAM OF THE WEEK LIST
Thiel senior running back Steve Minton and Washington & Jefferson sophomore kicker Chuck Grabner were selected to D3football.com's Team of the Week for week 5. Minton set a Tomcat record by rushing for 238 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 37-13 conference win over Bethany. Grabner set a Presidents' record by kicking five field goals and connected on five of six PAT attempts in W&J's 64-6 win over Saint Vincent. Grabner's 20 points scored were also a school record.  

GCC'S BAKER AND W&J'S ERNST RECEIVE D3FOOTBALL.COM HONORS
Grove City junior defensive back Mike Baker and W&J senior defensive lineman Jeff Ernst were named to D3football.com's Team of the Week for week three. Baker intercepted two passes in the end zone, the second of which occurred with 1:22 left in the game to end Thomas More's comeback bid as Grove City held on for a 23-16 conference win. He also recovered a fumble that led to the go ahead score for the Wolverines. Ernst collected five tackles for loss including two sacks, and he also forced a fumble, which led to a score, in the Presidents' 50-14 non-conference win over Hanover. 

2007 PAC FOOTBALL PREVIEW NOW AVAILABLE
The 2007 football season is gearing up to become one of the most exciting in PAC history. The addition of new PAC programs Saint Vincent and Geneva lifts the total number of conference teams to nine, the most in recent years. In addition, an automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs awaits this year's PAC champion. Defending champion Washington & Jefferson was picked to repeat in the PAC preseason poll, but the previous four teams picked in the preseason have fallen short in the regular season. Who will come out on top? Read about all nine PAC programs in the 2007 PAC Football Preview.

SAINT VINCENT DEDICATES CHUCK NOLL FIELD
Nearly 10,000 fans were on hand as Saint Vincent College and the Pittsburgh Steelers blessed and dedicated Chuck Noll Field prior to the Steelers' evening practice at the college on August 2. The field was named after the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll, who led the team to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s.

W&J TABBED TO REPEAT AS PAC CHAMPIONS
The Washington & Jefferson Presidents were picked to repeat as PAC football champions according to voters in the 2007 PAC Preseason Football Poll, released on July 31 at PAC Football Media Day at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. W&J earned 22 of 29 first place votes in the poll, followed by Waynesburg and Thiel. The Presidents are ranked in the NCAA Division III preseason Top 25 by three different preseason publications, including eighth in the nation by Street & Smith's College Football Annual.

PAC EARNS NCAA FOOTBALL BID FOR 2007
The PAC has been notified by the NCAA that the conference has been awarded an automatic playoff bid for NCAA Division III Championship playoffs in the fall sports of football, men's & women's soccer and volleyball in 2007. It marks the first automatic bid for the PAC in any sport since men's & women's basketball in 1996-97.

2007 PAC COMPOSITE SCHEDULE RELEASED
With the kickoff of the 2007 football season less than two months away, the PAC has released the 2007 conference composite football schedule to help fans and alumni plan their fall travel.

W&J captains hoist the PAC championship trophy after capping a 10-0 regular season.