Nov 17, 2015 3 min read

Three football players from Washington & Jefferson and one from Waynesburg were named first team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference when the league announced its annual awards Tuesday.

Senior running back Ryan Ruffing, senior offensive lineman Zack Crossey and senior all-purpose player Daniel Lis were the first-team selections for W&J, joining Waynesburg offensive lineman Nic Sappie. Crossey and Ruffing were repeat first-team selections while Lis and Sappie were on the second team last season.

Ruffing accounted for more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage for the second consecutive season, rushing 226 times for 1,227 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown. He finished his career with 3,218 yards, ranking sixth in W&J history, and as the active leader in NCAA Division III rushing touchdowns (51), total touchdowns (56) and total points (336).

Lis led W&J with 57 pass receptions, totaling 608 yards and four touchdowns. He finished his senior season third in Division III in yards per punt return at 18.3, taking two punts back for scores.

Carnegie Mellon sophomore running back Sam Benger was named the PAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. Benger is the leading rusher in Division III with 1,897 yards and has scored 18 rushing touchdowns. He also ranks third among Division III players with 2,034 all-purpose yards. Benger’s 1,897 yards is fifth on the PAC’s single-season rushing chart. He needs 103 yards in the ECAC Legacy Bowl game Sunday against Bridgewater State to join the league’s three members of the 2,000-yard club.

Thomas More senior defensive lineman Erick Butler was named the conference Defensive Player of the Year, Saint Vincent sophomore quarterback Tyler Donahue was named Newcomer of the Year and Thomas More’s Regis Scaife was selected as Coach of the Year. Scaife has guided Thomas More to a 10-0 record, the PAC title and a spot in the Division III playoffs.

Three W&J players – junior quarterback Pete Coughlin, junior lineman Brandon Martuccio and sophomore wide receiver Jesse Zubik were chosen for the second team offense, along with Waynesburg senior running back Jerry Lawman. The second team defense included W&J junior defensive lineman Ryan Snedeker, senior linebacker Jalen Morris and senior defensive back Dan Graziano.

Receiving honorable mention from W&J were senior linebacker Bryce Merrill, junior defensive back Luke Merhaut, sophomore defensive back Tim Blair and freshman kicker Ted Ford.

Waynesburg had freshman quarterback Jake Dougherty, senior wide receiver Willie Leavell, junior receiver Kevin Barnes, senior defensive lineman Jordan Voitus, junior defensive lineman Zach Machuga, senior linebacker Aaron Palmer and junior punter Jonathan Hager receive honorable mention.