Post-season honors continue for PSU Football player

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. - The star running back on the Plymouth State University football team continues to collect post-season honors following his outstanding season for the Panthers in 2008.

            The latest honor for senior Jeff Mack (Milford, N.H.) is his selection to the New England Football Writers' All-New England Team for Divisions II/III.  It is the second straight year that Mack (right) has been named to this All-New England Team.

            There are 28 players representing 17 different schools on the Division II/III All-New England team.  Northeast-10 Conference champion American International College leads the team with four selections.  New England Football Conference Bogan Division Champion Maine Maritime Academy, and Merrimack College had three players selected, New England Small College Athletic Conference champion Trinity College, NCAA Division II Championship Tournament participant Southern Connecticut State University, MIT, and Assumption College each placed two players on the team.

            Also named to the squad were players from Bentley University, Colby College, NCAA Division III Championship Tournament participant Curry College, Husson College, Middlebury College, New England Football Conference Champion and NCAA Championship Tournament participant Plymouth State, Tufts University, Westfield State College, and Williams College.

            The Division II Northeast-10 had 12 players selected while from Division III the New England Football Conference had eight selections.  The New England Small College Athletic Conference had six representatives.

            The team will be honored at the New England Football Writers Banquet on Thursday, December 11 at Casa di Fiore in Wilmington.  People interested in attending should contact Dick Lipe at Bentley College at 781-891-2334.

            Mack completed an outstanding season for Plymouth State, rushing for a school-record 1,779 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ran for more than 200 yards four times, and ranked in the top 10 in the nation in rushing. He carried the load for the Panthers, who ran the ball nearly 90 percent of the time.

            Mack led Plymouth State to the NEFC Championship and a berth in the NCAA play-offs for the first time since 1995.  The Panthers finished 9-1 in the regular season and 10-2 overall. 

2008 New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team 

Defensive Line                  Cody Andrews                  Sr.             Maine Maritime Academy

                                          Sam Handler                     Sr.             Colby College

                                          McKenzie Matthews          Jr.              Bentley University

                                          John Simeon                     Sr.             American International College

Linebackers                      Tyler Berry                        Sr.             Trinity College

                                          Jay Fielding                       Sr.             Westfield State College

                                          Jerome Pinckney              Jr.              Southern Connecticut State University

                                          Dustin Zitzmann                Jr.              Assumption College

Defensive Backs               Andrew Jackson               Sr.             Merrimack College

                                          Chris Martino                     Sr.             Assumption College

                                          Andrew Sides                    Sr.             WPI

                                          Tom Tassinari                   Jr.              Tufts University    

Quarterbacks                    Eric McGrath                     Sr.             Trinity College

                                          Rob Parent                        So.             American International College

Running Back                   Jim Bower                         Jr.              Maine Maritime Academy

                                          DeRon Brown                   Jr.              MIT

                                          Jeff Mack                           Sr.             Plymouth State University

Wide Receivers                Andrew Matson                 Sr.             Middlebury College

                                          Travis Poole                      Sr.             American International College

                                          Jeremiah Watts                Jr.              Merrimack College

Offensive Line                   Jon Benson                       Sr.             Husson College

                                          Chris Mitchell                    Sr.             Maine Maritime Academy 

                                          James Oleinik                   Sr.             MIT

                                          Ed Peters                          Sr.             Southern Connecticut State University

                                          John Szawlowski              Sr.             Williams College

Kicker                                Marek Prezbylek               Sr.             American International College

Punter                               Matt Alksninis                    So.             Curry College

Return Specialist              Andrew Jackson               Sr.             Merrimack College

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