15 Rams Earn MASCAC Football All-Conference Honors – Kelley, Silva, Stanfield and Mangano Receive Major Awards
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University football team placed 15 players on the 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Football All-Conference Teams and head coach Tom Kelley, quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.), center Nick Stanfield (Everett, Mass.) and safety Matt Mangano (Winchester, ME) received major awards in voting conducted by the league's coaches and announced by the conference office this morning.
Ninth year head coach Tom Kelley repeated as the Champion's Choice Coach of the Year, while Stanfield earned MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year recognition for the second straight season. Mangano was tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Silva was recognized as the MASCAC's Offensive Player of the Year.
Joining Silva, Mangano and Stanfield on the All-Conference first team are senior defensive back Lewis Bailey (Chelmsford, Mass.), sophomore inside linebacker Svenn Jacobson (Cumberland, ME), senior outside linebacker Greg Peschel (Taunton, Mass.), senior defensive lineman Quentin Jones (Springfield, Mass.), sophomore guard Dan Feeley (Winthrop, Mass.), sophomore tackle Joe Wilder (Stoughton, Mass.), and senior wide receivers Tevin Jones (Springfield, Mass.) and Marcus Grant (Carver, Mass.).
Senior place kicker and punter Sean Wlasuk (Peabody, Mass.), junior running back Jalen Green (Brockton, Mass.) and freshman return specialist Quron Wright (Worcester, Mass.) were selected second team All-MASCAC.
Kelley earns his second straight coach of the year nod after leading the Rams to a 9-1 overall record a perfect 8-0 mark in the MASCAC. The Rams captured the 2015 MASCAC Championship and received the conference's first automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship Tournament.
Mangano receives his third straight All-MASCAC first team honors and his first Player of the Year nod after recording 45 tackles, including 35 solo, on the year. Mangano recorded three tackles for a loss to go along with two interceptions that he returned for 32 yards, four pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Silva earns Offensive Player of the Year honors after a record breaking senior season. Silva ranked among the nation and conference leaders in most passing categories this season. Silva completed 238-of-359 passes for 2,856 yards with a school record 39 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Silva, who currently holds 11 FSU passing records, established new school records for touchdowns in a game (6), touchdowns in a season (39) and yards passing in a game (510) during his senior campaign that saw him receive a pair of New England Football Writer's Gold Helmet Awards.
Stanfield earns his second straight offensive lineman of the year honors after an outstanding senior season. Stanfield is a three time All-MASCAC first team selection was tabbed as the NEFC Offensive Rookie of the Year after his freshman season in 2012. Stanfield was selected All-Region by D3football.com and All-New England by the New England Football Writers after his junior year. Feeley and Wilder earn their first all-conference nods after anchoring the Rams offensive line with Stanfield this season. The Rams offense averaged 433 yards and 39.5 points per game while allowing just 10 sacks on the year.
Bailey, a second team selection in 2014, anchored the Rams secondary along with Mangano. Bailey recorded 33 tackles, 29 solo, with two for a loss. Bailey had two interceptions on the year, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery that he returned for a 48 yards for a touchdown.
Jacobson was a second team selection in 2014 in addition to being named the MASCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 2015, Jacobson led the Rams with 65 total tackles, including 44 solo stops, with 1.5 for a loss. Jacobson forced a pair of fumbles, recovered three and tallied three pass break ups on the season.
Quentin Jones earns his second all-conference honors after finishing the regular season second in the conference in sacks with 10 and among the leaders in tackles for a loss with 15. Quentin Jones recorded 38 total tackles on the year with 29 solo stops.
Grant and Tevin Jones both earn their first All-MASCAC honors after finishing the regular season ranked first and second in the conference in receiving. Grant finished the year with 67 receptions for 847 yards with 10 touchdowns, while Tevin Jones made 56 catches for 792 yards with a league-best 15 receiving touchdowns.
Wlasuk earns his first all-conference honors at both place kicker and punter. Wlasuk finished the regular season second in the conference in points kicking (55) and converted 84% of his extra point attempt. He averaged 38 yards per punt pinning opponents inside the 20 yard line 14 times.
Green earns his second all-conference honors after being named to the second team a year ago. Green led the Rams in rushing averaging 72.1 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. Green rushed for 721 yards on the year with four touchdowns, while also picking up a receiving touchdown.
Wright lands on the all-conference squad after averaging 23.1 yards per kick return and 14.8 yards per punt return with one return for a touchdown. Wright was recognized as the both the conference special teams and rookie of the week during his first season with the Rams.
The Rams earned the MASCAC's first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will travel to Dover, Delaware on November 21st for a first round matchup with Wesley University.