Big honor for Cal’s Harris
California University quarterback James Harris was honored as PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year Thursday and led a contingent of 12 Vulcans on the All-PSAC West Teams.
Joining Harris on the first team were junior defensive back Jordan Bowman, senior defensive lineman Errol Brewster, junior wide receiver Garry Brown, junior offensive lineman Tyler Peerson, senior wide receiver Kowan Scott and junior defensive back Aaron Terry.
The last Cal player to be named West Division Player of the Year was Antoine Bagwell, who was named twice, 2004 and 2005.
Harris led the PSAC and ranked ninth in NCAA Division II with a 158.1 passing efficiency and had 24 touchdown passes. Harris ranked fourth in the league with 272.7 passing yards per game and surpassed the 3,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season. Harris finished his career ranked third in school history with 7,349 passing yards and is the first PSAC West quarterback to repeat as a first-team selection since Edinboro’s Trevor Harris from 2007-09.
Bowman tied for the league lead with a career-high five interceptions and set a career high with 62 tackles (36 solo). Brewster led Cal and tied for fifth in the PSAC with seven sacks and 34 tackles.
Brown repeated as an All-PSAC West First-Team selection after eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards for a second-straight year. He finished second in the league and ranked ninth in the nation with 102.8 receiving yards per game and had five 100-yard games. Peerson, a guard, earned All-PSAC West honors for the first time after starting the last two seasons at right tackle.
Scott broke the school’s all-time record for receiving yards this fall and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season.
Terry was a second-team selection as a freshman. He was second on the team with a career-high 70 tackles and had four interceptions.
Senior offensive lineman Grant Jones, sophomore offensive lineman Taylor Nikithser, senior offensive lineman Jeremy Seaman, sophomore linebacker Devonte Suber and senior defensive lineman Jawan Turner made second team.
Slippery Rock junior Joe Phillips, a graduate of Washington High School, made second team defensive lineman. He was voted to the all PSAC team for the second year in a row. He had 28 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks.
Slippery Rock’s sophomore Marcus Martin was named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year; Indiana quarterback Lenny Williams Freshman of the Year; and Slippery Rock’s George Mihalik Coach of the Year.