LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – IUP football garnered 16 total divisional selections as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced its 2017 first and second teams as part of its postseason awards on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The 16 are the most of any of the eight PSAC West teams and break the program record of 14 (1995, 2001, and 2012). California (Pa.) and Slippery Rock each tallied a combined 10 first and second teamers on this year's list.
 
The Crimson Hawks boast seven first team picks, which is tied for the most in the division. Those include redshirt junior quarterback Lenny Williams, Jr. (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox), redshirt senior right tackle Jerron Searles (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City), and redshirt sophomore left guard Colin McAllister (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester) on offense; and senior tackle Jemal Averette (Upper Marlboro, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel), junior end Deandre Easterling (Washington, D.C./Gonzaga), sophomore linebacker Damon Lloyd (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll), and senior safety Max Redfield (Mission Viejo, Calif./Mission Viejo) on defense.
 
This is the third straight All-PSAC West honor for Williams, who was a second teamer in 2015 and 2016. The dynamic signal caller is again putting together one of the top passing seasons in program history, as he ranks seventh in Division II with a 67.7 completion percentage, ninth with a 170.1 passer efficiency, 13th with 8.89 yards per attempt, and 15th with 26 touchdowns.
 
Searles was a two-time All-MEAC selection at Delaware State before transferring to IUP and starting all 11 regular season games for the Crimson Hawks this year. McAllister is in his first year as a starter on the offensive line. The two are part of a dominant unit that has given up just eight sacks while helping IUP rush for 251.5 yards per game, numbers that rank ninth in Division II.
 
The four first team defensive selections are part of a group that is collectively one of the best in college football. The Crimson Hawks rank in the top 25 in Division II in eight defensive categories, including third in interceptions (23), fifth in rushing (75.4), and ninth in scoring (14.6).
 
Averette is also a three-time All-PSAC selection from his interior defensive line spot. He's totaled 38 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, while blocking a pair of kicks. Easterling is now a two-time conference selection, leading the Crimson Hawks with 11.0 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks this season.
 
Lloyd has excelled as a first year starter, leading IUP with 82 total tackles, including 53 solo stops, during the regular season. He also provided support in the team's pass defense, picking off two passes and breaking up four more.
 
Redfield stood out from day one after transferring from Notre Dame. A multi-dimensional safety, Redfield is third on the team with 69 tackles, including 51 solo, and is one of the PSAC's leaders with four interceptions and 11 total passes defensed.
 
Crimson Hawks pick up league-high nine second teamers
Joining the first team selections were nine second team honorees, highlighted by sophomore running back Samir Bullock (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan). A 1,000-yard rusher, Bullock has also posted 11 rushing touchdowns while averaging nearly 95 rushing yards per game. He has one of the best performances by any player in Division II this year, rushing for 263 yards and six touchdowns in just over one half of action at Seton Hill.
 
Offensive players joining Bullock on the second team were freshman running back Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), redshirt sophomore center Jeff Arnold (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear), and redshirt senior tight end Rex Pearce (McKeesport, Pa. /Elizabeth Forward). Evans also earned PSAC West Freshman of the Year honors, while Arnold picked up his second career league honor, and Pearce his first after catching six passes and aiding in the strong IUP run game.
 
Redshirt sophomore place kicker Dillon Sarka (Lebanon, Ohio/Waynesville) earns second team special teams honors, making 47 extra points while converting 11-of-15 field goal attempts. He made all four field goal attempts, including the game-winning 46 yarder in the 26-23 win over Ashland in the opener.
 
Redshirt sophomore cornerback JR Stevens (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) leads Division II with 22 passes defensed and is fifth in the country with seven interceptions to earn second team honors from the league. He returned his first pick of the year 38 yards for a touchdown against East Stroudsburg.
 
Other second team defensive selections include sophomore end Dondrea Tillman (Sterling, Va./Potomac Falls), sophomore linebacker Nick Amendola (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), and senior safety Takhi Turner (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.), all first time honorees. Tillman has 5.5 sacks, Amendola 81 tackles, and Turner has chipped in 61 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
 
PSAC postseason awards
The 59 total first and second team selections are part of the PSAC's 2017 postseason football awards announced on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to these, Paul Tortorella was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year and running back Justice Evans (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) was named the Freshman of the Year.
 
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