22 Spartans Earn All-UAA Football Honors

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The Case Western Reserve University football team has landed 22 players on the 2010 All-University Athletic Association team, announced by the conference office on Monday, November 22. Amongst the 22 Spartans chosen, seven were tabbed as first-team selections.

Case's first-team selections include junior center Mike Allen (McMurry, PA/Peters Township), senior offensive tackle Marcus Kluczynski (Erie, PA/McDowell), senior wide receiver Zach Homyk (Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius Prep), junior defensive tackle Dale English (Middleburg Heights, OH/Holy Name), junior inside linebacker Jacob Adams (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton), junior kick returner Bryan Metlesitz (North Royalton, OH/North Royalton), and senior placekicker Sam Coffey (Middletown, OH/Lakota East).

Earning second-team honors was junior guard Tony Opperman (Pickerington, OH/St. Charles Prep), senior wide receiver Shaun Nicely (Willoughby, OH/Willoughby South), senior quarterback Joey Baum (Dalton, OH/Walsh Jesuit), sophomore fullback Trevor LaBarge (St. Louis, MO/Chaminade College Prep), sophomore nose guard Mike Harris (Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights), junior defensive end Rich Doolin (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park), sophomore defensive end Adam Watson (Mentor, OH/Mentor), senior inside linebacker Lucas Sasala (Kittanning, PA/Kittanning Area), sophomore outside linebacker Michael Fioramonti (Loxahatchee, FL/Seminole Ridge), senior cornerback James Wodicka (West Lafayette, IN/West Lafayette), sophomore safety/punt returner Dan Calabrese (Mentor, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) and senior safety Zach Hass (Peru, IN/Peru).

Honorable mention status went to senior running backs Billy Deitmen (Mentor, OH/Mentor) and Derek Bush (Kittanning, PA/Ford City) and senior offensive tackle Matt Yanosko (Parma, Ohio/St. Ignatius).

Allen played in all 10 games with nine starts, missing just one start due to injury. He anchored a line that led the way for the UAA's top offense (382.2 yards per game). In three seasons, Allen has played in 30 games and is now a two-time first-team All-UAA selection.

Kluczynski started all 10 games at left tackle and missed only one game for his entire career. He ends his career as a four-time first-team All-UAA pick and helped lead the way for some of the top-ranked offenses in the nation during the past four seasons.

Homyk completed arguably the finest career for a Spartan wide receiver. He recorded school single-season records with 90 receptions for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the nation at 9.0 receptions per game, seventh in receiving yards and ninth in yards per game (116.50). Now a three-time All-UAA pick, Homyk finished his career with a school-record 211 receptions. Homyk also contributed significantly on special teams and blocked six kicks in his career – another school-record.

English was third on the team with 64 tackles and led the Spartans with nine sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss. The three-time first-team All-UAA selection was just a half sack shy of the conference lead and had a stretch of seven games with at least a half-sack.

Adams led the team with 91 tackles and totaled 2.0 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and the game-winning blocked extra point attempt in late October versus Allegheny College (PA). In his first season as a starter, Adams was second in the UAA in tackles.

Metlesitz averaged a league-best 22.5 yards per kick return with a long of 51. He also was second on the team with 651 all-purpose yards.

Coffey finishes his career as the most accomplished kicker in school history. In 44 games, the four-time first-team All-UAA selection converted a school-record 192 extra points and 37 field goals. He also owns school single-season records with 57 extra points in 2008 and 12 field goals in 2007. This season, he hit seven field goals, including a long of 44 yards, and 33 extra points. Coffey also averaged 60.2 yards per kickoff with six touchbacks.

Opperman started and played in eight games, missing two towards the end of the season with an injury. Now a three-time All-UAA selection, Opperman also was tabbed as a D3football.com preseason All-American.

Nicely was one of the most productive wide receivers in school history. In 2010, he totaled 42 receptions for 568 yards and seven TDs. In his four seasons, the three-time All-UAA selection recorded 172 catches for 2,345 yards and a school-record tying 31 touchdowns.

Baum was the top-rated passer in the UAA in just his first year as a starter. He completed 210-of-324 passes (64.8 percent) for 2,446 yards and 23 TDs versus just seven interceptions. Baum also was tabbed as a first-team ESPN Academic All-District IV selection earlier this fall.  

LaBarge led the way for a pair of 400-yard rushers and carried the ball 41 times for 175 yards with three TDs.

Harris was a force on the interior of the Spartan defensive line. He recorded 44 tackles, including 7.0 for loss, with two sacks. Harris also forced three fumbles and recovered another.

Doolin earns his second straight second-team nod. He totaled 36 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, and was third on the squad with 7.5 sacks.  Doolin also was tabbed as a first-team ESPN Academic All-District IV pick this fall.

Watson posted 42 tackles and eight sacks in his first season as a starter. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and forced another.

Sasala was second on the team with 66 tackles in his first full season as a starter. Fioramonti was fourth on the defense with 63 tackles, including 3.0 for loss.

Wodicka made 49 tackles and led the UAA with seven interceptions, including five during UAA competition. He also defended 11 pass attempts and forced a fumble.

Calabrese totaled 46 tackles with two fumble recoveries and Hass made 47 stops with three INTs.

Bush and Deitmen split the rushing duties for Case throughout the season and combined for 819 yards as a duo. Bush carried 104 times for 413 yards and five TDs. Deitmen rushed 125 times for 406 yards with three scores and finishes his career as a three-time All-UAA pick.

Yanosko was a constant on the offensive line, starting all 10 games at guard.

The Spartans finished the season at 8-2 overall and were ranked in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll for a fourth straight season.