PITMAN--SUNY Cortland sophomore running back Justin Autera and Montclair State University junior quarterback Tom Fischer have been selected as New Jersey Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Players of the Year for the 2010 season. In total, 96 student-athletes garnered NJAC all-conference recognition in the sport of football in 2010. All selections were made by a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches.
Autera earned first-team all-conference honors at both the running back and punt returner positions. A Week 3 NJAC Offensive Player of the Week selection and a Week 2 NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week pick, he currently leads the NJAC in both scoring (12.0 points per game) and all-purpose yards (177.2 per game), while ranking second in rushing (123.2 yards per game). Autera helped the Red Dragons post a 9-1 overall record and claim a share of the NJAC championship. Cortland, which earned the NJAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament via tiebreaker, will host Endicott in a first round game on November 20.
A Week 8 NJAC Offensive Player of the Week selection, Fischer currently ranks second in the NJAC in both passing yards per game (199.3) and passer efficiency (153.6). He also ranks third in the conference in total offense per game (189.4). After leading his team to a 9-1 record, a share of the NJAC Championship, and an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament, Fischer and the Red Hawks will travel to Hampden-Sydney for a first round game on November 20.
Rowan senior defensive lineman Matt Hoffman was selected as the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year. A three-time all-conference selection, he led the conference in both sacks (8.5) and tackles for a loss (21.5). Hoffman, who finished his senior year with 65 total tackles, recorded the most tackles for a loss by any NJAC player in a season since 2007.
An all-conference selection at both punt returner and wide receiver, Montclair State University junior Dan Keegan was tapped as the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He currently leads the NJAC in punt return average (22.9), while ranking fourth in the conference in all-purpose yards per game (96.0). His selection marks the second straight year that a Red Hawk has garnered the league’s special teams honor.
The College at Brockport’s freshman wide receiver Jake Spalik was selected as the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year. A three-time NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week selection, he currently leads the league in receptions per game (5.3), while ranking ninth in the conference in receiving yards (52.8 per game).
Montclair State University freshman linebacker Dan Avento garnered the leagues’ Defensive Rookie of the Year award. A first-team all-conference selection as a freshman, he claimed NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week honors four times during his rookie season and currently ranks 11th in the conference in tackles (7.6 per game).
Montclair State University head coach Rick Giancola was selected as the NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers for a second consecutive season. In 2010, he has led the Red Hawks to a 9-1 overall record, a share of the NJAC Championship, and a second straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. In 28 seasons at the helm of the MSU program, Giancola has guided the Red Hawks to an overall record of 200-88-2.
2010 NJAC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM