WORCESTER, Mass. - Five players from the Worcester State University football team have earned spots on the Worcester Area Football Association's 28th Annual Steve "Merc" Morris All-Star Team.
The Worcester Area Football Association All-Star Team, as selected by Worcester area sports information directors, is named in the memory of Steve “Merc” Morris, the longtime Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations and Assumption Hall of Famer. “Merc” was a 1972 graduate of Assumption and was a member of the athletics staff for 39 years before passing away in January of 2011. In addition to being the founder of the Worcester Area Football Association All-Star program, he was a tireless supporter of collegiate athletics in the Worcester area and had a key role in the lives of thousands of student-athletes.
Highlighting Worcester State's selections was junior Jacob Maher (Marshfield, Mass.), who was named a First Team All-Star at tight end. Maher, who also received First Team All-MASCAC, First Team All-New England, and First Team D3football.com All-Region honors this season, led the Lancers in every major receiving category this season, with 47 catches, 615 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in 10 games played. The junior criminal justice major had a pair of two-touchdown outings, first in Worcester State's loss to Salve Regina to open the season, and again two weeks later in the Lancers' victory over Fitchburg State.
A pair of Lancers grabbed Second Team selections at the linebacker position - sophomore Gus Ramstrom (Natick, Mass.) and freshman Nicholas Ashley (Worcester, Mass.). Ramstrom, a MASCAC Second Team All-Conference honoree, ranked second on the Lancers with 73 tackles in 10 games this season, and was tied for the team lead with three sacks. In addition to his three sacks, he led the team with nine tackles for loss on the season. Ashley had a strong rookie campaign as well, leading the Lancers with 93 tackles, while also forcing two fumbles, recording four tackles for loss, and breaking up five passes.
Defensive back AJ Byard (Lowell, Mass.) received a Second Team All-Star nod on Wednesday for his performance as a rookie for the Lancers. Byard was named to the Second Team All-MASCAC last month, ranking fourth on the team with 45 tackles on the year. He picked off two passes on the season, both coming in his collegiate debut against Salve Regina on Sept. 1, while breaking up three passes and recording one tackle for loss on the year.
Rounding out Worcester State's Merc Morris selections was senior wide receiver Cam Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.), who was named to the Second Team. Charette pulled in 43 catches for the Lancers this season for five touchdowns and 554 yards.
Assumption's Deonte Harris took home the Offensive Player of the Year award, while Holy Cross linebacker Ryan Brady claimed the Defensive Player of the Year. Special Teams Player of the Year honors went to WPI's Spencer Herrington, with Freshman of the Year going to Fitchburg State's Samuel Kenny. Coach of the Year was awarded to Nichols head coach Dale Olmsted.
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