Worcester, MA --- Ten student-athletes have been named to the Steve "Merc" Morris Worcester Area Football All Star Team in a selection by the eight Worcester sports information directors while first-year standout Tyler Asam (Medford, MA) was honored as the Defensive Rookie of the Year and head coach Brien Cullen received billing as the Coach of the Year.
The first-team honorees included sophomore AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA – WR) along with senior teammates Tony Tokarz (Holden, MA – QB), Marcus Price (Worcester, MA/Doherty – RB), Robert Johnson III (Leicester, MA – OT), Adam Peloquin (Spencer, MA – OG) and Ray St. Laurent (Shrewsbury, MA – DE).
Senior Cliff Oratokhai (Worcester, MA/South), junior Graham Asum (Marlboro, MA – RET), sophomore Bryan Narcisse (Medway, MA – DT) and freshman Casey Hippert (Douglas, MA – TE) each received second-team nods.
With notable exception to Asum and Narcisse, the other nine selections were each tabbed to the NEFC Bogan Division team that was announced last month while Cullen was honored as the division Coach of the Year and Asum received Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades.
Narcisse finished the season third on the team with 56 tackles (42 solo) while he added 11 tackles for a loss of 56 yards – including 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
With 19 kickoff returns, Asum averaged 24.4 yards per kickoff as his lone return for a touchdown was an exciting 82-yard score for the lone points in Worcester State's 26-6 setback in the ECAC Division III Northwest Bowl to Salve Regina.
In just three seasons wearing a Blue and Gold uniform, Asum is third on the all-time kickoff return yardage list as he has compiled 1,046 kickoff return yards. Asum's total of 554 yards last season was just four yards shy of breaking the school record held by Lancer Hall of Famer Kevin Gniadek.
Under Cullen, the Blue and Gold finished with an overall record of 8-3 for their first winning season since 2004 as they also made their first ECAC Bowl appearance since 2003.
The All-Star Team has been renamed in memory of Steve "Merc" Morris, the longtime Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations at Assumption College. "Merc" was a 1972 graduate of Assumption and was a member of the athletics staff for 39 years before passing away in January 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.
2011 Worcester Area Football Release
2011 Worcester Area Football Team