Zilbar named WIAC Defensive Player of Year to lead 14 Pioneer All-WIAC selections
Jacob Zilbar was named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Defensive Player of the Year, as the Pioneers had 13 players selected to the 2014 All-WIAC Football Team.
MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Jacob Zilbar was named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Defensive Player of the Year, as the Pioneers had 13 players selected to the 2014 All-WIAC Football Team.
The Pioneers garnered seven first-team, four second-team, and three honorable mention accolades.
Rob Austin, Andrew Robinson, and Zilbar all earned their second straight first team honor. Zilbar, a linebacker from Tampa, Fla., led the Pioneer defense with 78 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. Austin, a defensive back from Calumet City, Ill., helped bolster the best pass defense in the WIAC, only allowing 165 passing yards a game. He recorded seven pass break ups and 43 tackles. Robinson was the top defensive linemen in the WIAC with a league best 16.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks, and also totaled 51 tackles.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Pioneers tallied four first-team selections, Jayson Eddy, Brian Lurquin, Andy Puccini, and Russell Martin. Martin led the Pioneer receiving corps with 884 yards on 52 receptions and six touchdowns. Puccini was the WIAC's leading rusher with 125.2 yards per game and nine touchdowns. The Bartlett, Ill. native, was also selected honorable mentions as an all-purpose back, totaling a league best 1,393 all-purpose yards. Eddy, Lurquin and Brian Johnson, who was named second-team, paved the way for Pioneer offense. The three senior offensive linemen boosted one of the best offenses in conference with 401.6 yards of total offense per game, and only allowed 12 sacks. They also helped Puccini break the school's 40-year-old single season rushing record with 1,252 yards.
Seniors Bryce Corrigan, Trevor Whitehead, and Levi Epley join Johnson as members of the second-team. Corrigan, a Plainfield, Ill. native, led the WIAC with 242.1 passing yards per game and completed 61.3 percent (234-382) of his passes and threw 21 touchdown passes. Whitehead, a Elgin, Ill. native, was Corrigan's top target and caught a league best 75 passes and totaled 708 yards and seven touchdowns. Epley, a defensive line from Plainfield, Iowa, registered 41 tackles at the nose guard position and was key to the Pioneer defense's success.
Freshman place kicker Pat Frio and junior safety Devon Vance were named honorable mention. Frio was a perfect 36-36 on extra point attempts and made seven field goals with a season-long of 43 yards. Vance was a key member to the Pioneer pass defense, and recorded 45 tackles and two pass break ups.
Evan Constant was named to the conference All-Sportsmanship Team for his display of exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.