PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Twelve Plymouth State College football players were named to the Freedom Football Conference All-Star Team Tuesday, led by senior linebacker Dave Gibson (Middletown, RI), who was selected FFC Defensive Player of the Year, and sophomore Brent Bardellini (Milford, MA), tabbed FFC Special Teams Co-Player of the Year.
The Panthers had 10 representatives on the All-FFC First Team – four on offense, four on defense and two specialists. Two others, one on each side of the football, captured Second Team honors. The FFC All-Star teams are selected in a vote by the league’s seven head coaches.
The powerful Panther defense, which led the FFC in passing, scoring and total defense, was led by a pair of First Team linebackers – Gibson and senior Rocky Criscone (Burnt Hills, NY). Gibson is a three-time All-FFC First Team selection and twice an All-New England choice, while Criscone earns a spot of the First Team for the second consecutive year. Joining them on the First Team defense are senior defensive tackle Joe Attubato (Saugus, MA), a two-time All-FFC selection, and senior cornerback Marc Turcotte (South Berwick, ME), who makes his first appearance as an FFC All-Star after leading the league in interceptions (6).
Senior Jose Raymond (Wakefield, MA), who emerged from third on the PSC depth chart to starter, celebrated his rushing title by being named to the All-FFC First Team. He may not have led the league were it not for PSC’s outstanding offensive line, led by a pair of First Team picks – seniors Matt Horan (Simsbury, CT) and Brian Arakelian (Hampton, NH).
Sophomore Brent Bardellini (Milford, MA) earned First Team honors as both a wide receiver and punt returner, and senior place-kicker Paul D’Ascoli (Somers, NY) made his fourth consecutive appearance on the All-FFC team.
PSC’s Second Team picks included sophomore wide receiver Charlie Schubert (Manchester, NH) and junior defensive tackle Bill Lawrence (Dover, NH).
The Panthers finished the regular season with a 7-3 overall record, and place third in the conference with a mark of 4-2. The Panthers will play at Buffalo State this Saturday (Nov. 22) at 12 noon in the ECAC Division III Northwest Championship game, PSC’s ninth appearance in the ECAC play-offs.
Mostly Cloudy. Temperature: 69; Wind: WNW at 8; Conditions as of Sat May 18 at 01:00 PM EDT