SFU’s Lewis Solo Freshman on 2007 Sports Network Mid-Major & Independent All-America First-Team Defensive Lineup
Philadelphia, Pa. – Freshman phenom Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) was named to the 2007 Sports Network Mid-Major & Independent All-America First-Team Defense on Monday, January 21. This decoration marks Lewis’ fourth postseason award for his remarkable 2007 season and his sixth award, overall. Lewis was also granted the 2007 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year Award on January 14, 2008. Lewis’ enshrinement onto the 2007 ECAC Football Championship Subdivision (FBS) All-Star roster marks his second Rookie of the Year tribute in one season. On November 27, 2007, Lewis was tabbed as the 2007 Northeast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Lewis was the only freshman to be named on the 2007 Mid-Major All-America First-Team. Robert Morris’ punter, Nick Schirtzinger, was the other freshman to get credit as an All-American, but he was slotted as a member of the Second-Team Defense. Only four sophomores were given the mark of All-American distinction. The rest of the First and Second Team selections were either juniors or seniors.
On top of claiming a spot on the 2007 Sports Network Mid-Major & Independent All-America First-Team Defense and his two Rookie of the Year tributes, Lewis was given the nod from the committee of the Northeast Conference to be slated as a component of the All-NEC First Team Defense, the first time since 2004 a freshman was voted to such a position. Lewis was also the recipient of two NEC Rookie of the Week awards for his prominent play against Duquesne in Week 6 and Wagner in Week 10, claiming six laudatory awards for his dominating play.
“Scott is everything an All-American candidate should be,” head coach Dave Opfar offered. “He is not only a spectacular player, but his attitude is to be admired. Scott has a lot to look forward to in his upcoming seasons here.”
Amongst the NEC affiliates of the All-America list, Lewis was the sole Saint Francis representative. Wagner’s senior running back Jason Butler, junior defensive end Robert Brown, junior linebacker Bryan Brand, senior cornerback Alfred Phillips, senior kick Piotr Czech, Albany’s sophomore tailback David McCarty, senior guard Sam Pagano, junior defensive tackle Michael Dungey and Central Connecticut State’s junior fullback JoJo Freeman were also NEC delegates of the Mid-Major All-American first team.
So much attention has been centered on Lewis’s play this season because he was the overall leader in the NEC with 12.6 tackles per game and finished tied for sixth with 1.00 tackles for loss per game. Nationally, Lewis finished fourth in tackles for Division I-FBS. Lewis was also only one of three freshmen in the top 40 for that category. Lewis’ 126 total tackles in a single season earned him a fifth place ranking all-time for Saint Francis. The blue-chip linebacker racked up 10 total tackles for loss and three sacks on the season.
The last time a member of the Red Flash football team noted as a Sports Network Mid-Major All-American was junior wide receiver Michael Caputo. Caputo earned his spot after setting NEC single-season records with catches (92) and receiving yards (1,433) in 2005. Caputo also led the nation in receptions per game (8.36), second in receiving yards per game (130.3) and this in total receiving yards (1,433) that year.
In 2006, three elements of the Red Flash offense were nominated to the 2006 Mid-Major Pre-Season Football All-America Team: senior wide receivers Michael Caputo and Luke Palko and senior offensive lineman Bill Holter.
“It is extremely humbling to be named to the Mid-Major All-America first team and be associated with not only great Saint Francis players, but competitors around the country,” the All-American Lewis stated. “The rest of my teammates, especially on defense, deserve some recognition, as well, because they played just as hard as I did this season.”