Widener University wide receiver Anthony Davis leads the Pride into Glassboro to take on Rowan Friday night.

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

Anthony Davis, the junior wide receiver for Widener University, was named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Offensive Player of the Year. Davis, who was selected All-MAC for the third straight year, was named to the first team all-league at wide receiver and as special teams player.  The Pride’s quarterback Seth Klein was voted the league’s Rookie of the Year and an Honorable Mention on the all-league team. Nine other team members join Davis and Klein on the All-MAC teams as the Pride completed a 6-4 season for first-year head coach Bobby Acosta. It was the third straight winning season for Widener and the fourth consecutive non-losing campaign. The six victories this season from Acosta were the most for a first-year coach at Widener since Bill Zwaan went 7-3 in 1997.

This season, Davis set the school record for receptions with 91; he had 1,056 yards and ranked 21 in Division III with 10 touchdowns. His 9.1 catches per game were fifth nationally and he was 19^th in the country with 105.6 yards per game.  In his career, the Chester High School grad is fifth in school history with 35 touchdowns, second with 5,035 all-purpose yards, third with 31 touchdown receptions, second with 187 receptions, tied for fourth with 2,711 receiving yards, first with 67 kickoff returns and first with 1,515 kickoff return yards.

Klein stepped into the starting role – replacing last year’s MAC Offensive Player of the Year as Chris Haupt – and appears to have a bright future.  He’s third in the country with a 74.4 competition percentage, fourth with 28.5 completions per game and 15th with 280.9 passing yards per contest. His 17 touchdowns topped the conference while his 285 completions set a single-season school record. The Wernersville, PA native threw for 2,809 yards which is fifth best in Widener history. 

Senior linebacker Dylan Ditmer, Downingtown East, senior safety Colin Masterson, Ridley, senior center Mike Pacitti, West Deptford and sophomore defensive lineman Shakore Philip, Bay Shore, NY, were all named to the first team.

Second-team honorees included sophomore defensive lineman Stacey Sunnerville, Freehold, NJ, and junior running back Couve LaFate, Wilmington, DE/Henderson.  In addition to Klein, senior defensive lineman Darius Johnson, Baltimore, MD/National Academy Foundation, senior wide receiver Jermaine Quattlebaum, Upper Marlboro, MD/Largo, and junior defensive lineman John DiBiase, Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape, were Honorable Mention.