Senior quarterback Anthony Kropp and junior kicker Tom Lynch, both of Frankfort and both Lincoln-Way East graduates, were among 10 Saint Xavier football players named Friday to the 2010 Victory Sports Network NAIA All-American Team. Both claimed first team honors.
Also named to the first team were senior defensive back Pat Geary, of Mokena and a Lincoln-Way East graduate, and wide receiver Mike Maher, of Plainfield who graduated from Providence Catholic in New Lenox.
In addition, SXU had junior offensive lineman Michael Johnson, of Harvey (Thornton High School), earn second team recognition.
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Honorable mentions went to senior linebacker Brendan Sheehy, of Chicago (Brother Rice), senior wide receiver Xavier Torres, of Chicago (Lane Tech), senior running back Donnie Selby, of Alsip (Shepard), senior defensive back Drew Rogowski, of Griffith, Ind., and junior defensive end Michael Prosser, of Rockton, Ill.
"What a tremendous compliment it is to our program to have 10 guys receive All-American recognition," said Saint Xavier University football coach Mike Feminis. They all deserve it.
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"For us to have more first team and total selections than any other program, including both schools that played for the national championship (Carroll College and University of Sioux Falls), I think speaks volumes.
"Plus, the fact that three of them came from the same high school (Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort) means you are talking about some very special young men and I could not be more proud of them for what they have accomplished individually and for our team."
Maher set several of SXU's single-season marks this past year, including 116 receptions, 1,470 receiving yards, 20 receiving touchdowns, 23 total touchdowns, 2,110 all-purpose yards and two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
Kropp completed 325 of his 509 pass attempts (64 percent) for 4,506 yards and 55 touchdowns, which tied a NAIA single-season record. He led the entire NAIA in total offense yardage (4,542) and total passing yardage (4,506).
Geary finished with 64 total tackles (41 solos) and team-bests of three interceptions (tie) and 10 pass break-ups.
Lynch earned the prestigious Fred Mitchell Award and had a huge season connecting on 13 of his 15 field goal attempts (87 percent) and 82 of his 84 extra-point tries (PATs).
Saint Xavier had a record-breaking campaign in 2010 finishing 13-1 overall and winning the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League title for the second straight year.
The Cougars swept through the regular season again with a perfect 11-0 mark and were ranked as high as No. 3 in the NAIA's weekly Top 25 Poll.
SXU qualified for the semifinals of the NAIA Championship Series for the fourth time in the past five seasons, but lost to eventual national champion Carroll College (Mont.) in Helena, Mont.
The All-American teams are determined by a committee of NAIA football coaches as well as Jason Dannelly, owner and founder of the Victory Sports Network.
