Eight Bears Named to All-MASCAC Football Team

2018 All-MASCAC Football Team (PDF)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior defensive tackle Chris Gemayel (Dedham, Mass.), senior wide receiver Jack Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.), senior right tackle Zachary Tillson (Plymouth, Mass.), and freshman outside linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton. Mass.) garnered All-MASCAC First Team honors to highlight the Bears' eight representatives on the 2018 All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Football Team.

Junior running back Nick Santavicca (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.), junior strong safety Mark Wilson (Foxborough, Mass.), junior left guard Austin White (North Attleboro, Mass.), and sophomore inside linebacker Michael Rosa (Uxbridge, Mass.) were each named to the All-MASCAC Second Team to round out the Bears' all-conference honorees.

Lavanchy and Tillson were also first team selections in 2017, while Gemayel, Silvia, Santavicca, White, Wilson and Rosa are all making their first appearance on the All-MASCAC Team.

Lavanchy leads the BSU offense with a school-record 88 catches for 1,105 yards and eleven touchdowns. He is the Bears' all-time leader in receptions (216) and receiving yard (2851) and sits third in receiving touchdowns (27).

Silvia has a team-leading three interceptions to go along with 49 tackles (32 solo), 5 1/2 for loss and two pass breakups, while Gemayel checks in with 39 tackles (31 solo) with a team-leading 11 for loss, as well as 2 1/2 sacks.

Tillson and fellow offensive linemen White anchor an outstanding BSU offensive line which paved the way for 4,227 yards of total offense in ten games during the regular season including 2,329 through the air and 1,830 on the ground.

Santavicca has carried the ball 226 times for 1,158 yards and thirteen touchdowns. He became the eighth different running back in BSU football history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Santavicca ranks 20th all-time for the Bears in career rushing yards with 1,181.

Wilson leads the team with 68 tackles (43 solo), with four for loss to go along with six break-ups and three forced fumbles. Rosa checks in with 64 tackles (38 solo) with 5 1/2 for loss, an interception, and two pass breakups.

Lavanchy ranks fifth in all of Division III in receptions, sixth in receptions per game (8.8), tenth in receiving yards, 13th in receiving yards per game (110.5). He also leads the MASCAC in receptions, receiving yards and is tied for first in the conference in receiving touchdowns.

Silvia is tied for second in the league in fumble recoveries with two, and is tied for third in interceptions with three. Gemayel's 11 tackles for loss has him tied for fourth among the MASCAC leaders.

Santavicca leads the MASCAC in rush attempts, is third in rushing yards per game (109.8), tied for third in rushing touchdowns, and fourth in scoring (78 pts.). His 42 carries against Western Connecticut this season broke the BSU record for most rush attempts in a game.

Wilson is tied for third in the circuit in forced fumbles and tied for sixth in tackles, solo tackles and pass breakups, while Rosa's 7.1 tackles per game sits tied for seventh in the MASCAC and his 29 assisted tackles ranks tenth.

The Bears' lead the MASCAC in total offense (422.7 ypg) and rank second in passing (239.7 ypg) and fourth in rushing (183.0 ypg).

The BSU football team wrapped up regular season play with an overall record of 7-3 (6-2 MASCAC). The Bears have been selected to compete in the 2018 New England Bowl and will host Salve Regina University on Saturday (Nov. 17) at noon.