SELINSGROVE, PA (November 22, 2022) -- The Centennial Conference recently released the 2022 All-Centennial Conference football squads, and the River Hawk football squad posted a program-record 17 honorees on the First, Second and Honorable Mention squads. Furthermore, the Susquehanna University coaching staff, led by Tom Perkovich, was named as the Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. 

The Susquehanna coaching staff was selected by its peers as Coaching Staff of the Year in the inaugural year of the award. Head coach Tom Perkovich and assistants Pat Ruley, Mike Wiand, Shane Gaines, Cole Dixon, Tom Haughey, Malcolm Henry, Tyler Heisey and Tate Schorr were honored after leading the River Hawks to an unbeaten regular season and their first-ever Centennial title. In addition to that honor, the offense was honored with three first-team honorees in receiver Kyle Howes and linemen Dalton Simpson and Nick Gonzalez, with the defense seeing defensive lineman Sal Gurnari, linebacker John Nicosia and defensive back Keith Green III pick up All-Centennial Conference First Team nods as well. Howes was also a First Team selection at kick returners. 

On the second team for SU was quarterback Michael Ruisch, tight end Michael Lefever and defensive backs Edwin Maxwell and David Gilchrist. Honorable mentions were running back Frankie Negrini, linemen Cooper Vellis and Mark Custer, defensive lineman Jack Schultes, linebacker Drew Robinson and kicker Elijah Hoffman. 

The Susquehanna offensive line was one of the best in the nation, allowing just two sacks all season. The SU offensive unit was second in the Centennial Conference in rushing yards per game with 170.4, while also ranking third in total yards per game with 425.6. Susquehanna also had the best yards per attempt average on passes in the Centennial Conference, as the group saw four of the five positions earn a spot in one of the three teams. 

Howes had a dynamic season as both a receiver and returner in 2022, as he finished second in the Centennial Conference in yards with 834 on the season, pulling in nine touchdowns. Howes was second in receptions as well with 57, while finishing with two touchdown returns on just nine returns, averaging 38.1 yards per return. He also posted nine punt returns for 7.2 yards per return. 

Gurnari was a force on the defensive line for the River Hawks, as he finished the season with 38 tackles, 5.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. Gurnari helped SU to the league's second-best rushing defense with just 79.9 yards per game, as the defensive unit allowed only 270.3 yards per game. Nicosia was also part of that defense before getting injured, leading the team in tackles with 63 while posting 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown in a win over Ursinus College. Green III had a breakout season at safety for the River Hawks, as he tallied 38 tackles and three interceptions, forcing two fumbles as well. 

Ruisch finished his Susquehanna University career as the all-time leader in virtually every passing record in program history, as tossed 22 touchdowns on the season which ranked fourth in the conference. Ruisch posted 230.5 yards per game, while adding 192 yards on the ground. One of Ruisch's favorite targets, Lefever was second on the team in receptions with 40, as he posted six touchdowns and 667 yards. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Maxwell and Gilchrist were both fantastic in the secondary in helping SU to one of the best pass defenses in the conference. Maxwell finished the season with 34 tackles and tied for the team lead with six break-ups, and Gilchrist added 37 tackles, 3.5 for loss and four passes defended. 

Negrini was Susquehanna's top rushing threat for the second straight season, as the bruising runner posted 626 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. Schultes stepped into a big role in 2022 and shined, as he tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5 while his 11 tackles for loss was fifth in the Centennial Conference. Robinson was the emotional leader in the middle for SU, and he finished third in tackles for SU with 56, adding three pass break-ups and a forced fumble. 

Hoffman finished an amazing record-setting career for the River Hawks, as he led the team in scoring with 78 points while making 48 of his 50 extra-point attempts along with connecting on 10-of-13 field goal chances. 

--RIVER HAWKS--