Austin named PAC Newcomer of the Year

12 earn All-PAC

11/21/2024 7:30:00 PM

TRAFFORD, Pa.--Westminster College freshman Lamont Austin (Sharon, Pa., Sharon) was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Newcomer of the Year Thursday night, highlighting a total of 12 players named All-PAC.

Four from Westminster were named First Team All-PAC, three were Second Team All-PAC and five were Honorable Mention All-PAC.

Austin, a defensive back, is the program's second PAC Newcomer of the Year selection (Kevin Wright, 2021). Through 10 starts this season he has posted 27 tackles (22 solo) to go along with three interceptions and four passes defended. Austin registered a season-high seven tackles in a 17-14 victory over Case Western Reserve University on Oct. 26. His interception and 71-yard return with under 20 seconds left in regulation sealed the win over the previously unbeaten Spartans. He was lauded as the PAC's Newcomer of the Week on Oct. 28. Austin was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-PAC selection Thursday.

Claiming First Team All-PAC honors were seniors Brice Butler (Farrell, Pa., Farrell), Matthew Howard (Grove City, Pa., Grove City) and Kevin Wright (West Palm Beach, Fla., Seminole Ridge), along with freshman Brite Cannon (Parkland, Fla., Monarch). Graduate student Ryan Gomes (Tampa, Fla., Walter L. Sickles), senior Jean Garry Joseph (North Miami, Fla., Ebenezer Christian) and junior Dylan Sleva (Moon Township, Pa., Moon) were named Second Team All-PAC. Senior Jalen Washington (Orlando, Fla., Dr. Phillips), juniors Mason Manos (Neshannock, Pa., Neshannock) and Ty McGowan (Moon Township, Pa., Moon), sophomore Braden Mika (Vandergrift, Pa., Kiski) and Austin were named Honorable Mention All-PAC.

Butler, a defensive back, has been named All-PAC four times in his career, earning his third-straight first team selection in 2024. He has made 10 starts this fall, totaling 41 tackles (30 solo) and a pair of interceptions. Butler returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown in Westminster's win at Allegheny College on Sept. 21, and was honored as the PAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Month for September on Oct. 17. He tied his career high with eight stops in a win over Waynesburg University on Sept. 14. Butler's 14 career interceptions rank sixth among active NCAA Division III leaders. He has returned five interceptions for touchdowns.

Howard, a starter at right guard, has helped the Titans average 164.3 rushing yards and almost 365 yards of total offense per game in 2024. A three-year letter winner, he was named Honorable Mention All-PAC following the 2023 season. The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) named Howard one of its 44 Division III semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy^®on Sept. 25.

Wright, a defensive back, has made 10 starts this fall, totaling 36 tackles (25 solo), two interceptions, 2.0 tackles for loss and a blocked kick. He has been named All-PAC three times during his career, earning the league's newcomer of the year award and claiming Second Team All-PAC honors in 2021 before being named Honorable Mention All-PAC in 2023. Wright owns eight career interceptions.

Cannon, a two-way standout for the Titans, secured First Team All-PAC spots as both an all-purpose player and as a return specialist. He has six total touchdowns in 2024, including four special teams' scores. On Nov. 6 at Carnegie Mellon University he returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, Westminster's first since Luca Botti's 84-yard touchdown in a win over Waynesburg on Oct. 16, 2021. Through 10 games, Cannon has 31 catches for 386 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 14 tackles (7 solo), a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He was named the PAC's Newcomer of the Week on Oct. 14 and earned a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week on Oct. 15 after scoring a special teams' touchdown for the third-straight week with a 57-yard punt return in a win at Bethany College on Oct. 12. He also scored on a 61-yard shovel pass from McGowan less than two minutes into the game. Cannon had four catches for 105 yards against the Bison and added three tackles (3 solo), a tackle for loss and forced a fumble on a dropped snap by punter Landon Bailey early in the third that led to a recovery in the endzone for a touchdown by junior running back Gavin Greaves (Miami, Fla., Felix Varela).

Gomes, a running back, is a four-time all-conference performer. He was voted the PAC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. This year, Gomes has 78 carries for 343 yards and five touchdowns. He finished with 106 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in a win at Thiel College on Sept. 28, rushing 12 times for 60 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Gomes also scored on a 46-yard screen pass from McGowan early in the first quarter. Through 42 career games, he ranks sixth on the program's all-time rushing yards list (2,944), is seventh in all-time carries (662) and is tied with Dave Foley (1988-90) for No. 7 on the all-time touchdowns list with 29 (25 rush, 4 receive). Gomes has rushed for 100 or more yards 10 times in his career.

Joseph has made 10 starts along the defensive line this fall, totaling 37 tackles (22 solo) with a career-best 14.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He had a season-high seven stops against Case Western Reserve this season. Westminster's 82.0 tackles for loss currently rank 12th in Division III. This is Joseph's first All-PAC honor.

Sleva, a linebacker, has started all 10 games this fall. His 89 tackles (51 solo) rank fourth in the PAC. He has added 8.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. In Westminster's regular season finale against Grove City College, Sleva had a season-best 13 tackles and finished the regular season posting double-digit tackles in five games. This is Sleva's second-straight Second Team All-PAC honor.

Washington, a wide receiver, has caught a team-high 33 passes for 548 yards (16.6 yds./rec.) and four touchdowns through 10 starts this season. Against Geneva College on Nov. 9, he snagged five passes for a career-high 146 yards and touchdown. It was the second game of his career surpassing 100 receiving yards and first since Sept. 18, 2021, when he caught five passes for 102 yards in a win at Case Western Reserve. Through 38 career games, Washington has 101 catches for 1,360 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is the 14th player in program history to eclipse 100 career receptions and is 102 yards shy of passing Jon Gubish (2006-09) for 13th on the program's all-time receiving yards list. This is Washington's first All-PAC honor.

Manos has made 10 starts along the defensive line in 2024, totaling 22 tackles (10 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He posted a season-high five tackles against Grove City on Nov. 16. This is Manos' first time being named All-PAC.

McGowan, a quarterback, earned his second-straight honorable mention selection. He has made nine starts in 2024 and completed 129-of-193 passes for 1,521 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. McGowan also rushed 36 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns. His 66.8 percent completion percentage ranks 32nd in Division III and his 147.0 passing efficiency rating ranks 64th. In Westminster's win over Saint Vincent College on Oct. 19, McGowan completed 12-of-19 passes for 225 yards and tied his career high with four touchdowns.

Mika, a two-year starter at right tackle, was an honorable mention pick in 2023. He has not missed a start since arriving in New Wilmington.

Senior offensive lineman Dylan Llewellyn (Murrysville, Pa., Franklin Regional) was recognized as a member of the PAC's Sportsmanship Team. The PAC Sportsmanship Teams were established to recognize student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior and are an ongoing effort to recognize and encourage positive sportsmanship among all PAC teams.

Westminster (7-3) concludes its season Saturday at the inaugural Opendorse Bowl Series at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The Titans will face Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) representative Marietta College (8-2) in the Extra Points Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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