Westmoreland County campus clippings: Greensburg Salem grad up for national college football award

Greensburg Salem alum Brennan Marion, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV, is one of 57 finalists for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant coach in college football.

A journeyman who has found success at most of his coaching stops, including Pitt and Texas, Marion joined the staff at UNLV last season. His “Go-Go” offense has already taken root in the desert, with the Runnin’ Rebels producing 31 rushing touchdowns, second nationally to USC.

UNLV (8-2) set a program record with six 40-point games. The Rebels are averaging 36.4 points and 421.6 yards a game.

Marion also has coached at Howard, Hawaii and William & Mary.

Football

Allegheny: The All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference First Team included record-breaking senior wide receiver Declan O’Brien (Norwin). O’Brien set single-season records for receptions (91) and yards (1,228), and had a career-best 10 touchdowns. Senior running back Kyrie Miller (Ligonier Valley) made the second team. He ran for 151 yards after moving into the starting lineup to replace an injured teammate.

Duquesne: Junior linebacker Gianni Rizzo (Norwin) collected a game-high 10 tackles as the Dukes defeated Merrimack, 26-14, to secure a spot in the FCS playoffs. Another Norwin alum is an assistant coach for the Dukes in Brock Dieter.

Rizzo was named the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Edinboro: Junior linebacker CJ Waldier (Yough) was selected to the All-PSAC West First Team. Waldier led the Fighting Scots with 100 tackles to go with 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Junior safety Toby Cline (Jeannette) was named to the second team. Cline had 51 tackles and two interceptions.

Grove City: The Wolverines (11-0) pulled a stunner in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, going on the road and beating No. 9 Susquehanna, 21-20, with a late touchdown pass. Sophomore Jack Jollie (Penn-Trafford) had a team-high 12 tackles, while senior Gabe Dunlap (Penn-Trafford) made five stops in the win. Sophomore 6-foot-7 lineman Luke Jollie (Penn-Trafford) is a starting lineman for the Wolverines.

Dunlap was selected to the All-PAC First Team defense as a defensive back and to the special teams second team as a returner. He had three interceptions and 45 tackles, while leading the conference in kick returns with a 29.9-yard average. He had a 40-yard punt return touchdown against Saint Vincent.

Jack Jollie made honorable mention.

IUP: Sophomore defensive lineman Cole Weightman (Belle Vernon) made the All-PSAC West Second Team. A first-year starter, Weightman had 46 tackles and a team-high 7.5 sacks.

Mercyhurst: In his final collegiate season, grad running back Dustin Shoaf (Yough) was named to the All-PSAC West Second Team for the second straight year. He rushed for 387 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.

Saint Vincent: Senior defensive lineman Max Pisula (Greensburg Central Catholic) made the All-PAC list as an honorable mention. He also played some fullback for the Bearcats.

Seton Hill: The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Year came from Seton Hill for the second year in a row. Senior defensive lineman Dioh Desuah was this year’s recipient after recording 39 tackles, 14 for loss, and five sacks. Jaylen McDuffie won the award last year.

Desuah joined teammates sophomore running back Ky’Ron Craggette, junior wide receiver Mark Bails, sophomore return specialist Taz Morris and senior linebacker Musa Tama as All-PSAC West first teamers. Craggette ran for 810 yards and nine touchdowns, while Bailes led Seton Hill with 46 receptions for 926 yards and eight TDs. Tama had a team-high 67 tackles and five sacks.

Junior defensive lineman Ben Weaver and junior punter Jack Wagner made the second team.

Washington & Jefferson: Senior linebacker Justin Johns (Franklin Regional) piled up a career-high 23 tackles in the Presidents’ 46-21 win over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the ECAC James Lynah Bowl.

Junior tight end Zach Cernuto (Southmoreland) was named to the All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference First Team. Johns made the second team. Cernuto, who played quarterback in high school, accounted for seven touchdowns, five rushing and two via receptions. Johns, a three-time all-conference pick, led the team with 76 tackles, raising his career total to 246.

Waynesburg: Grad running back Justin Flack (Derry) and sophomore wide receiver Isaac Trout (Southmoreland) was an All-PAC honorable mention picks.

William & Mary: Senior safety Marcus Barnes (Jeannette) had five tackles as the Tribe finished off the regular season with a 27-26 loss to Richmond.

Women’s cross country

Cal (Pa.): Senior Malia Anderson (Greensburg Salem) finished 137th out of more than 250 runners at the NCAA Division II Championships in Joplin, Mo. Her time was 22 minutes, 0.2 seconds.

Women’s volleyball

Saint Vincent: Sophomore outside hitter Luciana Polk was named to the All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference Second Team. A third team selection for the Bearcats was sophomore middle hitter Lauren Fox.

Thiel: Freshman middle blocker Arin Delattre (Hempfield) was named All-PAC honorable mention. She led the Tomcats with 64 blocks and added 132 kills.

Waynesburg: Junior libero Jordan Stein (Norwin) was an All-PAC honorable mention selection. Stein finished third in the conference with 5.8 digs per set.