Feb. 28, 2006
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette officially concluded its 2005 Patriot League championship football season on Saturday evening at the program's postseason awards banquet.
The catered affair, held on campus in the Marquis Room, was attended by approximately 330 people.
The traditional awards for team MVP, Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Year, and Rookie of the Year were handed out at the end of the program. A new trophy was also created in honor of senior fullback and co-captain David Nelson. The David Nelson '06 Award of Valor will be presented to a player who exhibits an exemplary amount of heart and courage as a member of the Lafayette football team.
Senior linebacker Maurice Bennett (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) was presented with the Hugh H. "Stoney" Jones '27 Award as the Leopards' Most Valuable Player after leading the Patriot League with 133 tackles. He also made 7.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Bennett will leave Lafayette as one of the most decorated players in the history of the program. He is the first Lafayette player to be named an All-American by five national organizations and was a finalist for the Buchanan Award, which goes to the most outstanding defensive player in I-AA football. Bennett also gathered a number of academic awards, including the Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Linebacker Blake Costanzo (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) was named Defensive Player of the Year. Costanzo tallied 86 tackles in his senior campaign, including 6.5 sacks and 9.0 for a loss of yardage. His 2005 season also included two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. A Second Team All-Patriot League selection in each of his last two seasons, Costanzo finished his career with 307 tackles and 18 sacks.
Another senior, wide receiver Brandon Stanford (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley), earned the Offensive Player of the Year for the Leopards. Stanford was Lafayette's leading receiver with 57 catches for 683 yards and was second with three receiving touchdowns. He is tied for seventh in Lafayette history with 107 career receptions. Stanford also fielded the punts for the Leopards and set the school record for single season return yards (438), including an 83-yard touchdown return against Bucknell.
The Special Teams Player of the Year honors went to two seniors, Pat Davis (Landing, N.J./Roxbury) and Larry Johnson (Waldorf, Md./Westlake/Wyoming Seminary). Davis was a four-year starter at long snapper and never allowed a blocked punt. One of the top snappers in the country, Davis was recognized on the 40-man I-AA All-Star team selected by I-AA.org. He also threw for 1,015 yards at quarterback as a senior, and led the Leopards' 88-yard game winning touchdown drive in their 23-19 win at Lehigh.
Johnson holds four of the top ten spots on Lafayette's kick return yardage and average per return lists, and averaged 26.6 yards per return in 2005 while compiling 558 return yards. He owns the top spot with 625 yards in 2004 and 27.5 yards per return in 2003. Johnson ranked second among all players in I-AA football with 2,225 kick return yards from 2002-05.
Freshman wide receiver Shaun Adair (Morristown, N.J /Morristown) was named the team's Rookie of the Year. Adair finished third on the team in receptions (22) and receiving yards (392), while leading the Leopards with 17.8 yards per catch. The freshman snagged three touchdown passes and seven of his receptions went for 20 yards or more.
Lafayette finished the 2005 season with a share of its second straight Patriot League championship and a repeat appearance in the I-AA Playoffs, securing the first at-large spot in school history. The Leopards were ranked No. 20 by ESPN/USA Today and No. 21 by The Sports Network in the final polls.
