Football

SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University football team experienced a roller coaster year that ended on a high note. After starting the season 1-3, the Sea Gulls rebounded to win five of their final seven games, including the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl Championship game to cap off the program's fifth consecutive winning season.

"Considering the strength of schedule and the youth of our program, I am pleased with the final result of our season," said SU coach Sherman Wood, who completed his eighth season in 2006.  "I thought our kids worked extremely hard, definitely at the end of the season."

In addition to the team's second straight ECAC bowl championship (2005 ECAC Southeast Bowl Champions), Salisbury had 10 players named to the All-Atlantic Central Football Conference football team. Senior co-captains Byron Westbrook and Billy Leinemann were named to the first team while fellow senior co-captains Kristos Miliotis and Zach Armiger along with seniors Tim Metzger, Anthony Johnson and junior Brendan Kincaid were named to the second team. Sophomore Ronnie Curley and junior Joe Galloway were honorable mention selections. Westbrook was honored as a first-team return specialist and defensive back.

The individual accolades didn't stop with the conference. For the second straight season the Sea Gulls will be represented on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) all-star team roster as Westbrook was named a first-team AFCA All-American. Westbrook will play in the 2006 Aztec Bowl in Aguascalientes, Mexico. In 2005, Salisbury was represented by offensive lineman Brett Wehnert.

The Sea Gulls finished the season as the top ranked rushing offense in the ACFC as they grinded out 217.5 yards a game. Salisbury also ranked second in the conference in scoring offense (22.9 points a game), second in kickoff returns (20.1 per return), second in rushing defense (94.0 yards a game) and third in scoring defense (15.4 points a game).

The season began with a bang for Salisbury who handed No. 15 Washington and Jefferson its first loss to start the season since 1998. Salisbury ran off 425 yards of total offense on the playoff bound Presidents and scored 22 unanswered points on the road to upset W&J, 32-14.

The Sea Gulls then hit their first skid of the season as they lost three straight to SUNY Brockport, Christopher Newport in overtime and Montclair State by a combined 71-23.

The three-game losing streak ended with an impressive 25-0 win over the Apprentice School.  The Sea Gull defense held the Shipbuilders to a mere 55 yards of total offense as they picked off two passes, one returned for a touchdown, and recovered a fumble.

Salisbury remained hot as they marched through Morrisville State, 65-7, on Homecoming/Family weekend. The Sea Gulls outgained the Mustangs 440-133 and racked up 20 first downs.

The two-game winning streak was quickly erased by a 26-23 loss to Division 1-AA Saint Peter's as the Sea Gulls lost six fumbles.

The next week saw the No. 5 team in the nation, Wesley, come to town for the annual Route 13 rivalry. Wesley used a 22-yard field goal with just five seconds left to escape Salisbury with the 13-10 win. Salisbury had more total yards than Wesley, 292-278, but couldn't hold off the Wolverines from kicking two 22-yard field goals in the final four minutes to clinch the win.

SU only had two regular season games left on the schedule to try and finish the season at .500. First the Gulls traveled to Chester, Pa. and avenged a 31-28 loss in 2005 with a 17-14 victory. Westbrook picked off two passes in the final two minutes to help guide Salisbury to the win. The following week saw Salisbury win a lopsided Regents Cup game over in-state rival, Frostburg State, 42-15. The Sea Gulls 5-5 record was strong enough to earn them a ECAC Bowl Championship game bid.

Salisbury entered Doylestown, Pa. as a confident team and left James Work Memorial Stadium as ECAC Bowl Champions. The Sea Gulls scored the first points in three games on the Delaware Valley defense and went into halftime tied at seven. The second half opened with a safety for the Aggies who took a 9-7 lead. Salisbury clinched the game with strong defense and an impressive 11-play, 97-yard drive that resulted in the lone second half touchdown. The Sea Gulls went on to win 15-9.

"The game against Delaware Valley was probably the best game our team played as a whole," said Leinemann, who was named game MVP. "Offensively and defensively we played better games during the season, but there was a tremendous feeling of confidence on our squad that we would come out victorious against the favored Aggies."

Curley, who accounted for 1,205 yards of total offense on the season, will return for his junior season along with rising senior Chris Newton and junior Kevin Tillage. Newton hauled in a team high eight receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Tillage emerged late in the season as the Gulls go to receiver as he caught six passes for 179 yards and two scores. Valdase Morris will return in 2007 after he gained 298 yards this season.

The Salisbury defense returns its three top tacklers, Matt Barnes (56 tackles), Ryan Hesnan (56 tackles) and Chris Loveland (46 tackles). Galloway and Jarrell Chandler will anchor the defensive line next season as they totaled eight sacks for 46 yards.

Kincaid, who connected on 9-13 field goal attempts, returns along with punter Andrew Geisert who had 19 punts land inside the 20-yard line.

The Sea Gulls will look to carry the momentum from the final three games of the 2006 season which included the ECAC Bowl Championship, into the 2007 season with a goal of winning the ACFC title.

"I believe the way we finished with a great victory over Delaware Valley should put us in a position to be ranked at the beginning of next season," said Wood.