2011 All-NCCAA Football Team

Two Malone University football players were recently named to the 2011 All-NCCAA Football Team while one Pioneer earned Special Mention honors.  On offense, wide receiver Justin McLean was selected to the First Team while linebacker Antonio Scassa earned First Team Defense accolades. In addition, linebacker Matt Vick earned the Special Mention distinction on defense.

McLean, a junior, led the Mid-States Football Association in all-purpose yards per game at 168.7 yards. As a receiver, he had a team-high 44 receptions for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.  McLean had touchdown receptions of 94, 81, 67 and 61 yards and also had a game-changing impact on special teams, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns (99 and 90 yards).  In addition, he set the Malone record for highest kick return average in a season at 30.7 yards.  Other school records McLean set were for most kick return yards in a game (148 total kickoff yards against McKendree) and longest kick return (99 yards).   He also tied his own Pioneer record for the longest touchdown reception (94 yard TD catch against Saint Ambrose).

Scassa, a junior, led the Pioneer defense in total tackles this season with 84 (45 solo), including 9.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Vick, a senior, recorded the second-most tackles on the team this season with 72 (37 solo), including two tackles for loss.  He also posted one interception and four pass breakups.

All three student-athletes also earned the MSFA Mideast League Honorable Mention accolade this season while McLean and Scassa were also named to the OhioCollegeFootball.com NCAA Div. II All-Ohio Second Team.  Malone finished the 2011 campaign with a 4-7 overall record.