Worcester, MA --- The Worcester Area Football Association has announced the 23rd Annual Steve "Merc" Morris All-Star Team as selected by the eight sports information directors of Worcester County. Becker placed four members on the squad while Anna Maria earned six selections.
The major award winners included senior running back Robert Small (Sleepy Hollow, NY) of Anna Maria as the Offensive Player of the Year and junior defensive end Derek Mann (Sharon, MA) of Assumption who was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year.
Small, who rushed for 1,224 yards and 15 touchdowns, was named the ECFC Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in average rushing yards (136.0 YPG) and yards per carry (6.2).
Anna Maria also earned five additional selections to the all-star team. Senior Jordan Koehler was selected as a first team linebacker, while senior Tony Valente posted second team status. Also on the defensive side, senior Demetri Underwood was second team defensive back. Sophomores William Ricard (wide receiver) and Kevin Grey (offensive tackle) were tabbed to the second team in their respective positions.
Becker senior linebacker Melvin Booker (Roxbury, Mass.) earned his third consecutive Worcester Area selection and second straight First team selection. Booker led the ECFC with 9 sacks, while averaging 9.5 tackles per game. Booker finished his career at Becker College as the all time leader in tackles (301), unassisted tackles (179), assisted tackles (122), tackles for a loss (37.5), yards from tackles for a loss (210), fumble recoveries (5), sacks, (18.5), and yards from sacks (120).
Becker senior quarterback Bobby Baker (Monroe) earned First Team Worcester Area selection. Baker led the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference with 17 touchdown passes, while averaging 159.6 yards per game. Baker finished his career at Becker as the program's all time leader in passing yards (7,016), pass attempts (1,140), pass completions (591), rushing attempts (353), passing touchdowns (50), average passing yards per game (171.1), total offensive yards (7,057), and touchdowns responsible for (53).
Becker sophomore defensive end Michael Calafiore (Frankilin, N.J) earned Second Team Worcester Area honors. Calafiore made 43 tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. Classmate Timothy Farina (East Lyme, Conn.) earned First Team Worcester Area after anchoring the Hawks offensive line.
The Worcester Area Football Association All-Star Team is named in memory of Steve "Merc" Morris, the longtime Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations and Assumption Hall of Famer. Morris was a 1972 graduate of Assumption and was a member of the athletics staff for 39 years before he passed away in January of 2011.
In addition to being the founder of the Worcester Area Association All-Star Program, Morris was a tireless supporter of collegiate athletics and had a key role in the lives of thousands of student-athletes.
