SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University football team had six of its players named Wednesday afternoon to the 2021 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Football Teams, including a First Team honor for freshman placekicker Jaxson Montross.
 
Voting is conducted by the league's head coaches.
 
It is the first All-PSAC classification for all six of the Raider honorees.
 
Montross was the lone First Team honoree for the 9-2 Raiders, who had five players selected to the All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team: redshirt-junior tight end David Balint III, senior defensive back Trey Paul, freshman wide receiver Ian Sheehan, sophomore defensive lineman Jacoby Sherard, and redshirt-junior center Josh Zacher.
 
Montross was 15-of-21 in field goals this season, missing only once on a kick attempt under 40 yards. His 15 field goals rank second in the PSAC and are tied for the second-most in SU single-season history. His 85 points by kicking also rank second in the PSAC and are the second-most in SU single-season history. His 50-yard field goal in the season opener is the longest field goal in school history. He also finishes the season 40-of-43 on point-after attempts (PATs), including 20-in-a-row to conclude the season.
 
Balint III, a team captain, hauled in 36 receptions for 361 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He caught four or more receptions in each of the first five games and finished with multiple receptions in 10-of-11 games. A 2019 D2CCA All-American, Balint III will graduate as SU's all-time leader among tight ends in career receptions (115) and career receiving yards (1,333).
 
Paul, a team captain, ranked third in the PSAC with 1.2 passes defended per game. He led the team with a career-high four interceptions and with nine pass breakups en route to his 13 pass defenses. His 63 tackles also led the team, as Paul recorded a season-high 11 tackles at East Stroudsburg and contributed five or more tackles in eight games. He also finished with 2.0 tackles-for-loss (TFLs), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
Sheehan was the team's leading receiver with 47 receptions, 727 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He averaged 15.5 yards per reception and 66.1 receiving yards per game. Sheehan had multiple receptions in all 11 games and two games of 100 or more receiving yards, including a season-high 143 receiving yards in a Week 2 win at Edinboro. He had five or more receptions in six games.
 
Sherard was exemplary at tackle along the defensive line, leading the Raiders with 9.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 6.5 sacks. He also had a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and 29 total tackles. His final play of the season was a sack-fumble that clinched SU's 17-13 victory over Mercyhurst in Week 11. He contributed to at least one TFL in six games and had at least one tackle in all 11 games.
 
Zacher started all 11 games at center for an offense that led the PSAC and ranked 11th nationally in time of possession (33:21). SU's offense scored on 41-of-45 drives in the red zone – the eighth-best rate in the nation – and totaled 19.8 first downs and 371.5 yards per game.
 
Shepherd quarterback Tyson Bagent, the nation's leading passer, was named the Offensive Player of the Year. West Chester linebacker Jackson Taylor was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Shepherd wide receiver Ryan Beach was named the Rookie of the Year. Kutztown's Jim Clements was named the Coach of the Year.
 
All-PSAC Breakdown by School
Bloomsburg: 3 (2 First Team (0 offense, 2 defense), 1 Second Team (1 offense, 0 defense)
East Stroudsburg: 8 (4 First Team (2 offense, 2 defense), 4 Second Team (2 offense, 2 defense)
Kutztown: 13 (7 First Team (3 offense, 4 defense), 6 Second Team (2 offense, 4 defense)
Lock Haven: 2 (0 First Team (0 offense, 0 defense), 2 Second Team (1 offense, 1 defense)
Millersville: 3 (2 First Team (0 offense, 2 defense), 1 Second Team (0 offense, 1 defense)
Shepherd: 13 (11 First Team (8 offense, 3 defense), 2 Second Team (1 offense, 1 defense)
Shippensburg: 6 (1 First Team (1 offense, 0 defense), 5 Second Team (3 offense, 2 defense)
West Chester: 10 (2 First Team (1 offense, 1 defense), 8 Second Team (5 offense, 3 defense)