Tuckness, Edwards and Gilliam named All-SCIAC

LOS ANGELES — Senior wide receiver Matthew Tuckness (Alamo) was named First Team All-SCIAC for the second consecutive year, headlining a group of three Occidental College football players who earned the distinction at the postseason SCIAC football coaches meeting on Nov. 20.

Oxy quarterback Tommy Edwards (Sherman Oaks) and defensive lineman Michael Gilliam(Songtan, South Korea) made the Second Team. Players were selected by position.

Full list

Tuckness led the SCIAC in receptions per game (11.4) and receiving yards (137.7) and had eight touchdown catches.

In Oxy's last game of the season, Tuckness had 16 catches for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

 "He runs good routes and really understands what we're trying to do," Occidental offensive coordinator Eric Bergstrom said. "He made plays when we needed him to and he's been the go-to weapon for the last two years."

Tuckness finishes his career with 27 touchdowns in 26 games played.

Edwards became the first Oxy quarterback to throw for 2,900 yards in a season since the late great Andy Collins did it in 2005. The junior led the SCIAC in passing yards per game (340.3), was fourth in passing efficiency (133.6), completed 63.3 percent of his passes and threw 15 touchdowns in SCIAC play.

"He's the most competitive kid I've ever been around," Bergstrom said. "He loves to play, he has a phenomenal work ethic and he is a true student of the game."

Gilliam, a junior, was third in the conference in tackles for a loss with nine.

Oxy finished the season 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the SCIAC.