FERRUM, Va. – The Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) released its 2015 College Division All-State Football Team recently and Washington and Lee had several individuals honored.
First-year defensive back Thomas Freeland (Franklin, Tenn. / Ensworth) was selected as the Defensive Rookie of the Year and fourth-year Head Coach Scott Abell was chosen as the Coach of the Year. Additionally, junior offensive lineman Michael LaSala (Wilton, Conn. / Wilton), sophomore offensive lineman Chris Osier (Lebanon, Tenn. / Lebanon) and sophomore linebacker Max Garrett (Fairfield, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall) all received first team all-state recognition. Senior offensive lineman Raymond Monasterski (Roswell, Ga. / Westminster), junior running backs Marshall Hollerith (Richmond, Va. / St. Christopher's) and Connor Chess (Fairfax, Va. / Flint Hill), senior defensive lineman Moody Heard (Houston, Texas / Episcopal) and junior placekicker Matt Underhill (Bethesda, Md. / Landon) were all named to the second team.
Freeland finished his rookie season ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 61 stops, including three tackles for a loss (-13). He also led the team and tied for second in the ODAC with four interceptions, to go along with four pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Abell was named the VaSID Coach of the Year for the second time after he led a W&L team picked to finish sixth in the ODAC to the first 7-0 record in conference history. The Generals finished with their first undefeated regular season in 54 years, setting a school record for wins en route to a 10-1 overall record. He also garnered the ODAC Coach of the Year Award.
LaSala and Osier were both named to the First Team after each claimed First Team All-ODAC laurels. Together, they helped pave the way for the top rushing offense in all of college football, averaging 433.9 yards per game on the ground. Both started all 11 games on the season.
Garrett started all 11 games at linebacker and led the team and finished second in the conference in total tackles with 105 stops. He also had four pass breakups for a defense that allowed an average of just 21.9 points per game in conference contests. He was also a First Team All-ODAC honoree.
Monasterski started at center and finished his career as one of just three players in school history to have played in a W&L-record 42 career games. He helped the Generals set a slew of records, including total offense (5,439 yds.), rushing offense (4,773 yds.) and points scored (417).
Hollerith played in 10 games and ranked second on the team in rushing with 850 yards on 161 carries en route to earning Second Team All-ODAC honors as well. He led the team with 13 touchdowns and finished fifth in the conference in scoring with 78 points. Through three seasons, he already ranks fifth on the school's all-time rushing list with 2,634 career yards. His 35 career rushing touchdowns rank second all-time at W&L.
A Third Team All-ODAC selection, Chess finished his junior campaign as the team's leading rusher with 882 yards and 10 touchdowns on 112 carries. He started all 11 games and averaged 7.9 yards per rush, with three 100-yard rushing efforts during the season.
Heard ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 52 total stops. He started all 11 games and notched 6.0 tackles for a loss (-26) and tied for the team-lead with 3.0 sacks (-17). Additionally, he posted three forced fumbles, two pass breakups and one interception. He was a Second Team All-ODAC honoree this season.
Underhill earned second team all-state laurels after being named Second Team All-ODAC earlier this year. He ranked second on the team and sixth in the ODAC in scoring with 69 points. He went 4-of-6 (.667) on field goals and 57-of-58 (.983) on PAT's during the season. His 57 made PAT's are a school-record and he also set a record by booting a 51-yard field goal in a 20-17 win over Guilford.
Hampden-Sydney first-year running back Kyree Koonce was named the VaSID Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year. UVA-Wise junior linebacker Zachary Blair was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Washington and Lee completed its 2015 season in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, falling to Thomas More by a score of 51-21. The Generals finished 21st in the final D3football.com poll.