Nov. 19, 2013
LANCASTER, PA - The Johns Hopkins football team, which will carry a 10-0 record into this week's first round NCAA Playoff game against Wesley, placed 14 players on the 2013 All-Centennial Conference Football Team, which was announced today. The Blue Jays landed seven spots on the first team, six on the second team and had one player earn honorable mention status. The 14 selections are tied for the third-most in school history.
Headlining the Blue Jays' first team offensive selections were senior offensive linemen Armand Jenifer (Teaneck, NJ/Bergen County Academies), Vincenzo Bonaddio (Garnet Valley, PA/Salesianum) and Ben Cranston (Parkton, MD/Loyola), while sophomore running back Brandon Cherry (Parkville, MD/Boys' Latin) joined them on the first team. Jenifer and Bonaddio both play tackle, while Cranston is in his second year as JHU's starting center.
Johns Hopkins' three first team selections on defense included one at each level in junior defensive end Michael Longo (Scarsdale, NY/Iona Prep), senior linebacker John Arena (Bryn Mawr, PA/St. Joe's Prep) and junior defensive back Ryan Rice (Frisco, TX/Wakeland).
Arena also grabbed the Centennial Conference football Scholar Athlete Award as he carries a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average and will graduate in December with a degree in neuroscience.
Hopkins' six second team honorees included senior wide receiver Dan Wodicka (West Lafayette, IN/West Lafayette), senior offensive lineman Kevin Quinn (Newtown Square, PA/Malvern Prep), senior tight end Brendan Hartman (Cockeysville, MD/Loyola), senior defensive lineman Joe DiTrolio (Newtown Square, PA/Malvern Prep), junior defensive end Matthew Connery (Norman, OK/Norman) and freshman place kicker Nick Campbell (Torrance, CA/South). Senior quarterback Robbie Matey (Orlando, FL/Dr. Phillips) rounded out JHU's All-Centennial selections as he earned honorable mention status.
Jenifer, Bonaddio, Cranston and Quinn anchor a line that leads the way for an offense that is averaging 42.1 points and 512.5 yards per game. The Blue Jays scored at least 24 points and rolled up at least 400 yards of offense in all 10 games during the regular season. Jenifer is making his third appearance on the first team, while Cranston is making his second. Bonaddio makes the jump up from the second team, while Quinn is a repeat selection to the second team.
Jenifer joins David Perna (1997-99) as the only three-time First Team All-Centennial offensive linemen in school history.
Cherry is the eighth Johns Hopkins running back - and first sophomore - to earn First Team All-Centennial honors (the eight have combined for 11 first team selections). He currently has 962 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and counts a team-high 1,157 all-purpose yards to his credit. He is averaging 7.3 yards per carry and his 962 yards rank as the seventh-highest single-season total in school history.
Arena and Rice are making the jump to the first team from the second team, while Longo earns first team honors after nabbing honorable mention status a year ago.
Arena ranks second on the team in tackles (41) and third in both tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (5.0). In addition, he has two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown against Franklin & Marshall, and one forced fumble to his credit.
Rice is the leader of the Blue Jay secondary from his spot on the corner. He totaled 20 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble on the year. He returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown against Moravian.
Longo started all 10 games at defensive end and counts 33 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses and 6.0 sacks to his credit. He ranks second on the team in both TFLs and sacks entering this week's NCAA Playoff game.
Wodicka was limited by injuries early in the season, but still leads the team with 41 receptions for 447 yards and four touchdowns. He will enter Saturday's playoff game needing just two receptions to break the Johns Hopkins career receptions record of 258, which is held by College Football Hall of Fame inductee Bill Stromberg (1978-81). Wodicka was a First Team All-Centennial selection as a sophomore and junior.
Hartman has been an effective threat in the passing game and a key contributor to a rushing attack that is averaging 268.2 yards per game. He has 10 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns on the year.
DiTrolio repeats as a second team selection. He ranks third on the team and first among defensive linemen with a career-high 40 tackles and also counts 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to his credit.
Connery lands his first appearance on the All-Centennial Team with his selection to the second team. He leads the team in both tackles for loss (11.0) and sacks (6.5) and ranks fifth in overall tackles (36).
Campbell is the latest in a long line of accomplished place kickers at Johns Hopkins. One of just four freshmen to earn a spot on the All-Centennial Team, he has converted on a 51-of-52 extra points and 9-of-10 field goals this season. He is the 15th Johns Hopkins kicker to earn All-Centennial honors, including the 10th in the last 13 years.
Matey has enjoyed an outstanding season directing the Blue Jay offense. He is 195-of-266 (.733) for 2,145 yards with 16 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He has also rushed for 278 yards and five touchdowns and currently ranks fourth in the nation in completion percentage and 20th in pass efficiency (157.9).
Head coach Jim Margraff has guided Johns Hopkins to a fifth straight Centennial Conference title and the team's third consecutive trip to the NCAA Playoffs. The Blue Jays are currently ranked eighth in the nation, a mark that is tied for the highest ranking in school history.
The Johns Hopkins-Wesley first round NCAA game is set for noon on Saturday, November 23 at Homewood Field. The winner will advance to the second round to take on the winner of the Ithaca-Framingham State game.
Johns Hopkins 2013 All-Centennial Selections
First Team: John Arena (LB), Vincenzo Bonaddio (OL), Brandon Cherry (RB), Ben Cranston (OL-C), Armand Jenifer (OL), Michael Longo (DL), Ryan Rice (DB)
Second Team: Nick Campbell (PK), Matthew Connery (DL), Joe DiTrolio (DL), Brendan Hartman (TE) Kevin Quinn (OL), Dan Wodicka (WR)
Honorable Mention: Robbie Matey (QB)
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