DeMarco Receives Another National Award

Beaver Falls, PA – Although the calendar reads March, it is always football season in Western Pennsylvania. Coming off one of its finest seasons in recent history, Geneva College and head coach Geno DeMarco received another national award this week. DeMarco was named the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Coach of the Year. The Golden Tornadoes finished the season with a record of 8-4, including their first trip to the NAIA national tournament since 1997.

Don Hansen’s Football Gazette ranked Geneva number one in the final NCCAA poll of the season. As a result, DeMarco received his third Coach of the Year honor from the NCCAA.

Zach Blair (Ambridge, PA), who was also named an NAIA All-American, received Special Teams Player of the Year honors as a punter. Blair averaged close to 43 yards a punt, which was good enough for second in the country. Joining Blair on the NCCAA first team All-American list were offensive linemen Skylar Freed (Rochester, PA) and Jim Raley (New Waterford, OH). On defense, Frank Hernandez (Ambridge, PA) was also recognized as a first-team All-American recipient.

Second team members included Brandon Nathan (West Mifflin, PA), Blair as a place kicker, Nick Phillips (Monaca, PA), Brad Roman (Penn Yan, NY) and Tom Contenta (New Brighton, PA).