All-Conference Teams
Eight players from Westfield State earned all-conference honors in the New England Football Conference (NEFC).
All eight were first-team selections in the eight-team NEFC Bogan Division. Heading the list is senior cornerback Josh Mathieu (Fitchburg, Mass.), who was selected the NEFC Bogan Division defensive player of the year.
Six of the first-team picks are from the Owls’ nationally-ranked defense: Mathieu, senior defensive back Nick Leverone (Natick, Mass.), senior end Nick Gniadek (Northbridge, Mass.), senior tackle Matt Fall (Wilbraham, Mass.), senior linebacker Matt Denman (Milford, Mass.), and junior punter Chris Stengel (Forest Hills, Md.).
Offensively, senior receiver David Benoit (Ludlow, Mass.) and junior tackle Taylor Bradway (Clinton, Mass.) earned all-conference honors.
"We are pleased how the voting went," said Westfield State head coach Steve Marino. "We have eight all-conference players and they are all first-team selections; that is quite an accomplishment is a conference as big as ours. But I think the league's coaches (who did the voting) realized we had some talented players."
Led by its five senior all-conference selections, the Owls ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 115 points in 10 games. Westfield also ranked first nationally in pass efficiency defense and turnover margin and fourth in net punting. The Owls finished with a fine 7-3 record, losing their three games by a total of 12 points.
Mathieu - a four-time all-conference pick - led the 16-team New England Football conference with 22 passes defended. He tied the single-season school record with seven interceptions and set a new school standard with 15 pass breakups.
Mathieu ranks second on the Owls’ career charts with 19 interceptions. He holds career school records for pass breakups (38) and interceptions returned for a touchdown (4). He returned interceptions for scores in each of his four years as a starter.
"This is quite an honor for Josh and he truly deseves it," said Marino. "He was a big part of our success this season. And I can't remember the last time a defensive back was named player of the year, most years it is a linebacker."
Gniadek ranked first in the NEFC in sacks (8), second in forced fumbles (3) and third in tackles for losses (16). He was Westfield’s third leading tackler with 51 stops.
Denman ranked second for the Owls in tackles (59), tackles for losses (13), and sacks (4). Fall posted 49 tackles, nine tackles for losses, and three sacks.
Stengel’s outstanding punting provided Westfield with good field position the entire season. He ranked 10th nationally in punting average (40.23) and had 26 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Offensively, Benoit led the Owls with 44 catches for 773 yards and five touchdowns. He is third on Westfield’s career records charts in the following categories: catches (159), receiving yards (2,514), touchdowns (28), and points scored (168).