McCOACH, MERCER EARN FINAL NJAC WEEKLY FOOTBALL AWARDS

Montclair , NJ (11/19/07) – Senior running back Ryan McCoach (Rockaway, NJ / Morris Hills) and junior Jeremy Mercer (Leonardo, NJ / Middletown South) were named the Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively as the New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its final weekly honors for the 2007 season.

McCoach and Mercer's awards make it 10 total NJAC weekly accolades for the Red Hawks this season. McCoach wins the award for the second time this season while Mercer earns his first honor.

McCoach earns the final NJAC Offensive Player of the Week selection after garnering Most Valuable Player honors in Montclair’s 17-13 win over Albright in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. In the final game of his career, he rushed 35 times for 140 yards and a touchdown. He finished his senior season with 1,005 rushing yards, marking the second straight season that he
eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark while increasing his career rushing total to 2,802 - good for fifth all-time in MSU history. McCoach currently leads the NJAC in rushing with an average of 111.7 yards per game.

Mercer earned his honor after playing a key role in the Red Hawks’ 17-13 win over Albright in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl. In the victory, he blocked two kicks, giving him an MSU record of 10 blocked kicks on the season. He blocked a punt early in the
game to break the single-season record and later recorded his seventh blocked extra point of the season. Mercer also recorded two special teams tackles on kickoffs in the victory.