CLARION, Pa. – Edinboro collected a pair of the major awards today as the 2016 Don Hansen Football Gazette Super Region One Team was announced. First-year head coach Justin Lustig was selected the Co-Coach of the Year, while Ta'Nauz Gregory (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep) has been named the Super Region One Freshman of the Year. In addition, Gregory was chosen to the Super Region One third team as both an all-purpose player and return specialist.

In addition to Gregory, four other Fighting Scots were named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette Teams. Victor Hudson (Northfield, Ohio/Nordonia) was selected to the Super Region One first team, with Mike Shansky (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk)  a second team honoree, and Jake Sisson (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown) and Austin Reese (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) joining Gregory on the third team.   

Lustig shared Super Region One Coach of the Year honors with California(Pa.)'s Gary Dunn.  He was the architect of a record-breaking turnaround in 2016. Hired in January, the former Ball State assistant took an 0-11 team in 2015 that was picked to finish eighth in the Western Division coaches' preseason poll, and led it to a 9-2 finish. The nine wins tied the school record for wins in a season.

The Fighting Scots appeared in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll for the first time since 2011, and finished seventh in the final Super Region One rankings. Edinboro upset PSAC East preseason favorite West Chester, 54-51 in overtime. That was one of five wins in which the Fighting Scots rallied in the fourth quarter or overtime. The lone losses came to NCAA playoff entrants Indiana(Pa.) and California(Pa.).

Lustig relied on a high-powered offense that scored 40-or-more points in a school-record seven games, with two games of 60-or-more points, along with an opportunistic defense. Edinboro averaged 41.5 ppg., good for third in the PSAC and 12th in Division II, while riding the right arm of Sisson.

Gregory proved to be a major reason the Fighting Scots enjoyed so much success. One of Lustig's first recruits, and from his same high school, Cathedral Prep, Gregory

was an electric playmaker. He scored at least one touchdown in nine of the 11 games.

The diminutive (5'8", 160 lbs.) wide receiver made his mark early on as a kick returner, but as the year went on he played a larger role as a wide receiver. He set the school record for kickoff return average at 32.5 yards on 23 returns, with a 96-yard return for a touchdown against Clarion, and another for 85-yards against Slippery Rock. He ranks first in the PSAC and fourth in Division II in kickoff return average.

Gregory added a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown to his resume' against Cheyney. He averaged 11.7 yards on 12 punt returns, ranking third all-time at Edinboro.

As a receiver, Gregory finished second on the team in receptions (63), which ranks fifth in a season, for 808 yards with 8 TDs. He had three games with 100-or-more yards, including a 10-reception, 136-yard performance against Gannon. Gregory added 9 catches for 110 yards at Mercyhurst
 
The Football Gazette award is the latest for Hudson, who was previously named to the Associated Press Little All-America Third Team and HERO Sports D2 Football 2016 All-America Second Team. He was also a second team D2CCA Super Region 1 selection and All-PSAC West first team honoree.     

Hudson played a major role in Edinboro's incredible turnaround campaign. The 6'1", 228 lb. senior enjoyed a breakout season following a move from outside linebacker to defensive end. He finished with 67 tackles, good for fourth on the team. His specialty was plays behind the line of scrimmage. Hudson broke Dave Smith's record for tackles for loss with 24, and also led the Scots with 11.5 sacks. He was twice named the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week. He led the team with three fumble recoveries and added an interception.

Hudson led the PSAC and ranked fourth in Division II in tackles for losses, along with second in the conference and tenth in the country in sacks. He had 5 sacks and a school-record 8.5 tackles for losses at Lock Haven while recording a career-high 12 tackles, and was named the D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
 

Shansky is a three-time All-PSAC West honoree, earning first team honors at linebacker in 2015 and second team in 2013 and 2014. The 6'2", 222 lb. graduate student missed all but the first game of the 2015 campaign after going down with a season-ending injury. He returned to lead the Fighting Scots with 91 tackles. He finished third on the team in tackles for losses (10.5) and had 2.5 sacks. The former California(Pa.) transfer led Edinboro in tackles in four games.
 
Sisson broke many of the records previously set by Trevor Harris while enjoying one of the top seasons ever in the PSAC. Sisson led the PSAC and ranked second in Division II in passing TDs (41) and passing yards per game (337.3 ypg.), and was first and third, respectively, in yards passing (3,710). He also paced the PSAC in points responsible for (25.3 ppg.) and total offense (347.6 ypg.), good for third and fifth in Division II, respectively. The passing touchdowns are tied for fourth all-time in the PSAC, while his 46 TDs responsible for is third.
All told, the junior completed 294-of-531 passes for 3,710 yards with 41 TDs. He threw for 400-or-more yards in three games.

Reese set Edinboro season records for extra points made (58) and attempted (59). The senior also made 9-of- 12 field goals to finish with a team-high 85 points. His 47-yard field goal at Mercyhurst is tied for the sixth-longest at Edinboro.

He also served as the team's punter, averaging 40.0 yards on 52. That included 16 inside the 20. In addition, Reese proved an effective weapon on kickoffs. He had 23 touchbacks.