KUTZTOWN, PA (November 12, 2010) – Kutztown University sophomore quarterback Kevin Morton (Abington, PA/Abington) is one of 24 nominees for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy, which honors the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.
The list of candidates was announced Friday by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee. The list includes six players from each of Division II’s four Super Regionals. Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 148 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 24 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 19.
Morton has fueled Kutztown’s memorable season as he is on pace to re-write the entire Kutztown passing record book. In leading the Golden Bears (9-1 overall) to their best year in the 95-season history of the football program, Morton has directed one of the nation’s best offenses.
A two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Week, Morton has thrown 32 touchdown passes, the second most in a single season in school history. He has thrown for 2,993 yards while completing 61.4 percent of his passes (216-for-352). Morton leads the PSAC in total offense (325.6), and passing average (299.3). Morton, who has a touchdown pass in 15 straight games, has thrown for at least 300 yards in KU’s last four games.
Morton had an effort to remember in leading Kutztown to a 45-23 triumph over rival West Chester on Oct. 23. Morton completed a school record 35 pass and finished with a career best 451 passing yards, the second highest single game total in KU history. Morton also fired five touchdown passes against the Golden Rams, the first time since 1992 a KU quarterback has thrown that many in a game.
As a team, the Golden Bears finished in second in the rugged PSAC East after being picked sixth in the preseason poll. Kutztown also set a school record for wins in a season, points scored in a single year, and earned their highest national ranking in program history. Kutztown won its first nine games of the season.
Kutztown has an opportunity to finish with double-digit victories for the first time in program history. The Golden Bears are also under consideration for a trip to the NCAA Division II football playoffs for the first time in school history. They were ranked third in last week’s Super Region One poll. The Golden Bears are ranked 20th in the American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) and 21st in the d2football.com top 25 polls.
Morton was named the Kutztown male rookie of the year in 2009-10. He was named a team captain and MVP following his freshman season. His 47 career touchdown passes are already third on the all-time KU list.
The winner of the 2010 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 25th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 17 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year’s Hill Trophy
Banquet will also include the 12th induction into the Division II Football Hall of Fame, with Ken Sparks, Mel Tjeerdsma and BobbyWallace becoming the first coaches to be inducted.
The group of 24 candidates includes 15 quarterbacks, seven running backs, one receiver and one
linebacker. There are 13 seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
In addition to Morton, the players vying for the 2010 award from the Super Regional 1 are Zach Amedro, a senior quarterback from West Liberty (W.V.) University, senior linebacker Matthew Freed of East Stroudsburg University, senior quarterback Josh Portis of California University, Pennsylvania, freshman running back Franklyn Quiteh of Bloomsburg (Pa.) University and senior tailback Walter Sanders of St. Augustine’s College. Amedro was a national finalist last season.
Kutztown concludes its regular season at Gannon University Saturday beginning at noon.
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