Four Owls Named to MASCAC Football All-Conference Teams.
Tyler Cooley and Cade Nelson each named for second time in their careers.
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Westfield State football team saw four Owls make this year's MASCAC All-Conference teams. Senior Cade Nelson (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and junior Tyler Cooley (Randolph, Mass./Archbishop Williams) were named to the defensive first team. First-year Cooper Harvey (Niskayuna, N.Y.) was named to the offensive first team. Sophomore Zachary Allen (Chelmsford, Mass.) was named to the defensive second team.
Nelson was named to the defensive first team for the first time in his playing career. He received second team honors in his first season as an Owl in 2021. The senior defensive lineman registered 4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 54 total tackles in ten games played. He finished the year tied for sixth in the league in sacks, and his 5.4 tackles per game average was good enough for 17th overall in the MASCAC.
Cooley was named to the defensive first team for the second season in a row. The junior linebacker led the MASCAC with 117 total tackles to go along with nine tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles in ten games played. Cooley finished with 13+ tackles in five games this year, including a season-high 18 tackles against Western New England.
Rounding out the first team honors is Cooper Harvey, who was named to the offensive first team. The first-year kicker finished his rookie campaign with three field goals, the second-best total in the league and 17 made extra points for a total of 26 points in eight games played. He was good on a career-long 39-yard field goal in the Owls' win over Mass. Maritime earlier in the season, which was also the longest field goal made by a kicker in the MASCAC this season.
Zachary Allen earned MASCAC honors for the first time in his career as he was named to this year's defensive second yeam. The sophomore cornerback logged three interceptions and 11 pass breakups in ten games played. His three interceptions put him in a tie for the third-most in the MASCAC. He made 28 total tackles.
Westfield finished this year with an overall record of 3-7 and a conference record of 3-5, ending the season with a two-game winning streak, which the Owls will carry into the 2024 campaign.
-- written by Cam Boudreau, sports information intern