Pavalko Repeat First-Teamer, with Armiento Also First; Kent, Dalmau Tabbed for Second Team
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY – Dec. 2013) Four Colgate football student-athletes are included on the 2013 All-Patriot League Team, announced Nov. 26.
Ed Pavalko repeated his first-team selection at fullback and is joined this year by defensive back Mike Armiento. Second-team Raider selections are linebacker Kris Kent and offensive lineman Jordi Dalmau.
“With the injuries we had, a lot of young guys got to play and several kids had outstanding seasons,” Colgate head coach Dick Biddle said.
Pavalko again was a force for the Raiders in the offensive backfield. He not only handled his duties blocking and protecting his skill position teammates, but this year added additional ball-carrying responsibilities.
The junior from Girardville, Pa., rushed 19 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching three passes for an additional 30 yards.
Pavalko was injured early in the Lehigh game and missed the season finale against Fordham. His 15-yard reception against the Mountain Hawks put the Raiders deep into scoring position for a 7-0 lead, and Colgate’s offense never seemed to recover from his absence.
“Ed Pavalko is very underrated player,” Biddle said. “His getting hurt was one of the deciding factors in the Lehigh game. We weren’t able to function running the ball after he went down, and it showed again the next week against Fordham.”
Defensive Playmaker
Armiento was the team’s defensive playmaker. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., junior not only led the team in tackles (92) and pass breakups (8) but also intercepted six passes for 148 return yards, including an 85-yard touchdown that sparked the first Raiders victory of the season at Cornell.
Armiento’s six picks tie him for fourth on the Colgate season chart, and he enters his senior campaign already tied for fifth all-time in program history with 12 career interceptions.
“Mike Armiento had as good of a season at defensive back as I’ve seen here in a long time,” Biddle said. “He made a lot of big plays for us and was our best defensive player.”
Kent staged a back-and-forth battle with Armiento for the team tackle lead before finishing second for the second straight year with 91. The Bethlehem, Pa., junior did claim the tackles-for-loss crown again this year, posting 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage for minus-27 yards.
“Kris Kent had a great year,” Biddle said. “Once again he was one of the leading tacklers in the Patriot League.”
Four freshmen were included on the All-Patriot League second team, including Colgate’s rookie offensive lineman. Dalmau moved into the Raiders revamped starting lineup midway in the season when center Brendan Walsh was lost to injury, and he never looked back.
The Pinecrest, Fla., product started the final six games and became a force up front.
“We played a lot of young offensive linemen and Jordi Dalmau really got better as the season went on,” Biddle said. “He has a great career ahead of him and a chance to be one of the better offensive linemen we’ve had at Colgate in a number of years.
“We will be very experienced next year up front and they are only going to get better.”
Fordham claimed three of this year’s four major awards. Quarterback Michael Nebrich was player of the year on offense, linebacker Stephen Hodge on defense and Joe Moorhead claimed the coaching award. Holy Cross quarterback Peter Pujals earned the nod as rookie of the year.