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Butler Honors 2007 Football Players At Awards Banquet
Dec. 12, 2007
TOP DOGS: Seniors Chris Marzotto and Zack Zimmer and sophomore Scott Gray all received Most Valuable Player awards at the 2007 Butler football season-ending banquet. Marzotto, a four-year regular at defensive end for the Bulldogs, was tabbed as the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player, while Zimmer, a defensive back, was cited as the Most Valuable Special Teams Player. Gray, a running back playing in his first season at Butler, was named the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player. Marzotto was a second team All-Pioneer Football League performer in 2007, after earning first team all-league recognition for two straight years. He was a starter in 30 consecutive games for the Bulldogs, before suffering a neck injury in Butler's game at Morehead State. He wound up tied for third on the team in quarterback sacks and tied for fifth in tackles for loss. The stellar defensive end finished his Butler career with 125 total tackles, including 25 tackles for loss. Zimmer played in all 11 games in 2007 and in 42 games during his Butler career. He led the Bulldogs in kickoff returns with 20 for 392 yards in 2007 and finished his career with 60 kickoff returns for 1,084 yards. Gray, who transferred to Butler from Ball State, led the Bulldogs and the PFL in scoring (10.0) in 2007. He also led the Bulldogs and ranked sixth in the PFL in rushing (60.8 ypg). The first-year tailback posted the seventh-highest single season scoring total (90 pts.) in Butler football history and the second-highest single game scoring total (30 points vs. Albion). He scored 15 touchdowns in nine games this season. TEAM AWARDS: In addition to giving out Most Valuable Player awards, Butler's football coaching staff presented special recognition awards to eight additional members of the 2007 team. Junior linebacker Mike Bennett received the Bulldog Pride Award for the second consecutive year. The award is given to the player who best exemplifies the Butler Way. Another repeat winner was senior Chris Marzotto, who received the Battle of the Trenches Award given to the team's Lineman of the Year for the second straight year. The One Play Warrior Award, given to the special teams point winner for the season, was presented to sophomore defensive back Spencer Summerville, while freshman defensive back Tadd Dombart was named Butler's Newcomer of the Year, Junior offensive lineman Brian Crable was selected as the team's Most Improved Player. Unsung Hero Awards (scout team players of the year) were presented to senior Kevin Brolsma (Defense), freshman Dionte Wiggins (Offense) and freshman Mark Giacomantonio (Special Teams).
BULLDOG BITS: Senior quarterback T. J. Brown finished his career in ninth place on Butler's all-time passing list with 3,387 career passing yards. He had 333 career pass completions and 17 career touchdown passes. Brown missed Butler's final two games in 2007 with injury...Senior wide receiver Nate Miller closed out his Butler career in third place on the Bulldogs' all-time list for pass receptions and in 11th place on the school's all-time list for receiving yards. He caught 130 passes for 1,444 yards in 42 career games. He caught at least one pass in his final 32 games. Miller led the Bulldogs with 45 catches for 482 yards in 2007...Senior defensive back Dale Murzyn set a school-record with 44 games played during his four seasons...Junior Jordan Quiroz finished second in the PFL in field goals with nine in 10 games...Butler's four wins this season were the most since 2002. |
