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Football 11/17/2021 2:50:00 PM Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Four Golden Knights Earn All-PSAC West Accolades

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference today announced the 2021 All-PSAC Football Teams, with four Gannon players earning All-PSAC West accolades. Three Golden Knights – running back Melvin Blanks (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), offensive guard Montana Nietert (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora), and defensive end Nick White (Randallstown, Md./Milford Mill Academy) – were voted to the first team, while defensive back Chris Farnsworth (Bristol, Pa./Milton Hershey) was selected to the second team.

It is the first all-conference honor for all four players. Gannon ended the 2021 campaign on Saturday with a 13-10 win at East Stroudsburg to finish at 5-6.

Cal earned two of the major awards in the Western Division, with quarterback Noah Mitchell selected the Offensive Player of the Year and Jermal Martin Jr., a defensive back, named the Defensive Player of the Year. IUP's Tyrone Fowler, a defensive lineman, was the Rookie of the Year, and retiring Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle was voted the Coach of the Year.

Blanks enjoyed one of the best seasons ever by a Gannon running back. The 6'1", 212 lb. junior finished as the second-leading rusher in the PSAC with 1,192 yards on 192 carries, a 6.2 yard average, with 8 TDs. He added 12 receptions for 103 yards and two more scores. The 1,192 yards ranks fifth in a season. He currently stands 13^th in Division II in rushing yards and 17^th in rushing yards per game (108.4 ypg.).

Twice named the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Week, Blanks posted five 100-yard efforts, including back-to-back 200-yard games. He had 239 yards on 29 carries with 2 TDs vs. Edinboro after totaling 200 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown a week earlier at Seton Hill. He capped his season carrying a career-high 34 times for 176 yards last Saturday at East Stroudsburg. He ran for 169 yards at Bloomsburg and 102 at Northwood.

Nietert helped pave the way for Blanks while leading a very young offensive line that featured a freshman and two redshirt freshmen, plus a sophomore. A 6'4", 318 lb. redshirt sophomore, Nietert started all 11 games at right guard and has now started 19 games in his career. With Nietert leading the way, Gannon averaged 160.9 yards per game rushing, good for fourth in the PSAC. In addition, the offensive line allowed just 12 sacks, the third-lowest total in the PSAC. Nietert is the first Gannon offensive lineman to earn All-PSAC recognition since Brady Bowling was named to the second team in 2017.

The strength of the Gannon defense was the front four, led by White. A 6'3", 240 lb. redshirt sophomore who started all 11 contests, White finished fourth on the team in tackles with 60, including 28 solo. He led Gannon with 10.5 TFL and 5.0 sacks. He registered a career-high nine tackles against Cal, with 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks. White spearheaded a unit that had a knack for making the big stop when it mattered the most, with several goal line stands. He blocked a field goal attempt at East Stroudsburg that would have tied the game. White has now made 20 career starts.

Farnsworth was a mainstay in a young secondary. The 5'10", 180 lb. sophomore started all 11 games at safety, the only player to start every game in the secondary. He was in his first season as a starter after seeing time on special teams in the spring. Farnsworth finished second on the team in tackles with 74, including a team-high 53 solo stops. He had four TFL, tied for the team lead with two interceptions, and was second on the Knights with six passes broken up. He had a pair of games with double-figure tackles, recording a career-high 11 tackles vs. Slippery Rock and 10 hits at Northwood.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Melvin Blanks: RB; 6' 1"; Junior; Business

#39 Chris Farnsworth: DB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#76 Montana Nietert: OL; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore; Business

#51 Nick White: DL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore; Sports Management

Players Mentioned

#2 Melvin Blanks
: 6' 1"; Junior; Business
: RB

#39 Chris Farnsworth
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: DB

#76 Montana Nietert
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore; Business
: OL

#51 Nick White
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore; Sports Management
: DL