Four Cavaliers Named to 1998 All-ACC Academic Football Team

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February 26, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Four members of the University of Virginia football team have been named to the 1998 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team by ACC Commissioner John Swofford. To be eligible, a player must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the fall semester or have maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.

Headlining the team is All-America and All-ACC defensive end Patrick Kerney. Kerney, a senior from Newtown, Pa., came to Virginia as a scholarship lacrosse player and walked on to the football team. He blossomed into one of the nations top pass rushers last fall when he led the ACC and tied the school record with 15 quarterback sacks. Kerney is a history major.

Two other first-team All-ACC Cavaliers join Kerney on the All-Academic squad – tight end Casey Crawford and guard Noel LaMontagne.

Crawford, a junior from Falls Church, Va., played in nine games in 1998 and caught 11 passes for 136 yards. He was the first Virginia tight end named first-team All-ACC since 1993. He had four receptions for 67 yards as the Cavaliers defeated Auburn in the season opener. Crawford is a sociology major.

LaMontagne, a junior from Coopersburg, Pa., helped spearhead Virginias potent rushing attack this fall as the Cavaliers led the ACC in rushing by a wide margin. He anchored an offensive line that opened the way for Thomas Jones, the ACCs leading rusher in 1998, and enabled the Cavaliers to lead the conference in rushing (213.1 ypg), rushing touchdowns (27), yards per rush (5.0) and first downs per game (21.4). LaMontagne is majoring in sociology.

Cornerback Dwayne Stukes joins Kerney on the defensive unit. A junior from Baltimore, Md., Stukes battled injuries much of the fall, playing in nine games. He made 21 tackles and intercepted two passes during the season. Stukes is a history major.