Three Mountain Hawks named to AP All-America teams
12/15/2011 8:19:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – On the heels of one of the finest seasons in school history, three Lehigh football student-athletes were named to the 2011 Associated Press FCS All-America teams, announced Thursday. Junior wide receiver Ryan Spadola earned first team honors, while senior quarterback Chris Lum was named to the second team and senior left tackle Troy McKenna was named to the third team after helping lead the Mountain Hawks to an 11-2 record and FCS quarterfinal berth in 2011.
The three selections mark the most AP All-Americans for Lehigh since 1984 when Wes Walton, Rennie Benn and Dave Whitehead were recognized. This also marks the third consecutive year Lehigh has at least one AP All-America selection.
Spadola earns his second All-America honor in as many weeks after compiling one of the finest statistical seasons for a wide receiver in Patriot League history. He set Lehigh and Patriot League single season records for receptions (96) and yards (1,614) and added 11 touchdown catches as well. Spadola's 1,614 yards were the eighth-highest single-season total in FCS history. He finished his junior season ranked second in the FCS in receiving yards per game and sixth nationally in receptions per game.
Among the notable performances for the Howell, N.J. native this season were a nine-reception, 214-yard, three-touchdown effort at 
Princeton, a career-high 216 receiving yards on 13 catches at Fordham, and a 13-catch, 152-yard, one-touchdown performance in Lehigh's 40-38 second round playoff win at Towson on December 3. Spadola is Lehigh's first AP All-America wide receiver since Brian Klingerman earned first team honors in 1995.
Princeton, a career-high 216 receiving yards on 13 catches at Fordham, and a 13-catch, 152-yard, one-touchdown performance in Lehigh's 40-38 second round playoff win at Towson on December 3. Spadola is Lehigh's first AP All-America wide receiver since Brian Klingerman earned first team honors in 1995.Lum was equally impressive in re-writing the Lehigh and Patriot League single season record book for passing. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the Outstanding Player in the FCS, Lum, the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, was outstanding all year long in leading the Mountain Hawks into the playoffs for the second straight year. Lum completed 358 of 543 passes (66 percent) for 4,378 yards and 32 touchdowns. He established Lehigh and Patriot League single-season records for completions and passing yards and set the school single-season touchdown pass record as well.
The Lake Orion, Mich. native set a Patriot League single-season record with nine games of 300 or more passing yards, including seven straight 300-plus yard outings to open the season. Lum eclipsed the 400 yard passing mark twice this season, including a career-high 413 in Lehigh's win at Fordham in October. He also threw for 401 yards and tied a school record with six touchdowns in a losing effort against New Hampshire on September 10. He becomes the first Lehigh quarterback recognized by the AP since Marty Horn earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1983 and 1985.
Lehigh boasts the nation's No. 3 offense, averaging nearly 470 yards per game. The Mountain Hawks' success would not have been possible without their veteran offensive line paving the way. One of three seniors on the line, McKenna moved to left tackle for his senior season after starting at right tackle as a junior. He bounced back from a foot injury suffered in the preseason to start Lehigh's final ten games, and was one of the leaders on a unit that allowed the Mountain Hawks to rush for 129 yards per game, while throwing for more than 340 yards per game. The Paramus, N.J. native took over the position formerly held by All-American Will Rackley, who is in his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. McKenna was responsible for protecting Lum's blind side and was one of the top performers on a unit that allowed just 17 sacks in 13 games. McKenna's selection, combined with Rackley's selections in 2009 and 2010 gives Lehigh three straight years with an All-America at left tackle.
With Lum, Spadola and McKenna leading the way, Lehigh won its second consecutive outright Patriot League title and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 2001.
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