Worcester, MA --- Senior defensive back Andrew Sides (Acton, MA) and junior wide R.C. Grady (Shirley, MA) were named to the all-Liberty League first team, leading eight WPI all-conference selections.

Sides, a preseason All-American, had a tremendous season for the Engineers and was one of only nine unanimous all-conference selections. The strong safety placed second on the team and 10th in the conference with 76 tackles (53 solo). His two interceptions and nine pass breakups gave him 11 passes defended, ranking him fifth in the Liberty League. Grady led the Crimson and Gray with a team-best 811 receiving yards on 54 catches and a team-leading four TD catches. Grady finished second in the Liberty League in receiving yards per game and was fifth in receptions per game.

Senior nose tackle Erik Pichette (Chelmsford, MA) and junior center Justin Pollard (Taunton, MA) received second team all-conference accolades. Pichette amassed 34 tackles (23 solo) while helping WPI limit opponents to 119.8 rushing yards per game, second best in the Liberty League. A second-team selection last year as well, Pollard helped the Engineers rank second in passing offense (225.3 yards per game) and third in rushing offense (119.8 yards per game).

Senior QB Justin Wells (Jay, ME), senior LB Michael Toto (Agawam, MA), junior WR Cody McGregor (Westfield, MA) and junior LG Stan St. Juste (Everett, MA) received all-conference honorable mention. Wells was second in the conference in passing yards (2,030) while ranking third in pass efficiency (128.8). The senior also cracked the top ten in the league in rushing yards and registered double-digit touchdowns both through the air and on the ground (10TDs each). Toto totaled 48 tackles (33 solo) including seven stops for a loss, and tied for the team-lead with two interceptions and four pass breakups on the year.

McGregor paced the Engineers with a team-high 55 receptions for 750 yards and four touchdown passes, tying him with classmate R.C. Grady for the team lead in TDs. St. Juste, a 3-year all-conference selection, started all 10 games this fall at left guard for the Engineers as a junior. He was named to the all-Liberty League second team the past two seasons.

The Engineers closed out the 2008 season this past Saturday with a 21-20 win at St. Lawrence to finish up at 7-3 (4-3 Liberty League) on the year.

Story by Ray Cotrufo - WPI Athletics Intern