Three Bearcats Selected to All-West Region Team

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Three Willamette University football players have been named to the 2012 All-West Region Team, as selected by D3Football.com. Cody Pastorino (Sr., S, Glenn, CA/Willows HS) was selected to the First Team, Taylor Reeder (Sr., OT, Prunedale CA/Palma HS) was named to the Second Team, and Ben Lyons (Sr., DE, Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS) was chosen for the Third Team.

Since D3Football.com began naming All-Region teams in 2005, 15 Bearcat football players have earned a total of 18 All-Region recognitions. This includes six First Team All-Region selections.

This season, Willamette played a difficult schedule that featured six road games and just four home games, but finished 8-2 overall, 4-2 in the Northwest Conference (3rd place). The Bearcats' only losses on the year were road games at nationally-ranked NCAA Division III playoff participants Pacific Lutheran and Linfield.

Willamette's 8-2 record in Head Coach Glen Fowles' first season represents the best first-year record for a head coach in Bearcat football history, and is the third time Willamette has finished with eight or more wins since 2008.

First Team All-West Region

Cody Pastorino (Sr., S) led WU this season with five interceptions for 53 yards. With 62 tackles (40 solo), Pastorino was the Bearcats' second-leading tackler, and also tied for second on the team with 6 pass breakups. He achieved 2.0 sacks, 4.5 tackles for losses, and blocked three kicks on special teams.

Pastorino's three blocked kicks led the Northwest Conference in that statistic, while his five interceptions tied Pacific Lutheran's Tayler Angevine atop the NWC.

Over his Willamette career, Pastorino registered 169 tackles (111 unassisted), 8.5 tackles for losses, 11 interceptions, 14 pass break-ups, and seven blocked kicks. An Exercise Science major, he is a two-time First Team All-NWC selection (2012 and 2011), and was named Second Team All-NWC in 2010.

Second Team All-West Region

Taylor Reeder (Sr., OT) provided leadership on the offensive line in the first year of Willamette's new offensive scheme. Reeder's blocking helped the Bearcats pass for a school-record 3,550 yards and 37 touchdowns. Behind Reeder and Willamette's other offensive linemen, the Bearcats also rushed for 1,431 yards and 18 touchdowns.

During his WU career, Reeder, an Economics major, played in 29 games and started every game in both 2011 and 2012. He was named First Team All-NWC each of the last two seasons.

Third Team All-West Region

Ben Lyons (Sr., DE) was Willamette's biggest threat to opposing quarterbacks this year, earning 9.0 sacks and three quarterback hurries, both team-leading statistics. Lyons was second on the team in tackles for losses (10.0) and third in total tackles (58), while forcing two fumbles and earning one fumble recovery. He also broke up three passes.

A Sociology major, Lyons played in 36 games for the Bearcats, including all 30 games the past three seasons. He achieved career totals of 112 total tackles (57 unassisted), 18.5 sacks, and 21.5 tackles for losses. He earned First Team All-NWC honors this year, after achieving Second Team All-NWC recognition in 2011.