Anthony Pilla a Cliff Harris Award Nominee

2015 Dec 2

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (RPI) Anthony Pilla of Nesquehoning has been selected as a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award, which is presented annually to the top small college defensive football player in the country representing almost 500 NCAA Division II, III and NAIA colleges and universities.

A senior defensive end, Pilla (Lake Hauto, PA / Marian Catholic) was a captain for the Engineers, who finished with a 9-2 record, earned the Liberty League co-Championship (6-1) and won the ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Championship Bowl. He started all 11 games, finishing the season with 55 tackles 9.5 sacks (61 yards lost) and 17.5 tackles for lost yards (76). He was first on the team in sacks and tackles for lost yards as well as forced fumbles with two. Pilla also broke up a pass on his way to earning All-Liberty League First Team.

He finished his career in the ECAC Bowl, a 20-13 win over Buffalo State, by making nine tackles (seven solo), five tackles for loss, three sacks, a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble, earning Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week for his effort. He had at least three tackles in every game, including 14 stops in a victory over Merchant Marine on October 3. Among his tackles were seven unassisted, 2.5 for lost yards (9), 1.5 sacks (7 yards lost) and a forced fumble.

Pilla ranked second in the Liberty League in tackles for lost yards, sacks and sacks per game (0.86). He was third in tackles for loss per game (1.55) and sixth in forced fumbles per game (0.18).

Pilla was All-Liberty League as a junior after he had 41 tackles, including 22 solo, in 11 games. He led the team with 8.5 tackles for loss (32 yards), 2.5 sacks (17 yards) and three forced fumbles. He was the league's Defensive Performer of the Week once. He started 10 games as a sophomore, making 53 tackles, including 29 unassisted and 8.5 tackles for lost yards (37) and 5.5 sacks (26 yards lost). He also broke up one pass. A civil engineering major, Pilla has earned Dean's List honors.