(Posted December 1, 2004)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College football seniors P.J. Brown (Central Cambria/Ebensburg) and Matt Garner (Bellwood-Antis/Tyrone) have been selected to the 2004 ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America Football Team as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Brown was one of five first-team selections at the offensive line position, while Garner earned one of the four first-team defensive back spots. It marks the first time since 1971 that Juniata placed to athletes on the Academic All-America first team. Juniata was also the only school with two representatives on the first team.

Brown becomes just the third Juniata football player to earn Academic All-America honors twice in his career. He earned a spot on the second team following his junior campaign, and then earns first-team honors this season. Brown converted to the offensive line prior to the start of his junior season, and started all 20 games there over the next two years. Over those two seasons he helped Juniata establish a new school record for rushing yards in a season as a junior and then average 210 yards of offense in his senior year. Juniata had a rusher top 85 yards in five of its final six games, including topping the 100-yard mark on three occasions.

Brown has also been a standout in the classroom where he carried a cumulative GPA of 3.982 into his senior year. With a program of emphasis in Biology, he is a member of HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) and the National Biological Association. He was chosen as a team captain for his senior season by his teammates and has received numerous scholarships and awards for his academic achievements.

Garner anchored Juniata's defense from his safety position after moving into the starting lineup prior to his junior year. Despite missing the final three games of his senior season due to injury, he finished the year with 60 tackles which ranked him third on the Juniata squad. His 8.57 tackles per game was among the best in the conference while he also added eight tackles for a loss. He also contributed three forced fumbles, one sack, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up in his final season. In his two years as a starter he has piled up 165 tackles and averaged 9.7 tackles per game over that stretch.

Garner was also a captain in his senior season and has earned a 3.989 cumulative GPA while pursuing his degree in Biology. He is a member HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) and the Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society and like Brown has received many scholarships and awards for his academic success.

A total of 48 athletes were named to the Academic All-America Team. Eligible athletes were selected from the Academic All-District First-Team for each of the eight CoSIDA districts.

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