West Chester's Sean McCartney a Harlon Hill Finalist

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The 2014 season came to a close for the West Chester University football team on Saturday as they lost to Concord University in the second round of the Division II NCAA Tournament, 51-36.

Despite the loss, it was an incredibly successful year for the Golden Rams as they finished 11-2. This run came a season after West Chester advanced all the way to the national semifinals of the tournament.

One of the big reasons why West Chester enjoyed so much success the last couple of seasons was the play of senior quarterback Sean McCartney.  That play has not gone unnoticed. McCartney was recently named one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Award, which is the Division II version of the Heisman Trophy.

"It's a great honor," McCartney tells KYW Newsradio. "Starting off the season, kind of didn't really think I'd be in this spot right now, but I am and it's an honor. I just want to thank my coaches and my teammates for being there for me. It wouldn't be possible without them."

Listen to the entire interview with Sean McCartney

McCartney played his high school ball at Archbishop Wood. Now 2014 was actually his sixth year at West Chester. He red-shirted his first year on campus in 2009, and then was granted a medical waiver after breaking his leg one game into the 2012 season. So his college career really has been quite the journey.

"When I first got here," McCartney says, "I wasn't even sure what position I was going to play. I came in as an 'athlete,' so I wasn't sure if I was going to play defensive back or quarterback. They ended up keeping me at quarterback, which I think was a good decision."

That goes without saying.

McCartney threw 42 touchdown passes this season, which is the top total in all of Division II. His 3,744 passing yards set a program single-season record. He finished his career with 9,595 yards passing and 92 touchdown passes, both figures come in second in program history. The Doylestown native says he really started getting into a groove about halfway though last season.

"Things started to slow down," MCcartney says. "And I started to see stuff better on the field and just started making bigger plays and started realizing that I have the ability to be a great quarterback and do great things on the field. And it just kind of worked out that way."

McCartney is the third West Chester player to be named a Harlon Hill finalist in the last seven years. In 2008, it was wide receiver Mike Washington and last year running back Rondell White made the cut.

The winner of the 2014 Harlon Hill Award will be announced on Friday, December 19th.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

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