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EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University quarterback Matt Soltes led Division II freshmen in total offense and pass efficiency, and junior Taylor Groff led the nation in points by a kicker in the final statistics for the 2012 season, released this week.

ESU also ranked fourth nationally in total offense with 497.9 yards per game and had the top offensive output in DII with 828 yards, a school and PSAC record, on October 27 at LIU Post.

Soltes (Vernon, N.J./Vernon), a redshirt freshman who started the final seven games of the year, set an NCAA (all-division) freshman record with 666 yards of total offense at LIU Post, throwing for 535 yards and running for 131 yards as part of a dynamic first year under center. His performance at LIU Post was also the top single-game mark in DII this season.

The PSAC East Freshman of the Year, Soltes ranked 12th among all quarterbacks in both total offense (315.8 yards per game) and pass efficiency (157.5), going 171-for-281 for 2,622 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions and running for 536 yards and two touchdowns on 96 carries.

In his seven starts, Soltes averaged 402.7 yards of total offense – 333.9 passing and 68.9 rushing – which would have ranked as the national leader. Along with his school and PSAC record 666 yards at LIU Post, he had 463 yards at Mercyhurst, 396 yards vs. Kutztown, 382 yards at Millersville, 373 yards vs. West Chester, 318 yards at Clarion and 221 yards at Bloomsburg.

Soltes is the fourth ESU quarterback to rank in the top 15 in the nation in total offense and pass efficiency, joining Jimmy Terwilliger (2003-06), Damian Poalucci (1996) and Andy Baranek (1984).

Groff (Manheim/Manheim Central) led DII kickers with 9.3 points per game, scoring 93 points in 10 games by going 15-for-23 on field goals and 48-for-48 on extra points. His 1.5 field goals per game are tied for third in DII, the second time in three years he has ranked in the top five. He was tied for fifth at 1.5 (16 in 11 games) as a freshman in 2010.

Groff was also one of two kickers in DII to make at least three field goals of 50+ yards, hitting from 52 at Millersville and Bloomsburg and 51 at Clarion.

ESU kickers have ranked in the top five nationally in field goals per game seven times – Groff in 2010 and 2012, Greg Knauss in 2007, Matt Seagreaves in 1994 and Ed Detwiler in 1989, 1991 and 1992. Seagreaves led DII with 1.5 per game during the 1994 season.

In other individual categories, Groff ranked 17th in total scoring, Soltes ranked 26th overall and fourth among freshmen in passing yards per game (262.2) and junior wide receiver Dusty Reed ranked 45th in kick return average (24.5) and 49th in receiving yards per game (78.7).

Reed had the top single-game kick return yardage in DII with a school-record 247 yards on nine returns against Kutztown on October 20. His 320 all-purpose yards in that game ranked 11th in DII and second in school history.

The Warriors rank in the top five nationally in total offense for the fifth time, and their 497.9 yards per game and 327.6 passing yards per game are both fourth in school history. Other top offensive seasons came in 2005 (5th – 508.4 ypg), 2004 (4th – 498.1 ypg), 1996 (1st – 509.1 ypg) and 1968 (3rd – 456.9 ypg).

ESU ranked ninth nationally in passing offense led by Soltes (2,622 yards) and redshirt junior Nate Daniels (631 yards), who started the first three games. They also ranked ninth in pass efficiency at 161.0.

The Warriors featured three 600-yard receivers – Reed (787 yards), redshirt senior Jordan Hallman (608 yards) and redshirt junior Robert Bleiler (608 yards). Three others had more than 250 yards – redshirt freshman wide receiver Jon Schnaars (312), redshirt junior fullback Thomas Tippett (288) and redshirt sophomore tight end Steven Jones (260).

In the rushing game, three players had more than 500 yards for just the second time in school history. Senior tailback Eric Deery gained 551 yards on 85 carries, Soltes ran for 536 yards on 96 carries and senior tailback Kendrick Williams had 532 yards on 113 carries. ESU's 170.3 rushing yards per game were its most since 2001.