LSC announces postseason awards for Football
Lone Star Conference football coaches have selected the all-conference awards for the 2006 season, and league officials announced the honors on Wednesday.
NORTH DIVISION
Southeastern Oklahoma, the Lone Star Conference North Division champions for the third straight year, had six first-team picks and four individual award winners as the Savage Storm headlined the LSC's football postseason awards that were announced Wednesday by league officials.
SOSU had four first-team All-LSC North selections on offense, including the division's Co-Offensive Back of the Year Justin Pitrucha and Offensive Lineman of the Year Rayshaun Hollings, and two Savage Storm first-teamers on defense, with Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year Brad Hill. Also, SOSU's Daniel Nichols was named the North's Freshman of the Year.
The Savage Storm added seven second-team choices for a total of 13 players on the first and second teams. Southwestern Oklahoma and Texas A&M-Commerce each had 12 and 10 total first- and second-team picks, respectively. The Bulldogs had three first-team selections and nine second-teamers, while the Lions had eight first-teamers and two second-team picks.
Northeastern State added nine total picks, while Central Oklahoma had eight and East Central five.
A&M-C captured three individual awards as Cliff Edwards was named the division's Co-Offensive Back of the Year, Sean McKinney was Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year and Darvin Peterson was Defensive Back of the Year.
NSU's Jarrett Byers claimed Receiver of the Year honors, while UCO's Will Clewis was named Linebacker of the Year and SWOSU's Ryan Held was Coach of the Year in the North Division.
In all, 62 student-athletes were recognized by the LSC's postseason awards program, with 29 players named to the first team, 28 on the second team and five earning honorable mention. The all-conference honors were selected by the head coaches of the six North Division teams. SOUTH DIVISION
Abilene Christian had 11 first-team selections and four individual award winners recognized Wednesday when the football postseason awards for the Lone Star Conference South Division were announced by league officials.
ACU had six players on the first-team offense and five more on the first-team defense, plus Jerale Badon was named the division's Receiver of the Year, Nathan Young was Offensive Lineman of the Year, Tony Harp was Co-Freshman of the Year and Chris Thomsen was Coach of the Year for the Wildcats. ACU finished the year, 8-2 overall, and is the No. 6 seed in the Southwest Region in the NCAA Division II playoffs that start Saturday.
LSC champion West Texas A&M had 15 total first- and second-team picks with five first-teamers and 10 second-teamers. The Buffaloes were 10-1 overall and will host ACU on Saturday in the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.
Tarleton State, the LSC South Division co-champion with WTAMU, had 12 first and second team choices including five individual award winners including Offensive Back of the Year Michael Sampson, Defensive Back of the Year Ranardrick Phillips, Defensive Lineman of the Year Tywain Myles, Linebacker of the Year Erick Smith and Co-Freshman of the Year Roderick Smith.
Midwestern State had four first-teamers and eight second-teamers as the Mustangs are the No. 4 regional seed in the playoffs.
Texas A&M-Kingsville had eight selections with two on the first team, while Eastern New Mexico had seven second-team picks and Angelo State had three second-teamers.
Overall, 87 student-athletes were recognized by the LSC's postseason awards program, with 32 players named to the first team, 43 on the second team and another 12 gaining honorable mention. The all-conference honors were selected by the head coaches of the seven South Division teams.
