Seven Lions Named All-Conference

ROCK HILL, S.C.-The 2012 All-South Atlantic Conference Football Teams were announced Tuesday, with seven Mars Hill student-athletes earning all-conference recognition. Troy Harris was named co-Defensive Player of the Year.

First-team offense selections included wide receiver Dimitri Holmes, running back Shaikel Davis and offensive lineman Nick Allison. Defensive linemen Mam Nyang and Harris were selected to the first-team defense. Harris shared Defensive Player of the Year honors with Catawba's Cory Johnson. Wide receiver Deunta Jennings and linebacker Rudy Cabral were named to the All-SAC Second Team.

Harris earned the shared Defensive Player of the Year Honors after finishing third in the conference with five sacks. The defensive end was second on the team with 84 tackles, including a team-high 12 tackles-for-loss.

Nyang tied for third in the conference with five sacks and was another anchor on a stout Lions defensive line. The senior made 67 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, and forced two fumbles.

Holmes finished among the SAC leaders in every major receiving category. He ranked third in receptions (71) and yards (992), second in yards per game (99.2), and fourth in yards per catch (14.0) and touchdowns (8).

Davis led the conference in nearly every rushing category. He led the SAC in rushing attempts (236), yards (1,173) and yards per game (117.3). The sophomore was the SAC offensive Player of Week for his 24-carry, 190-yard performance at North Greenville on Sept. 22.

Allison was part of a productive MHC offensive line that produced 158 yards rushing per game. The sophomore started six games for the Lions this season.

A second-team selection, Jennings led the conference with 18.8 yards per catch. The sophomore caught 46 passes for 866 yards and six touchdowns. He was named SAC Offensive Player of the Week after catching eight passes for 212 yards and scoring on an end-around in an overtime victory over Tusculum.

A senior, Cabral ranked fourth on the team with 78 tackles. He made four tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.

Brandon Haywood of Carson-Newman and Chris Bowden of Wingate were named co-Offensive Players of the Year. Bowden led the league with 1,343 receiving yards. Haywood, a quarterback for the Eagles, passed for 958 yards and rushed for 837 yards.

Co-defensive player of the year Cory Johnson led the SAC with 130 tackles. He added five tackles-for-loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Jaquan Marsh of Brevard was named Offensive Freshman of the Year, while Jarvis Neal of Carson-Newman was named Defensive Freshman of the Year. Kaleb Myrick of Lenoir-Rhyne and Kevin Day of Carson-Newman were named co-recipients of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Lenoir-Rhyne's Mike Houston was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to the South Atlantic Conference championship. L-R is the number four seed in NCAA Super Region II playoffs and will host Fort Valley State in the first round.

The complete all-conference teams and award-winners are listed below.

2012 All-South Atlantic Conference Football Teams & League Awards

FIRST TEAM

Offense
Quarterback - Brandon Haywood, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver - Chris Bowden, Wingate
Wide Receiver - Dimitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver - Corey Washington, Newberry
Running Back - Brandon Baker, Carson-Newman
Running Back - Jarrod Spears, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back - Shaikel Davis, Mars Hill
Offensive Lineman - Kaleb Myrick, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Lineman - Kevin Day, Carson-Newman
Offensive Lineman - Nick Allison, Mars Hill
Offensive Lineman - Joseph So, Wingate
Offensive Lineman - LeQuawn James, Newberry
Tight End - Eric Watts, Brevard
Long Snapper - Skylar West, Tusculum
Punter - Eric Watts, Brevard
Placekicker - Curt Duncan, Carson-Newman

Defense
Defensive Lineman - Brandon Martin, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Lineman - Troy Harris, Mars Hill
Defensive Lineman - Mam Nyang, Mars Hill
Defensive Lineman - DeShon Collins, Carson-Newman
Linebacker - Cory Johnson, Catawba
Linebacker - Tanner Botts, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker - Apollo Stretch, Newberry
Linebacker - Michael Gruber, Brevard
Linebacker - Demetrius Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back - Michael Green, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back - Jumal Rolle, Catawba
Defensive Back - Myer Nolan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back - Luke Harris, Tusculum
Return Specialist - L.J. McCray, Catawba

SECOND TEAM

Offense
Quarterback - Reuben Haynes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Wide Receiver - Xzanvion Smith, Tusculum
Wide Receiver - Nate Charest, Catawba
Wide Receiver - Deunta Jennings, Mars Hill
Running Back - Brian Marshall, Tusculum
Running Back - Isaiah Whitaker, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back - Tyron Douglas, Carson-Newman
Offensive Lineman - Israel Pickens, Tusculum
Offensive Lineman - Alex Taylor, Carson-Newman
Offensive Lineman - Andrew Valazquez, Brevard
Offensive Lineman - Parker Murray, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Lineman - Ethan Winn, Catawba
Tight End - Mark Clyburn, Wingate
Long Snapper - D.J. Davis, Catawba
Punter - Andy Rosetti, Tusculum
Placekicker - Zach Neumann, Lenoir-Rhyne

Defense
Defensive Lineman - Jacob Hanes, Catawba
Defensive Lineman - Letavious Williams, Newberry
Defensive Lineman - Damein Lee, Catawba
Defensive Lineman - Malcolm Ricks, Wingate
Defensive Lineman - Nick Napolitano, Wingate
Linebacker - Jared Seate, Wingate
Linebacker - Rudy Cabral, Mars Hill
Linebacker - Brian Alexander, Tusculum
Defensive Back - Oliver Davis, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back - Isaac Kinley, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back - Timmy Rogers, Wingate
Defensive Back - Brian Spencer, Newberry
Return Specialist - Michael Green, Lenoir-Rhyne & Xzanvion Smith, Tusculum

Co-Offensive Player Of The Year - Brandon Haywood, Carson-Newman & Chris Bowden, Wingate
Co-Defensive Player Of The Year - Troy Harris, Mars Hill & Cory Johnson, Catawba
Offensive Freshman Of The Year - Jaquan Marsh, Brevard
Defensive Freshman Of The Year - Jarvis Neal, Carson-Newman
Co-Jacobs Blocking Trophy - Kaleb Myrick, Lenoir-Rhyne & Kevin Day, Carson-Newman
Coach Of The Year - Mike Houston, Lenoir-Rhyne