2015 All-SAC Football Awards Announced

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Mars Hill placed eight players on the 2015 All-South Atlantic Conference teams. Gilbert Johnson was named the SAC Freshman of the Year while also being selected to the All-SAC First Team. Keshaun Taylor and Marquez Williams joined Johnson on the first team. Shaikel Davis, Joe Hillin, Johnny Maxey, Carl Mattox and Trey Clark were named to the All-SAC second team. The Lions also had three SAC statistical Champions. Taylor led the league in receiving yards per game, Matt Layman led the conference in passing efficiency rating and Trey Clark led the SAC in tackles per game.

Carson-Newman running back Damian Baker was tabbed the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Football Offensive Player of the Year, while Catawba linebacker Kyle Kitchens was tabbed the League's Defensive Player of the Year.  In addition, Gilbert Johnson of Mars Hill was named the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year and Kyle Dugger from Lenoir-Rhyne was tabbed the Defensive Freshman of the Year.  Bears' offensive lineman Joe Ray garnered the Jacobs Blocking Trophy and Catawba mentor Curtis Walker picked up South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors, the League announced today.

Baker, a senior from Columbus, Miss., finished the regular season ranked in the top 25 in the nation in five rushing categories.  He closed out the regular season slate with 1,349 rushing yards to rank No. 9 in Division II, while his 122.6 rushing yards per game was good for No. 15 in the country.  Baker piled up 7.2 yards per carry to rank No. 5 in the nation and his 17 rushing touchdowns is No. 12 in D-II.  The tailback averaged 9.8 points per game to finish at No. 20 in the nation to help the Eagles rank No. 11 in the country as a team with 41.8 points per outing.  Baker accounted for 132.4 all-purpose yards per game for the Eagles to fuel a team rushing attack that is currently No. 4 in the nation with 332 yards per game.  He turned in six 100-yard rushing games this season, including 249 yards on the ground vs. Mars Hill on Sept. 26.  Baker was just three yards shy of his second 200-yard game this season vs. Tusculum in the season finale as he notched 197 rushing yards.

Kitchens, a sophomore from Decatur, Ga., closed out the 2015 regular season slate with three fumble recoveries to rank No. 9 in Division II.  He is also currently No. 13 in the nation with 1.9 tackles for loss per game, while ranking No. 15 with 0.91 sacks per contest.  His 10 total sacks was good for No. 1 in the South Atlantic Conference. Kitchens piled up 60 total tackles in 2015, including 42 solo stops.  Kitchens' only interception on the season was a big one as he returned the pick 90 yards for a touchdown in the win over Mars Hill on Oct. 17.  He posted seven games with multiple tackles for loss and was in on a sack in eight contests.

Johnson, a wide out from Homestead, Fla., wrapped up his season with 19.67 yards per catch to rank No. 19 in Division II.  He hauled in nine touchdowns to rank second in the South Atlantic Conference, while his 826 receiving yards this season was good for third in the League.  Johnson averaged 75.1 receiving yards per game to place third in the Conference and he closed out the season ranked fifth in the SAC with 3.8 receptions per game.  He turned in three 100-yard receiving games this year and scored a touchdown in six contests for the Lions.  Johnson posted a pair of multi-touchdown games and highlighted his season with three scores in the win over Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 24.

Dugger, a defensive back from Fayetteville, Ga., notched a pair of fumble returns for touchdowns and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown during the 2015 season.  He picked off four passes on the season to go along with six pass break ups.  Dugger posted 30 solo tackles this season and finished the year with 43 total tackles.

Ray, a senior from Atlanta, Ga., becomes the only student-athlete in South Atlantic Conference history to win three-straight Jacobs Blocking Trophies after anchoring an offensive line that finished the regular-season ranked No. 1 in the nation with 386.7 rushing yards per game.  The Lenoir-Rhyne offense is currently ranked second in the League with 31.3 points per game.  A 2013 and 2014 All-American, he helped the Lenoir-Rhyne offense punch in 35 rushing scores on the season.  The award marks the sixth-straight Lenoir-Rhyne offensive lineman to win the award.

Walker, in just his third season at the helm of Catawba College, coached the Catawba Indians to their first regular season championship since the 2007 season as Catawba claimed the 2015 SAC Football Title.  The Catawba Indians boast one of the nation's top defenses as they are currently ranked No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense with 14.8 points per game.  Catawba is also ranked No. 9 in the country in red zone defense allowing a score in just 63 percent of opponent's trips to the red zone.  Catawba leads the South Atlantic Conference in team sacks with 2.27 sacks per game to go along with a League-best 6.7 tackles for loss per game.

Newberry finished No. 1 in the League with seven first-teams selection.  Carson-Newman and Wingate followed close behind with five selections each.  Catawba put four players on the first teams, while Mars Hill, Tusculum and Lenoir-Rhyne closed out the list with three selections each.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – De'Andre Thomas, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Damian Baker, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Romelo Doctor, Newberry
Running Back – Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Gilbert Johnson, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Justin Houston, Tusculum
Tight End – Marquez Williams, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Derek Evans, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Lewis McCormick, Catawba
Offensive Line – Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Landon Martin, Newberry
Offensive Line – Mathu Gibson, Wingate
Return Specialist – Kristaan Ivory, Lenoir-Rhyne

Long Snapper – Andrew Smith, Newberry AND
                          Dusty Nance, Carson-Newman

Placekicker – Will Tommie, Tusculum

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – C.J. Barksdale, Catawba
Defensive Line – Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
Defensive Line – Jalen Hunter, Newberry
Defensive Line – Andre Foulks, Wingate
Linebacker – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Linebacker – Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Linebacker – Brandyn Bartlett, Tusculum
Linebacker – Eric Mapoles, Wingate
Defensive Back – Xavier McFadden, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Case Woodard, Catawba
Defensive Back – Chris Shaffer, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Tay Otis, Wingate
Punter – Kyle Clark, Newberry

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Quarterback – Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
Running Back – Cary Littlejohn, Catawba
Running Back – Kristaan Ivory, Lenoir-Rhyne
Running Back – Shaikel Davis, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – TraShaun Ward, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver – Ken Funnye, Tusculum
Wide Receiver – Jordan Berry, Wingate
Tight End – Zach Edmunds, Newberry
Offensive Line – Josh Turner, Brevard
Offensive Line – Dan Gallman, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Joe Hillin, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Hayden Wilks, Newberry
Offensive Line – Billy Munker, Tusculum
Placekicker – Carson Wise, Carson-Newman
Return Specialist – TraShaun Ward, Carson-Newman

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Phalen Booker, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Johnathan Jean, Catawba
Defensive Line – Johnny Maxey, Mars Hill
Defensive Line – Placid Ajoku, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Sha'Heem Stupart, Carson-Newman
Linebacker – Jamal Lackey, Catawba
Linebacker – Jordan Forney, Lenoir-Rhyne
Linebacker – Carl Mattox, Mars Hill
Defensive Back – Mark McDaniel, Catawba
Defensive Back – Trey Clark, Mars Hill
Defensive Back – Arnez Gray, Newberry
Defensive Back – Cameron Thomas, Tusculum
Punter – Michael DeStephens, Lenoir-Rhyne

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Offensive Freshman Of The Year – Gilbert Johnson, Mars Hill
Defensive Freshman Of The Year – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Player Of The Year – Damian Baker, Carson-Newman
Defensive Player Of The Year – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Jacobs Blocking Trophy – Joe Ray, Lenoir-Rhyne
Coach Of The Year – Curtis Walker, Catawba

2015 Football Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game – Damian Baker, Carson-Newman (122.6)
Passing Yards Per Game – Luke Lancaster, Tusculum (287.9)
Total Offense Per Game – Luke Lancaster, Tusculum (293.3)
Receptions Per Game – Justin Houston, Tusculum (9.6)
Receiving Yards Per Game – Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill (107.5)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game – Kristaan Ivory, Lenoir-Rhyne (158.3)
Passing Efficiency Rating – Matt Layman, Mars Hill (134.4)
Punt Return Average – Cole Watson, Newberry (10.9)
Kick Return Average – Kristaan Ivory, Lenoir-Rhyne (25.9)
Punting Average – Kyle Clark, Newberry (42.6)
Scoring Average (TDs) – Damian Baker, Carson-Newman (9.8)
Scoring Average (Kicking) – Carson Wise, Carson-Newman (8.5)
Field Goals Per Game – Carson Wise, Carson-Newman (1.09)
Field Goal Percentage – Will Tommie, Tusculum (0.786)
Tackles Per Game – Trey Clark, Mars Hill (8.8)
Sacks Per Game – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba (0.91)
Tackles For Loss Per Game – Kyle Kitchens, Catawba (1.9)
Interceptions Per Game – Cameron Thomas, Tusculum; Martez Thompkins, Tusculum; Case Woodard, Catawba (0.5)
Team Scoring Offense – Carson-Newman (41.8)
Team Scoring Defense – Catawba (14.8)
Team Passing Offense – Tusculum (292)
Team Passing Defense – Tusculum (141.6)
Team Rushing Offense – Lenoir-Rhyne (386.7)
Team Rushing Defense – Newberry (153.5)
Team Total Offense – Carson-Newman (479.8)
Team Total Defense – Newberry (302.5)