Six SAC Football Players Invited To Cactus Bowl

KINGSVILLE, Texas - Six football players from the South Atlantic Conference have been invited to play in the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl.

Played in an East/West format, the teams are comprised entirely of the 'best of the best' NCAA Division II college seniors.

Tusculum College quarterback Corey Russell and linebacker Justin Scott; Mars Hill College running back George Washington and defensive tackle Chris Dowdell; Carson-Newman College cornerback Otis Ballard and Lenoir-Rhyne University cornerback Barry Tate have been invited to play on the East team.

The game will be played January 9, 2009, at Javelina Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Corey Russell	Justin Scott
George Washington	Chris Dowdell
Barry Tate	Otis Ballard

Washington led the Lions this past season with 855 rushing yards, including four games of 100-plus yards on the ground, and eight rushing touchdowns. A product of Warner Robbins, Ga., Washington finished his college career with 2889 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. He was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team Offense this past season.

Dowdell shined on the field in his final season at Mars Hill. The Riverside, Ga., native amassed 49 total tackles, three tackles-for-loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. For his efforts, Dowdell was named to the 2008 All-South Atlantic Conference First Team Defense.

Russell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior from Speedwell, Tenn., smashed the record books in the finest season ever posted by a Pioneer signal caller as he was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Second Team. The 2008 South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Daktronics Region Player of the Year peppered his name throughout the Tusculum, SAC and NCAA II record books.

Russell established 15 Tusculum records this season, including a pair of NCAA Division II bests. He recorded 300 or more total offensive yards on 11 occasions this season, which were the best in DII history. He recorded 674 total offensive plays, which are a new NCAA II record. The All-SAC First Team signal caller established league single-season records in total offensive yards (4907), passing yards (4097) and touchdown passes (37). He also set TC season records for completions (301) and pass attempts (505).

Russell caps one of the most successful careers in Division II history. His 11,315 total offensive yards are the most ever by a Pioneer, second in SAC history and ninth in NCAA II history. The Cumberland Gap High School graduate also set career marks in pass attempts (1382), completions (773), passing yards (9887), TD passes (82), touchdowns accounted for (103), interceptions (49) and total offensive attempts (1853). He also becomes the first Tusculum quarterback to earn NCAA II All-American and All-Region honors.

Scott, a 6-3, 235-pounder from Jamestown, S.C., led the Pioneers and South Atlantic Conference with 113 tackles, the second most in school history. Scott has been two-time All-SAC selection, pushing his name into the record book in tackles for loss in a season (22) and a career (51). His seven career fumble recoveries are the most ever in Tusculum history. Scott was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week for his 10-tackle performance against Mars Hill. His 277 career tackles are tied for fifth all-time in school history with former All-American linebacker Craig Pritchett.

Tate, who earned All-SAC honors for the second straight season, led the conference in punt return average (12.4 ypr) and second in kickoff returns (24.9 yards per return). As a defensive back, Tate topped the South Atlantic Conference in pass break-ups with 13.

Ballard registered 51 total tackles, including five tackles for loss. He also had three sacks and two interceptions.

This year's edition of the Cactus Bowl will feature 19 All-Americans and is headlined by six of the 24 Harlon Hill Trophy candidates including Russell, Ted Schlafke (Minnesota-Duluth), Brian McNeill (Nebraska-Omaha), Charly Martin (West Texas A&M), Kevin McCabe (California, Pa.) and Mike Washington (West Chester).

There have been over 100 players drafted into the NFL who played in the Cactus Bowl. All net profits from the Cactus Bowl are donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

2009 Cactus Bowl East Squad

Corey Russell Tusculum QB
Kevin McCabe California, PA QB
Mike McLendon North Alabama RB
Sammy Milton Elizabeth City State RB
George Washington Mars Hill RB
Mike Washington West Chester WR
Julius Pruitt Ouachita Baptist WR
Garett Manning Henderson State WR
Edwared Gant North Alabama WR
Dyshaun Edwards Tiffin WR
Chad Schroeder Delta State WR
Dewayne Davidson-Dixon Edinboro TE
Robert Ruffing Ouachita Baptist TE
Louis West Henderson State OL
Nate Hollins Ashland OL
Ross Conn Harding OL
Sam Allen Grand Valley State OL
Mark Ellis Delta State OL
Jeremy Ashcraft Arkansas Tech OL
Kennis Jones West Chester OL
Desi Mayner Saginaw Valley State OL
Thomas A. Schneider North Alabama P/K
Nick Krut East Stroudsburg P/K
Dan Skuta Grand Valley State LB
Terrence Jackson Indiana, PA LB
Darren Burns California, PA LB
Anthony King Delta State LB
Justin Scott Tusculum LB
Darren Banks West Liberty State CB
Matt Black Saginaw Valley State CB
Otis Ballard Carson Newman CB
Barry Tate Lenoir-Rhyne CB
Lionell Mitchell East Stroudsburg CB
Steven Jackson Fort Valley State CB
Jon Ochs Bloomsburg DE
Jahlim Cuttino Southern Connecticut DE
Sammy Hill Stillman DE
Jacob Visser Ferris State DT
Chris Dowdell Mars Hill DT
Christopher Murphy Gannon DT
Rodrick Jones Elizabeth City State S
Dante Dunn Wayne State S