SAC Champion Lenoir-Rhyne Leads All-Conference Football Team

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The 2012 All-SAC football team was announced on Tuesday, led by a league-high 12 selections from conference-champion Lenoir-Rhyne.

2012 also marked the first time in SAC history that voting for both of the conference's Player of the Year awards ended in ties. Carson-Newman quarterback Brandon Haywood and Wingate wide receiver Chris Bowden were selected as co-Offensive Players of the Year, while Mars Hill defensive lineman Troy Harris and Catawba linebacker Cory Johnson were picked as the co-Defensive Players of the Year.

[Complete 2012 All-SAC Team and Statistical Champions]

Haywood was one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks in 2012, amassing 958 passing yards and 837 rushing yards during the regular season for the Eagles, who earned a selection to the NCAA Division II Football Championship after going 8-2 overall. Haywood led the conference with 14 rushing touchdowns and added seven more through the air.

Bowden, meanwhile, put together one of the most prolific seasons by a receiver in conference history, setting a league record with 1,343 yards in 2012. He tied for second in Division II by averaging 9.64 receptions per game and ranked third in the nation in receiving yards per game with an average of 122.09. The senior also scored nine touchdowns.

On the defensive side, Harris ranked third in the league with five sacks, third in fumble recoveries with two and 10th in tackles with 84, leading a Mars Hill unit that ranked third in the conference in total defense.

Johnson was the SAC's top tackler in 2012, finishing with 130 for the Indians. He also added five tackles for-loss, two forced fumbles and a sack this season.

After going 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the SAC, Lenoir-Rhyne had a league-best seven players earn first-team All-Conference selections. L-R's offense, which led the nation in rushing during the regular season, was represented on the First Team by running back Jarrod Spears and offensive lineman Kaleb Myrick.

The Lenoir-Rhyne defensive unit – which ranked first in the SAC in scoring defense and second in total defense – had five first-team selections in defensive lineman Brandon Martin, linebackers Tanner Botts and Demetrius Green, and defensive backs Michael Green and Myer Nolan. Demetrius Green was the SAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.

Led by Haywood, Carson-Newman had nine All-SAC selections, including five on the First Team. In addition to Haywood, the C-N offense was represented on the First Team by running back Brandon Baker, offensive lineman Kevin Day and kicker Curt Duncan. The Eagles were the nation's No. 2 rushing offense during the regular season.

Defensive lineman DeShon Collins, who anchored the C-N defense, also earned first-team honors.

Catawba and Tusculum both placed eight student-athletes on the All-SAC Team, including three first-team picks for the Indians and two for the Pioneers.

Joining Johnson on the First Team from Catawba were defensive back Jumal Rolle and return specialist L.J. McCray. Rolle led the SAC and tied for 10th in Division II with six interceptions in 2012.

Tusculum's first-team picks were long snapper Skylar West and defensive back Luke Harris.

Mars Hill and Wingate – which both went 5-2 in SAC play this season – each had seven All-SAC selections.

MHC placed five on the First Team in Harris, wide receiver Dimitri Holmes, running back Shaikel Davis, offensive lineman Nick Allison and defensive lineman Mam Nyang. Davis led the SAC in rushing in 2012 with 1,173 yards, while Holmes – last season's SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year -- ranked third in the league and 15th in Division II with 992 receiving yards.

Joining Bowden on the First Team from Wingate was offensive lineman Joseph So.

Newberry had five All-SAC picks, while Brevard had four. Newberry's selections were led by first-team honorees LeQuawn James at offensive lineman, Corey Washington at wide receiver and Apollo Stretch at linebacker. Stretch completed his final year for the Wolves ranked sixth in the SAC in tackles with 103 and ninth in interceptions with two.

Brevard's All-Conference selections were led by Eric Watts – a first-team pick at both tight end and punter – and Michael Gruber, a first-team linebacker. Watts ended his 2012 season ranked sixth in Division II in punting average at 42.98 yards per kick.

Voting for the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which recognizes the top offensive lineman in the conference, also ended in a tie this season, going to Lenoir-Rhyne's Myrick and Carson-Newman's Day.

L-R head coach Mike Houston, who led his team to its first NCAA Football Championship selection in program history, was picked as the SAC Coach of the Year. He shared the award with Mars Hill's Tim Clifton last season.

Rounding out the SAC's major individual awards were Offensive Freshman of the Year Jaquan Marsh of Brevard and Defensive Freshman of the Year Jarvis Neal from Carson-Newman.

Marsh, a quarterback, rushed for 356 yards and three touchdowns this season in BC's option attack. He also added 120 yards and a touchdown through the air.

Neal finished the regular season with 28 tackles and two sacks at the defensive lineman position for C-N.

The All-SAC Team and each of the conference's major individual awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.