BSN Selects Eight SAC Football Players to All-America Team
Eight SAC football student-athletes have earned spots on the Beyond Sports Network All-America Team, including three first-team selections, the website announced on Wednesday.
LEESBURG, Va. – Eight SAC football student-athletes have earned spots on the Beyond Sports Network All-America Team, including three first-team selections, the website announced on Wednesday.
Earning first-team honors from the SAC were Wingate wide receiver Chris Bowden, Carson-Newman kicker Curt Duncan and Tusculum long snapper Skylar West.
Bowden, who was a top-eight finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, had a historic year for Wingate, catching 106 passes for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns. His final average of 9.64 receptions per game currently ranks tied for second in Division II and his 123.55 receiving yards per game ranks third.
Bowden's 1,359 yards in 2012 were the second-highest single-season total in conference history.
Duncan led all SAC kickers this season with 102 points. He made 14-of-15 field goal attempts and connected on all 60 PATs for the Eagles, who reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Football Championship.
Duncan's 54-yard field goal on Nov. 3 at Tusculum was the longest in the conference in 2012.
West, a BSN second-team All-American in 2011, was flawless on all 55 of his long snaps on the Tusculum punt team in 2012. He also recorded six tackles on special teams.
Only two punts were blocked of West's 192 career long snaps.
Catawba linebacker Cory Johnson was named to the BSN All-America Second Team after leading the SAC with 130 tackles this season. He also recorded five tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.
Four more SAC players - Lenoir-Rhyne offensive lineman Kaleb Myrick, Newberry linebacker Apollo Stretch, Catawba defensive Back Jumal Rolle and Brevard punter Eric Watts - earned honorable mention All-America accolades from BSN.
Myrick anchored an L-R line that helped the Bears rank first or second in Division II rushing offense for the majority of the season. Stretch ranked eighth in the SAC in tackles with 103, while Rolle finished tied for the conference lead with six interceptions.
Watts, who also played receiver for Brevard throughout his career, led the conference and ranked sixth in Division II with a punting average of 43.29 yards in 2012. He also downed 23 punts inside the 20.