Newberry, Wingate, Tusculum lead SAC All-Conference Football Team

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Newberry College, which won its first South Atlantic Conference football title, had a league-high eight players named to the All-South Atlantic Conference football First Team. Newberry, Wingate and Tusculum each placed a league-high 10 total selections on the First and Second Team, the league announced Monday.

Newberry senior quarterback Josh Stepp, who threw for a league-high 21 touchdowns, was named the SAC's Offensive Player of the Year, while Catawba junior defensive lineman Ron Ellington, who forced a league-best four fumbles, was named the SAC's Defensive Player of the Year.

Josh Stepp, Newberry

Ron Ellinigton, Catawba

Justin Sanders, Lenoir-Rhyne

Zak Willis, Newberry

Heath Benedict, Newberry

Glen Black, Tusculum

Stepp, a senior from Pelion, S.C., completed 159 passes of 247 attempts for 2,052 yards. He passes for 21 touchdowns and threw just three interceptions for an efficiency rating of 159.8. He also rushed for 369 yards and five touchdowns.

Ellington, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., had 74 total tackles with nine sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He had six quarterback hurries and forced four fumbles and had one interception.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman quarterback Justin Sanders was named Offensive Freshman of the Year. Sanders, from Monroe, N.C., threw for 1,319 yards and rushed for 458 yards in his rookie campaign.

Carson-Newman freshman linebacker Brian Brown, from Hartwell, Ga., was named Defensive Freshman of the Year. Brown registered 72 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss.

The Jacobs Blocking Trophy Award, presented to the top offensive lineman, tight end or blocking back in the league, went to Newberry junior offensive right tackle Heath Benedict, a First-Team All-Conference selection.

Newberry head coach Zak Willis, who guided the Indians to a 10-1 overall record and the school's first-ever football championship, was named Coach of the Year.

The SAC Scholar Athlete for football went to Tusculum College senior kicker Glen Black. Black carries a 3.83 GPA as an Accounting major, with minors in management and mathematics. Black scored 43 points this season, hitting 22 of 24 extra points and seven of 11 field goals and was named to the All-Conference Second Team. He ranks second in Tusculum history with 111 career kicking points and was named Special Teams Player of the Week on Aug. 28.

Black is a campus leader, serving as vice president of the student government. He leads weekly Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bible study as well as working with a local church to develop a Tusculum Baptist College Night. He has volunteered with numerous community service projects through Nettie Day at Tusculum College and through church activities. He was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Region first team this year and will be on the ballot for Academic All-American honors. He was also named to the 2006 AFCA Good Works Team, one of 22 collegiate football players in the country recognized for athletic and academic achievement and community service.

Wingate and Tusculum each placed six on the SAC All-Conference First Team. Each school had 10 total representatives.

Catawba placed nine on the squad, with two on the First Team.

Presbyterian had seven selections, with four on the First Team.

Carson-Newman had six All-Conference picks, with one named to the First Team.

Lenoir-Rhyne had four All-Conference members, with two chosen to the First Team.

Mars Hill had two All-Conference representatives, with one on the First Team.

The head coaches in the conference select the All-Conference teams.

A complete list of the 2006 South Atlantic All-Conference Team follows:

2006 All-SAC Football Teams

First Team
Offense
QB - Josh Stepp, Newberry
WR - Tymere Zimmerman, Newberry
WR - Justin Durant, Presbyterian
WR - Dan Brooks, Wingate
RB - Ronnie Edwards, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB - Alex Haynes, Newberry
RB - Patrick King, Tusculum
TE - Chris Conklin, Wingate
OL - James Periminis, Carson-Newman
OL - Heath Benedict, Newberry
OL - Marchant Faustin, Newberry
OL - Michael Bujnak, Tusculum
OL - Brandon Manshack, Wingate
PK - Ryan Lukshis, Newberry
RS - Donald Brown, Wingate

First Team
Defense
DL - Ron Ellington, Catawba
DL - Benjamin McDowell, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL - Adrian Samples, Tusculum
DL - Kenwin Cummings, Wingate
LB - Nathaniel Smith, Mars Hill
LB - Will Newell, Newberry
LB - Antwan Thomas, Presbyterian
LB - Kenny Wells, Tusculum
DB - Charles Mormon, Catawba
DB - Derrell Mills, Newberry
DB - Chad Burgess, Presbyterian
DB - Kevin Molony, Presbyterian
DB - David Jones, Wingate
P - John Gregory, Tusculum
LS - Robbie Kelly, Tusculum

Second Team
Offense
QB - Anthony Metzelaars, Wingate
WR - Brent Johnson, Catawba
WR - Jamichael Caldwell, Tusculum
WR - Gary Tatum, Wingate
RB - Jamelle Cuthbertson, Catawba
RB - Deshon Rodell, Newberry
RB - S.J. Worrell, Presbyterian
TE - Shane Timmons, Catawba
OL - Nate Skellenger, Carson-Newman
OL - Will Reedy, Catawba
OL - J.P. Gunter, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL - Matt Vogel, Mars Hill
OL - Gavin Mauldin, Tusculum
PK - Glen Black, Tusculum
RS - Lance Johnson, Catawba

Second Team
Defense
DL - Anthony Toribio, Carson-Newman
DL - Marcus Huntley, Catawba
DL - Aaron Cotteral, Lenoir-Rhyne
DL - Jonathan Breaux, Newberry
LB - Eric Rice, Carson-Newman
LB - Lester Sconyers, Catawba
LB - Justin Jones, Presbyterian
LB - Stuart Sheppard, Wingate
DB - Brandon Walden, Carson-Newman
DB - Octavius Love, Tusculum
DB - Donald Brown, Wingate
P - David Brentz, Carson-Newman
LS - Sean Foley, Presbyterian

Offensive Player Of The Year
Josh Stepp, Newberry

Defensive Player Of The Year
Ron Ellington, Catawba

Offensive Freshman Of The Year
Justin Sanders, Lenoir-Rhyne

Defensive Freshman Of The Year
Brian Brown, Carson-Newman

Coach Of The Year
Zak Willis, Newberry

Jacobs Blocking Trophy Award
Heath Benedict, Newberry

SAC Scholar Athlete
Glen Black, Tusculum

Statistical Champions

Individual
Rushing per game - Alex Haynes, Newberry, 86.2
Passing Avg. per game - Anthony Metzelaars, Wingate, 251.5
Total Offense per game - Anthony Metzelaars, Wingate, 243.7
Receptions per game - Dan Brooks, Wingate, 5.55
Receiving yards per game - Dan Brooks, Wingate, 73.5
All-Purpose yards per game - Alex Haynes, Newberry, 100.0
Interceptions per game - Derrell Mills, Newberry, 0.55
Pass Efficiency - Josh Stepp, Newberry, 159.8
Punt Return Avg. - Donald Brown, Wingate, 10.3
Kick Return Avg. - Lance Johnson, Catawba, 25.7
Punting Avg. - John Gregory, Tusculum, 40.9
Scoring Avg. (TDs) - Jamichael Caldwell, Tusculum, 4.2
Scoring Avg. (Kick) - Ryan Lukshis, Newberry, 6.3
Field Goal Pct. - Ryan Lukshis, Newberry, 71.4
Tackles per game - Will Newell, Newberry, 9.8
Sacks per game - Kenwin Cummings, Wingate, 0.91
Tackles for loss per game - Kenwin Cummings, Wingate, 1.59

Team
Scoring offense - Newberry, 31.4
Scoring defense - Presbyterian, 13.2
Passing offense - Wingate, 273.8
Passing defense - Catawba, 121.0
Rushing offense - Newberry, 199.6
Rushing defense - Tusculum, 54.6
Total offense - Newberry, 392.9
Total defense - Presbyterian, 233.5