081913 FB Preseason Poll - sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com
GREAT AMERICAN CONFERENCE NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Eric Moyer, GAC Assistant Commissioner for Communications Release Date: Monday, August 19, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HENDERSON STATE UNANIMOUSLY NAMED GAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON FAVORITE RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Following the program’s first unbeaten and untied regular season, Henderson State emerged as the unanimous favorite following a vote of the Great American Conference’s head football coaches, the league office announced on Monday. The Reddies return 11 All-‐GAC selections from 2012, including eight on offense. That offense led Division II in scoring last season by averaging 50.4 points per game and it became the first school in four years to average at least 50 points per game. Quarterback Kevin Rodgers returns for his junior season. He earned GAC Offensive Player of the Year and became a Harlon Hill finalist after he threw for 4,002 yards and 41 touchdowns. His top target, Robert Jordan, leads a talented receiving corp. Jordan racked up 1,074 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He added two touchdowns off of punt returns. Two-‐time First-‐ Team All-‐GAC linebacker Keaton Stigger returns to head up the Reddie defense. Southern Arkansas took second in the poll. The Muleriders went 8-‐3 in 2012 and earned a trip to the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl. SAU’s backfield of quarterback Tyler Sykora and running back Mark Johnson lead the 18 returning starters back for the Muleriders. Sykora threw for 3,393 yards and 31 touchdowns while Johnson led the GAC in rushing for a second-‐ straight season. He rushed for 1,124 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in 2012. The SAU defense brings back its top three linebackers – Sam Cowling, Tate Mustin and Mark Spaight. Harding narrowly placed third to the Muleriders. The Bisons earned their first-‐ever berth to the Division II playoffs following a 9-‐1 regular season. The Bisons return a bulk of their offense that averaged over 33 points per game in 2012. All-‐American fullback Romo Westbrook averaged 6.0 yards per carry and Second-‐Team All-‐GAC wide receiver Donatella Luckett totaled nine touchdowns. The Bisons bring back four offensive linemen from a unit that ranked fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game, 320.55. Ouachita Baptist took fourth in the poll, followed by East Central. Ouachita Baptist opened 2012 with six-‐straight wins and climbed as high as No. 10 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Tigers’ Chris Rycraw rushed for 990 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012. Benson Jordan and Ty Towers combined to throw for more than 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. East Central closed 2012 with three-‐straight wins to finish with a 6-‐5 record. A pair of ECU defensive players, Fred Gaines and Qumain Black earned Preseason All-‐America honors. Gaines led the GAC with seven interceptions in 2012 and Black totaled 51 tackles and three interceptions. Southeastern Oklahoma State finished sixth in the voting while Southwestern Oklahoma State came in seventh. Arkansas Tech took eighth, followed by Arkansas-‐Monticello. The Wonder Boys made a coaching change in the offseason as Raymond Monica took over for Steve Mullins. Monica led Kutztown to the Division II playoffs in 2010 and 2011 and its first-‐ever Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference championship in 2011. Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene rounded out the poll. The 2013 GAC football season opens on Thursday, September 5 with a trio of games – Harding at Southwestern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas at Southeastern Oklahoma State and Arkansas Tech at Northwestern Oklahoma State. On Saturday, September 7, East Central hosts Arkansas-‐Monticello and Henderson State welcomes in Southern Nazarene.
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Contact: Eric Moyer, GAC Assistant Commissioner for Communications Release Date: Monday, August 19, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HENDERSON STATE UNANIMOUSLY NAMED GAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON FAVORITE RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Following the program’s first unbeaten and untied regular season, Henderson State emerged as the unanimous favorite following a vote of the Great American Conference’s head football coaches, the league office announced on Monday. The Reddies return 11 All-‐GAC selections from 2012, including eight on offense. That offense led Division II in scoring last season by averaging 50.4 points per game and it became the first school in four years to average at least 50 points per game. Quarterback Kevin Rodgers returns for his junior season. He earned GAC Offensive Player of the Year and became a Harlon Hill finalist after he threw for 4,002 yards and 41 touchdowns. His top target, Robert Jordan, leads a talented receiving corp. Jordan racked up 1,074 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He added two touchdowns off of punt returns. Two-‐time First-‐ Team All-‐GAC linebacker Keaton Stigger returns to head up the Reddie defense. Southern Arkansas took second in the poll. The Muleriders went 8-‐3 in 2012 and earned a trip to the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl. SAU’s backfield of quarterback Tyler Sykora and running back Mark Johnson lead the 18 returning starters back for the Muleriders. Sykora threw for 3,393 yards and 31 touchdowns while Johnson led the GAC in rushing for a second-‐ straight season. He rushed for 1,124 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in 2012. The SAU defense brings back its top three linebackers – Sam Cowling, Tate Mustin and Mark Spaight. Harding narrowly placed third to the Muleriders. The Bisons earned their first-‐ever berth to the Division II playoffs following a 9-‐1 regular season. The Bisons return a bulk of their offense that averaged over 33 points per game in 2012. All-‐American fullback Romo Westbrook averaged 6.0 yards per carry and Second-‐Team All-‐GAC wide receiver Donatella Luckett totaled nine touchdowns. The Bisons bring back four offensive linemen from a unit that ranked fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game, 320.55. Ouachita Baptist took fourth in the poll, followed by East Central. Ouachita Baptist opened 2012 with six-‐straight wins and climbed as high as No. 10 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Tigers’ Chris Rycraw rushed for 990 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012. Benson Jordan and Ty Towers combined to throw for more than 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. East Central closed 2012 with three-‐straight wins to finish with a 6-‐5 record. A pair of ECU defensive players, Fred Gaines and Qumain Black earned Preseason All-‐America honors. Gaines led the GAC with seven interceptions in 2012 and Black totaled 51 tackles and three interceptions. Southeastern Oklahoma State finished sixth in the voting while Southwestern Oklahoma State came in seventh. Arkansas Tech took eighth, followed by Arkansas-‐Monticello. The Wonder Boys made a coaching change in the offseason as Raymond Monica took over for Steve Mullins. Monica led Kutztown to the Division II playoffs in 2010 and 2011 and its first-‐ever Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference championship in 2011. Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene rounded out the poll. The 2013 GAC football season opens on Thursday, September 5 with a trio of games – Harding at Southwestern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas at Southeastern Oklahoma State and Arkansas Tech at Northwestern Oklahoma State. On Saturday, September 7, East Central hosts Arkansas-‐Monticello and Henderson State welcomes in Southern Nazarene.
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