1818 Chouteau Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63103 (314) 421-2268 FAX (314) 421-3505 NCAA 1-AA FOR RELEASE: NOVEMBER 20, 2002 CONTACT: Cody Bush Phone: (931) 221-7561 e-mail: [email protected] 10th Pioneer Football League All-Conference Team Twelve players repeat First-Team honors ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Pioneer Football League announced its 10th annual all-conference selections, Wednesday, with 54 players receiving first-team honors. Six PFL North players repeated as first-team selections in 2002 with Dayton landing four, all defensive honorees: defensive lineman Trent Karn, linebacker Tyler Bowersock and defensive backs Mark Kasmer and Aaron Furman. Drake quarterback Ira Vandever and San Diego offensive lineman Justin Dixon were the North divisions only other back-to-back winners. In its second year of existence, the PFL South saw seven repeat winners. Austin Peay's Jay Bailey, Division I-AA's leading rusher leads the repeat honorees. Joining him with back-to-back honors are Jacksonville wide receiver Jon Turner, Davidson offensive lineman John Davis, Jacksonville offensive lineman Kevin Womble, Austin Peay defensive lineman Mark McClintock, Morehead State defensive back Brandon Phillips and Austin Peay defensive back Thomas Sexton. The Pioneer Football League will hold its second annual championship game at 1 p.m. (EST), Saturday, in Morehead, Ky., as PFL South champion Morehead State will host PFL North champion Dayton. Dayton earned 10 PFL North first-team honors including six on the defensive end, indicative of the Flyers’ league-leading defensive effort. PFL South champion Morehead State laid claim to nine PFL South first-team honors. The conference's divisional Coach of the Year awards will be announced next Monday, following the PFL Championship. The league's divisional Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards also will be announced next Monday. -more- 2002 Pioneer Football League All-Conference Team – North Division (selected by PFL head coaches) First Team Offense Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (High School) Wide Receivers Aaron Overton% Drake 6-0 216 Sr. St. Louis, Mo. (Principia) Michael Gasperson San Diego 6-4 205 So. Monterey, Calif. (Palma) Tight Ends Jeff Seaman Drake 6-4 220 Sr. Ballwin, Mo. (Lafayette) Linemen Nate Moore Dayton 6-4 274 Sr. Mason, Ohio (Mason) Justin Dixon# San Diego 6-3 280 Sr. Orange County, Calif. (Brea Olinda) Carl Erickson Butler 6-3 265 Sr. Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove) Tom Byrne Valparaiso 6-2 292 Sr. Evergreen Park, Ill. (St. Rita) Jarrod Wachter Dayton 6-0 250 Jr. Newark, Ohio (Newark) Quarterback Kelly Spiker Dayton 6-0 190 Jr. Dayton, Ohio (Chaminade-Julienne) Ira Vandever# Drake 5-10 179 Sr. Florissant, Mo. (McCluer North) Runningback Dale Jennings Butler 5-8 175 Sr. Vincennes, Ind. (Lincoln) Jonathan Taylor Drake 5-9 205 Jr. Council Bluffs, Iowa (Thomas Jefferson) Defense Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (High School) Linemen Trent Karn# Dayton 5-10 228 Sr. Piqua, Ohio (Piqua) Andy Bentley% Dayton 6-3 261 Sr. Marion, Ohio (Pleasant) Tim Lytle Butler 5-11 260 Sr. St. Louis, Mo. (Hazelwood East) Jason Dvorak Drake 6-3 312 Sr. Elberon, Iowa (Waldorf JC) Linebackers Tyler Bowersock# Dayton 6-1 212 Sr. Lancaster, Ohio (Amanda Clearcreek) Brian Heizman Dayton 6-3 232 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Xavier) Parker Smith Butler 5-8 180 Jr. Indianapolis, Ind. (Chatard) Andy Guzenski% San Diego 6-1 231 Jr. Granite Bay, Calif. (Granite Bay) Defensive Backs Mark Kasmer# Dayton 6-1 193 Sr. Brecksville, Ohio (Brecksville) Aaron Furman# Dayton 6-1 212 Sr. Westerville, Ohio (Westerville North) Russ Mann% Butler 6-2 180 Sr. Elkhart, Ind. (Concord) Wes Morgan San Diego 5-10 180 Sr. San Jose, Calif. (Gunderson) Special Teams Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (High School) Place Kicker Jesse Obert Dayton 6-0 210 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio (LaSalle) Punter Ryan Horvath Drake 6-0 192 Fr. Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley North) Return Specialist Justin Campbell Butler 5-8 165 So. Jeffersonville, Ind. (Providence) # - 2001 First Team All-PFL Selection % - 2001 Honorable Mention All-PFL Selection HONORABLE MENTION – WIDE RECEIVERS: ROB GIANCOLA, Valparaiso, So.; ADAMLAFFERTY, Butler, Sr. TIGHT END: GREG SOMMERSBURGER, Valparaiso, Sr. QUARTERBACK: ERIC RASMUSSEN, San Diego, Jr. RUNNINGBACKS: KENNETH VILLALOBOS, San Diego, Sr. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: CHRIS MCDONNELL, Drake, So.; ERIK LINK, Drake, Sr., ANDY LONG, Drake, Sr., ARIEL BELLOFIORE, San Diego, Jr.; KEITH ZAPALAC, San Diego, So. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: TOM HOWE, Drake, Sr.; JOHN LEININGER, Butler, Jr. LINEBACKERS: Lou Capizzi, Butler, Sr.; Nick Rouse, Drake, Sr.; Adam Lackey, Drake, Jr. DEFENSIVE BACKS: ERIC PAPP, Drake, So. PLACEKICKER: ADAM HUDAK, Valparaiso, Sr. PUNTER: RYAN BATEMAN, Valparaiso, Jr. RETURN SPECIALIST: GAVIN NG, San Diego, Jr. 2002 Pioneer Football League All-Conference Team – South Division (selected by PFL head coaches) First Team Offense Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (High School) Wide Receivers Jon Turner# Jacksonville 6-2 200 Sr. Melbourne, Fla. (Melbourne) Barrett Johnson% Davidson 5-10 175 Jr. West Chester, Ohio (Lakota East) Tight Ends Mike Chase Davidson 6-5 210 Sr. Medina, Ohio (Medina) Linemen Charles McGowan Morehead State 6-1 257 Jr. Russell Springs, Ky. (Russell Springs) Kevin Womble# Jacksonville 6-3 252 Jr. Bonifay, Fla. (Holmes County) John Davis# Davidson 5-11 255 Sr. Crystal Beach, Fla. (Palm Harbor) Jason Fights Morehead State 6-4 275 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain) Avery Fleming Austin Peay 6-1 268 Jr. Nashville, TN (Memphis) Quarterback Paul Nichols Davidson 5-11 190 Sr. Dunwoody, Ga. (Marist) David Caudill Morehead State 6-2 205 Jr. Van Buren, Ind. (Eastbrook) Running back Jay Bailey# Austin Peay 6-0 205 Sr. Clarksville, Tenn. (Clarksville) David White Morehead State 6-0 235 Sr. Bowling Green, Ky. (Greenwood) Defense Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (High School) Linemen Mark McClintock# Austin Peay 6-1 240 Sr. Kingsport, Tenn. (Dobyns-Bennett) Chris Parker% Morehead State 6-1 272 Sr. Harrogate, Tenn. (Thomas Walker) Ryan Tennis% Davidson 6-1 235 Sr. Bryn Athyn, Pa. (Academy of New Church) Ryan McKenzie Morehead State 6-0 290 So. Crescent Springs, Ky. (Ludlow) Linebackers Jim Carney Davidson 6-1 225 Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. (Central Catholic) Craig Unger Morehead State 6-2 214 So. Greenfield, Ohio (McClain) Jason Busby Austin Peay 5-9 210 Sr. Loretto, TN (Loretto) Defensive Backs Brandon Phillips# Morehead State 5-10 183 Sr. Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton) Thomas Sexton# Austin Peay 5-11 175 Sr. Lynnville, Tenn. (Richland) Charles Byrd Morehead State 5-11 185 So. Oxford, Ohio (Talawanda) Jeremy Kearson Jacksonville 5-8 172 Sr. Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Monsignor Pace) Special Teams Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown (High School) Place Kicker Dan Hanks Davidson 5-9 175 Sr. Rome, Ga. (Darlington) Punter Chris Costello Davidson 5-7 160 Jr. Solana Beach, Calif. (The Bishop’s School) Return Specialist Linj Shell Jacksonville 5-11 175 Sr. Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater) # - 2001 First Team All-PFL Selection % - 2001 Honorable Mention All-PFL Selection HONORABLE MENTION – WIDE RECEIVERS: MATTHEW LOY, Morehead State, Jr.; Pat Curran, Austin Peay, So. TIGHT END: ANDREW BIANCHI, Jacksonville, Sr. QUARTERBACK: MIKE STURGILL, Jacksonville, Fr. RUNNING BACK: JOHN LEVERETT, Davidson, So., CHAD DAVIS, Jacksonville, Fr. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Jason Klein, Morehead State, Sr.; Sam Harner, Morehead State, So., Adam Rector, Austin Peay, So. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: JOE BELL, Austin Peay, Jr.; BRENDAN DETE, Davidson, So.; JAKE BACON, Austin Peay, Sr.; DEAN ANDERSON, Morehead State, So.. LINEBACKERS: ZAC PREWITT, Morehead State, Sr. DEFENSIVE BACKS: CHARLTON WILLIAMS, Jacksonville, Jr.; COREY PHILLIPS, Austin Peay, Jr.; ADAM ELMORE, Davidson, Sr.; DeMARO ISOM, Austin Peay, Jr. PLACEKICKER: JUSTIN DEARDORFF, Austin Peay, Jr., 5-11, 175. PUNTER: BILL BALLARD, Morehead State, Sr. RETURN SPECIALIST: MATTHEW LOY, Morehead State, Jr..