Football | 11/13/2007 1:06:00 PM
(PRINCETON, W.Va.)---West Virginia Conference football coaches have honored record-setting Shepherd running back Dervon Wallace as the league's Offensive Player of the Year. Fairmont State linebacker Vince Black is the WVIAC's Defensive Player of the Year, while Shepherd's Monte Cater was named the WVIAC Coach of the Year for a fourth consecutive season.
Wallace is the first repeat selection as the WVIAC Offensive Player of the Year since former Ram great Damian Beane turned the trick in 1998 and 1999. The Lusby, Maryland senior leads Division II in rushing at 195.2 yards per game. He has rushed for 131 or more yards in each contest for the 9-1 Rams, including a pair of 300-yard plus efforts.
The diminutive running back has taken a sledgehammer to the Shepherd and WVIAC record books. Wallace's 1952 rush yards in 2007 establish a new WVIAC regular season mark. He also became the league's all-time leading scorer earlier this season and owns 434 career points.
Black leads the WVIAC with 28 tackles for loss and is third with 103 tackles. The Marietta, OH senior paced a Falcon defense that posted a league-high three shutouts. The Falcon defense tops the conference in rush defense (102.4 ypg) and was second in total defense (305.0 ypg) and scoring defense (16.5 ppg).
The former Parkersburg Catholic star ends his career third on the FSU tackles for loss list with 44 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Black earned WVIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on four occasions in 2007 as the Falcons posted their first winning season since 2001.
Cater and his coaching staff continue to add to an impressive legacy at Shepherd. The veteran head coach saw his Rams win their 11th league title in his 21 seasons at the SU helm. The 1971 Millikin University graduate has led SU to the past four WVIAC championships and has been voted as the league's Coach of the Year after each title to push his total to nine.
The winningest coach in West Virginia Conference football history, Cater owns a 149-70-1 record at Shepherd. He has compiled a 180-93-2 mark overall in 27 seasons as a collegiate head coach. The Rams will make their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II postseason on November 24 when they host either West Chester or Indiana (PA).
League champion Shepherd recorded eight first-team honorees. West Liberty State placed seven selections on the top squad, while Fairmont State notched five picks.
Ten players are repeat selections from last season's All-WVIAC first team. OL Kyle Robinette (FSU), C Ryan Pope (SU), TE Emery Williams (GSC), WR Almonzo Banks (WLSC), and Wallace are the returnees from the offensive side of the ball. LB Jerome Quinata (SU), LB Shahram Shafii (FSU), DB Ola Adams (CU), and DB Darren Banks make repeat appearances on the defensive first team. Charleston's Antonio Smith is the pick again as a kick coverage specialist.
Wallace and Williams are the lone three-time first team selections. The complete 2007 All-WVIAC football squad follows:
1st Team Offense:
OL-Jason Atteberry (Glenville State, Sr., 6-3, 300, Murietta, CA)
OL-Bubba Brady (Shepherd, Sr., 6-2, 295, Prince Frederick, MD)
OL-Clark Lazendorf (Shepherd, Sr., 6-4, 295, Manassas, VA)
OL-Kyle Robinette (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-2, 280, Imperial, PA)
C-Ryan Pope (Shepherd, Sr., 6-4, 340, Elkridge, MD)
TE-Emery Williams (Glenville State, Sr., 6-4, 250, Cleveland, OH)
WR-Almonzo Banks (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-2, 220, Washington, DC, 88 rec., 1331 rec. yds, 18 TD)
WR-Dustin Greenwood (Concord, Sr., 6-2, 205, Palmyra, VA, 40 rec., 537 rec. yds, 432 rush yds, 500 pass yds)
WR-Jarrett Ponder (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-4, 185, St. Petersburg, FL, 69 rec., 1035 rec. yds, 5 TD)
WR-Alex Puente (West Virginia Wesleyan, Sr., 6-3, 210, Deerfield Beach, FL, 49 rec., 802 rec. yds, 6 TD)
QB-Zach Amedro (West Liberty State, Fr., 6-0, 185, Moundsville, WV, 236-363, 3297 yds, 26 TD)
RB-Antwarn Jones (Seton Hill, Soph., 5-7, 165, Gwynn Oak, MD, 1276 rush yds, 8 TD)
RB-Jerry Seymour (Glenville State, Jr., 5-7, 200, Miramar, FL, 1714 rush yds, 15 TD)
RB-Dervon Wallace (Shepherd, Sr., 5-6, 175, Lusby, MD, 1952 rush yds, 22 rec., 21 TD)
1st Team Defense:
DL-Brandon Geary (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-3, 245, Fairmont, WV, 58 tackles, 16 TFL, 9 sacks)
DL-Jacob Owens (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-5, 270, Franklin, WV, 44 tackles, 12 TFL, 7 PBU)
DL-Mike Spiegelberg (Shepherd, Jr., 6-1, 235, Silver Spring, MD, 43 tackles, 13 TFL)
NG-Mike Heatwole (Shepherd, Jr., 5-11, 305, Falls Church, VA, 35 tackles, 8 TFL)
ILB-Vince Black (Fairmont State, Sr., LB, 6-2, 245, Marietta, OH, 103 tackles, 28 TFL, 4 INT)
ILB-Walt Gouveia (Shepherd, Jr., 5-11, 240, Ashburn, VA, 52 tackles, 11 TFL)
ILB-Nick Harding (West Liberty State, Soph., 6-1, 220, Lackawanna, NY, 105 T, 10 TFL)
ILB-Mark Hartz (Seton Hill, Jr., 6-1, 225, Moon Township, PA, 68 TT, 4 PBU)
OLB-Drew Cannon (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-0, 225, New Lexington, OH, 51 tackles, 16 TFL, 5 INT)
OLB-Andrew Eggleton (West Virginia State, Soph., 5-10, 210, St. Albans, WV, 92 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 INT)
OLB-Jerome Quinata (Shepherd, Sr., 5-11, 200, Woodbridge, VA, 50 tackles, 7 TFL)
OLB-Shahram Shafii (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-0, 200, Charleston, WV, 43 tackles, 7 TFL)
DB-Ola Adams (Concord, Sr., 6-1, 190, Reston, VA, 96 tackles, 5 PBU)
DB-Darren Banks (West Liberty State, Jr., 5-10, 185, Camden, NJ, 38 tackles, 13 INT, 6 PBU)
DB-Brandon Truesdale (West Virginia State, Sr., 5-11, 170, Fayetteville, GA, 53 tackles, 6 INT, 13 PBU)
DB-Mike Williams (Charleston, Sr., 5-9, 170, Tampa, FL, 38 tackles, 4 INT)
1st Team Special Teams:
K-Billy Hager (West Liberty State, Jr., 5-10, 190, Ocala, FL, 14-22 FG, 46-55 XP)
P-Zach Boyd (Concord, Jr., 6-2, 240, Christiansburg, VA, 40.3 yards per punt, 21 punts inside 20-yd line)
KR-Samuel Tranks (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-0, 185, Philadelphia, PA, 25.8 yds/ko return, 9.8 yds/punt return, 2 return TD)
KC-Antonio Smith (Charleston, Jr., 5-10, 250, Miami, FL)
2nd Team Offense:
OL-Scott Davis (West Liberty State, Jr., 6-5, 340, Williamstown, WV)
OL-A.J. Erni (Seton Hill, Jr., 6-5, 270, Buffalo, NY)
OL-Drew Ferguson (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-4, 290, Rocky River, OH)
OL-Jeremy Hairston (Shepherd, Soph., 6-0, 315, LaPlata, MD)
C-Chris Levy (Charleston, Jr., 5-10, 250, Thonotasassa, FL)
TE-Mike Jones (West Virginia State, Soph., 6-5, 270, Dumfries, VA, 29 rec., 352 rec. yds)
WR-Jermain King (West Virginia State, Fr., 6-3, 215, Wauchula, FL, 56 rec., 562 rec. yds)
WR-Mark Springirth (Shepherd, Sr., 6-1, 180, Germantown, MD, 28 rec., 343 rec. yds)
WR-Derek Thompson (Seton Hill, Jr., 6-1, 185, Wellsville, OH, 43 rec., 733 rec. yds, 10 TD)
QB-Kevin O'Brien (West Virginia State, Soph., 6-4, 225, Port St. Lucie, FL, 201-338, 2245 yds, 19 TD)
RB-Greg Duncan (West Virginia Wesleyan, Sr., 6-0, 195, Visalia, CA, 840 rush yds)
RB-Eddie Hills (West Liberty State, Soph., 5-10, 185, Palmetto, FL, 1107 rush yds, 15 TD)
RB-Brian Mitchell (West Virginia State, Soph., 5-8, 170, Willingboro, NJ, 985 rush yds, 6 rush TD)
2nd Team Defense:
DL-T.L. Asbury (Charleston, Jr., 6-5, 245, Frazier's Bottom, WV, 60 tackles, 21 TFL, 6 sacks)
DL-Kevin Dixon (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-2, 230, Chesapeake, VA, 37 tackles, 6 TFL)
DL-Brandon Thomas (West Virginia State, Jr., 6-3, 305, East St. Louis, IL, 70 tackles, 13 TFL)
DL-Andre Wright (Glenville State, Jr., 6-4, 295, Mobile, AL, 56 tackles, 14 TFL)
NG-Jesse Valentine (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-0, 300, Fairmont, WV, 24 tackles, 7 TFL)
ILB-Mark Stolle (West Virginia State, Jr., 5-11, 215, Desloge, MO, 82 tackles, 12 TFL)
ILB-Tank Tunstalle (Concord, Sr., 6-3, 240, Mullens, WV, 131 tackles, 12 TFL)
ILB-Kyle Winters (West Virginia Wesleyan, Soph., 6-0, 250, Washington, PA, 76 tackles, 24 TFL)
DB-Troy Cloud (Glenville State, Sr., 6-0, 190, Cleveland, OH, 52 tackles, 10 PBU, 4 INT)
DB-Matt Johnson (Seton Hill, Jr., 5-10, 180, Oxon Hill, MD, 62 tackles, 3 INT)
DB-Tyler Kraus (West Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., 6-3, 210, Union Bridge, MD, 101 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 INT)
DB-Kyle Miller (Fairmont State, Sr., 5-10, 205, Kents Store, VA, 50 tackles, 6 PBU)
2nd Team Special Teams:
K-Alex Ashley (Fairmont State, Soph., 6-0, 190, Charleston, WV, 9-14 FG, 17-20 XP)
P-Will Castelmare (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-2, 245, Buckeye, AZ, 38.8 yards per punt, 15 inside 20-yard line)
KR-Domonique Staten (West Virginia Wesleyan, Sr., 5-10, 165, Baltimore, MD, 28.0 yds/ko return, 7.2 yds/punt return)
Honorable Mention Offense:
OL-Chadd Albright (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-4, 310, Charleston, WV)
OL-Joe Black (Concord, Sr., 6-4, 330, Allen Junction, WV)
OL-Jim Funk (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-2, 270, Carrollton, OH)
OL-Patrick Greene (Glenville State, Jr., 6-3, 300, Winter Haven, FL)
OL-Matt Khouri (Fairmont State, Fr., 6-5, 310, Pittsburgh, PA)
OL-Antonio Mills (Charleston, Jr., 6-1, 300, Tampa, FL)
OL-T.J. Seftas (Seton Hill, Fr., 6-4, 275, Ligonier Valley, PA)
OL-Ben Staggs (West Liberty State, Soph., 6-4, 275, Wooster, OH)
C-Jeff Bolen (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-2, 300, Jackson, OH)
C-Isaac Quiroz (Concord, Jr., 6-0, 305, Bakersfield, CA)
C-Josh Whetstone (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-2, 290, Millersport, OH)
TE-Ben Geary (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-3, 245, Fairmont, WV)
TE-Ryan Lavin (Shepherd, Jr., 6-2, 245, Centreville, VA)
TE-Clayton Shaver (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-4, 235, Independence, OH)
WR-Allen Jewell (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-4, 210, Sarasota, FL)
WR-Deonta Landis (West Virginia State, Soph., 6-3, 185, Creedmore, NC)
WR-Chris Luette (West Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., 5-10, 185, Westminster, MD)
WR-Brian Miles (Glenville State, Jr., 5-11, 185, Calumet, IL)
WR-Terrance Spencer (Charleston, Jr., 6-1, 175, Miami, FL)
WR-Dewayne Thompson (Glenville State, Sr., 6-4, 195, Miami, FL)
RB-Doug Brazill (Fairmont State, Fr., 5-9, 220, Daytona Beach, FL)
RB-Vince Brown (Charleston, Jr., 5-11, 185, Cincinnati, OH)
RB-Josh Culbertson (Charleston, Soph., 5-9, 185, Nitro, WV)
RB-Rusty Taylor (Charleston, Sr., 5-6, 170, Rand, WV)
QB-Matt Dowdell (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-0, 205, Pittsburgh, PA)
QB-DeRante Hunter (Charleston, Fr., 5-9, 175, Sarasota, FL)
QB-James McCants (Glenville State, Soph., 6-0, 190, Akron, OH)
Honorable Mention Defense:
DL-Matt Galadyk (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-4, 240, Colonial, NJ)
DL-Frank Herrera (Shepherd, Jr., 6-0, 260, Burke, VA)
DL-Elisha Merchant (West Virginia State, Fr., 6-3, 240, Columbus, OH)
DL-Dylan Shaffer (Glenville State, Sr., 6-3, 285, Philippi, WV)
DL-T.J. Taylor (Shepherd, Soph., 6-3, 220, Frederick, MD)
NG-Robert Elisha (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-1, 275, Glendale, CA)
NG-Dominick Iacovone (Charleston, Soph., 6-1, 260, Hamilton, OH)
NG-Darnell Jones (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-2, 290, Johnstown, PA)
NG-Dan Stone (Concord, Soph., 6-3, 295, Westminster, MD)
ILB-Lewis Corum (Shepherd, Jr., 6-1, 240, Manassas, VA)
ILB-Joey Lindamood (Charleston, Soph., 6-1, 215, Parkersburg, WV)
ILB-Brian Taylor (Shepherd, Fr., 6-3, 250, Elkridge, MD)
ILB-M.J. Twyman (Fairmont State, Soph., 5-10, 250, Piedmont, WV)
OLB-Rob Ellis (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-11, 210, Sarasota, FL)
OLB-Jacob Lilly (Glenville State, Sr., 6-1, 210, Glenville, WV)
OLB-Joey Hooks (Shepherd, Sr., 6-0, 225, Montgomery Village, MD)
OLB-Antonio Smith (Charleston, Jr., 5-10, 250, Miami, FL)
OLB-Terrell Parker (Glenville State, Soph., 6-2, 200, Baltimore, MD)
OLB-Jerrell Reeves (West Liberty State, Jr., 6-1, 210, Washington, DC)
OLB-Nick Washington (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-2, 200, Richmond, VA)
DB-Andrew DeMase (Seton Hill, Jr., 6-2, 195, Ellwood City, PA)
DB-Justin Greenley-Baynes (West Liberty State, Sr., 6-4, 195, Wheeling, WV)
DB-Taros Harris (Shepherd, Jr., 6-0, 195, Chesapeake Beach, FL)
DB-Matt Hyde (West Virginia Wesleyan, Jr., 5-8, 168, Willingboro, NJ)
DB-Raphael Lee (West Virginia State, Soph., 5-10, 205, Union, NJ)
DB-David Pickett (Charleston, Jr., 5-9, 175, Vero Beach, FL)
DB-Dustin Smith (Shepherd, Sr., 5-8, 165, Germantown, MD)
DB-Domonique Staten (West Virginia Wesleyan, Sr., 5-10, 165, Baltimore, MD)
DB-Joe Thomas (Concord, Jr., 6-1, 200, Eckman, WV)
DB-Matt Vujaklya (Fairmont State, Jr., 6-2, 215, East Liverpool, OH)
DB-LeDominique Williams (Charleston, Soph., 6-1, 205, Cincinnati, OH)
Honorable Mention Special Teams:
K-Alex Amick (Glenville State, Jr., 6-1, 185, Clendenin, WV)
K-Ray L. Wilkins (Seton Hill, Jr., 5-11, 200, Kent, OH)
P-Shane Jackson (Seton Hill, Jr., 5-11, 195, Ellwood City, PA)
P-Ben Landis (Fairmont State, Fr., 6-1, 180, Johnstown, PA)
KR-Stephen Bumpus (West Virginia State, Fr., 6-1, 175, Charleston, WV)
KR-Zack Page (Fairmont State, Fr., 5-8, 180, Plain City, OH)
KR-Rusty Taylor (Charleston, Sr., 5-6, 170, Rand, WV)
KR-Mike Williams (Charleston, Sr., 5-9, 170, Tampa, FL)
