Football | 11/11/2008 9:05:00 AM
(PRINCETON, W.Va)---A pair of Harlon Hill Trophy regional finalists and a conference championship winning coach have been awarded top 2008 WVIAC football honors. Glenville State's Jerry Seymour is the league's Offensive Player of the Year, while West Liberty's Darren Banks is the Defensive Player of the Year. GSC's Alan Fiddler was the choice by his peers as the WVIAC Coach of the Year.
Seymour established a new WVIAC rushing record with 2282 yards in 2008. The senior leads Division II in rushing and is one of 24 finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy. The Central Michigan transfer went over the 200-yard mark in seven contests, including the Pioneers' final four games. His 349-yard effort at Concord is the highest single-game total in Division II this season and is a Glenville State school record.
The Miramar, Florida native rambled for 3996 yards in only 22 games at Glenville State to rank sixth on the WVIAC career rushing list. He holds the GSC career rushing mark and scored at least one touchdown in 21 of 22 contests as a Pioneer.
Banks led the WVIAC in interceptions for a second straight season with seven picks. The Camden, New Jersey senior ends his West Liberty career with a WVIAC-record 35 interceptions. He ranked third on the Hilltopper squad with 41 solo tackles. Banks also notched four tackles for loss and a pair of pass breakups.
Fiddler led Glenville State to the WVIAC championship with an 8-3 overall record and 7-1 league mark. The fifth-year head coach built a squad that ranks among the NCAA Division II top 25 in total offense (14th) and defense (25th). His 33 victories are the most for any Pioneer coach through the first five seasons of their GSC career.
The former GSC quarterback previously won six West Virginia Class A championships as coach at Moorefield High School. He built a 98-28 record at MHS before becoming a graduate assistant coach at Marshall University. Fiddler is currently 33-22 during his five-year tenure at GSC, including a 28-10 record in WVIAC contests.
Banks and Seymour highlight the 31-player All-WVIAC first team. Big play specialists Deante Steele of Shepherd and Sammy Tranks of Seton Hill earn mention at two spots. Steele is recognized as a defensive back and kick returner, while Tranks gains honors at wide receiver and kick returner.
A wild campaign that had five teams in championship contention until the final two weeks of the season produced a balanced all-conference first squad. NCAA playoff participant Seton Hill led the way with six team first team picks, while West Liberty and Shepherd had five honorees each. WVIAC champion Glenville State, Charleston, and Fairmont State own four recipients apiece.
The complete 2008 All-WVIAC football squad, as voted upon by league coaches, follows:
1st Team Offense:
OL-A.J. Erni (Seton Hill, Sr., 6-5, 295, Buffalo, NY)
OL-Jeremy Hairston (Shepherd, 6-1, 325, Jr., LaPlata, MD)
OL-Matt Khouri (Fairmont State, Soph., 6-6, 310, Pittsburgh, PA)
OL-Marcal Lazenby (Glenville State, Sr., 6-0, 290, Dunwoody, GA)
C-Chris Levy (Charleston, Sr., 5-11, 250, Thonotasassa, FL)
TE-Ryan Lavin (Shepherd, Sr., 6-2, 240, Centreville, VA, 13 rec.)
QB-DaRante Hunter (Charleston, Soph., 5-9, 175, Sarasota, FL, 13 rush TD, 13 pass TD)
QB-David Wess (Seton Hill, Sr., 6-1, 210, Columbus, OH, 2307 pass yds, 66.4% comp., 20 pass TD)
WR-Perry Baker (Fairmont State, Soph., 6-3, 175, New Smyrna, FL, 34 rec., 589 yds, 11 TD)
WR-Eddie Hills (West Liberty, Jr., 5-10, 175, Palmetto, FL, 61 rec., 811 yds, 9 TD)
WR-Sammy Tranks (Seton Hill, Jr., 5-11, 185, Philadelphia, PA, 56 rec., 743 yds, 7 TD)
RB-Antwarn Jones (Seton Hill, Jr., 5-7, 165, Gwynn Oak, MD, 1225 rush yds, 16 TD)
RB-Branden Ore (West Liberty, Sr., 5-11, 212, Chesapeake, VA, 1257 rush yds, 20 TD)
RB-Jerry Seymour (Glenville State, Sr., 5-7, 200, Miramar, FL, 2282 rush yds, 19 TD)
1st Team Defense:
DL-T.L. Asbury (Charleston, Sr., 6-6, 245, Winfield, WV, 16 TFL, 10 sacks)
DL-Matt Galadyk (Seton Hill, Jr., 6-5, 265, Colonial, NJ, 17 TFL, 6 sacks)
DL-Mike Spiegelberg (Shepherd, Sr., 6-1, 220, Silver Spring, MD, 10 TFL, 6 sacks)
NG-David Hill (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-1, 270, Moorefield, WV, 19 TFL, 6 sacks)
ILB-Nate Black (Fairmont State, Jr., 6-0, 235, Marietta, OH, 95 TT, 12 TFL)
ILB-Nick Harding (West Liberty, Jr., 6-0, 225, Lackawanna, NY, 115 TT, 13 TFL)
ILB-DeMichael Nesbitt (WV State, Sr., 5-11, 220, Tampa, FL, 111 TT, 12 TFL)
OLB-Andrew Eggleton (WV State, Jr., 5-11, 210, St. Albans, WV, 90 TT, 13 TFL)
OLB-Terrell Parker (Glenville State, Jr., 6-0, 200, Baltimore, MD, 78 TT, 18 TFL)
DB-Darren Banks (West Liberty, Sr., 5-10, 188, Camden, NJ, 51 TT, 7 INT)
DB-Xavier Drakeford (Charleston, Jr., 6-0, 200, Ferrum, VA, 85 TT, 11 TFL)
DB-Deante Steele (Shepherd, Soph., 5-7, 175, Woodbridge, VA, 10 PBU, 4 INT)
DB-Eric Turner (Glenville State, Sr., 6-1, 180, Weirton, WV, 47 TT, 6 INT)
1st Team Special Teams:
P-Zach Boyd (Concord, Sr., 6-2, 210, Christiansburg, VA, 43.1 ypp, 25 inside 20-yd line)
K-Billy Hager (West Liberty, Sr., 5-10, 190, Ocala, FL, 37-39 PAT, 13-19 FG)
KR-Deante Steele (Shepherd, Soph., 5-7, 175, Woodbridge, VA, 28.9 yds/kor, 20.2 yds/pr, 4 return TD's)
KR-Sammy Tranks (Seton Hill, Jr., 5-11, 185, Philadelphia, PA, 22.6 yds/kor, 21.6 yds/pr, 4 return TD's)
2nd Team Offense:
OL-Adam Adkins (Glenville State, Jr., 6-3, 285, Pulaski, VA)
OL-Scott Davis (West Liberty, Sr., 6-5, 330, Williamstown, WV)
OL-Mike Jones (WV State, Jr., 6-5, 270, Dumfries, VA)
OL-Jeremy Kurtz (WV Wesleyan, Sr., 6-3, 285, Pompano Beach, FL)
C-Mike Daly (Glenville State, Sr., 6-2, 285, Woodstock, GA)
TE-William Schiefelbein (WV Wesleyan, Sr., 6-3, 230, Moatsville, WV, 21 rec., 490 yds, 5 TD)
QB-James McCants (Glenville State, Jr., 6-0, 200, Akron, OH, 1869 pass yds, 12 pass TD, 11 rush TD)
QB-Kevin O'Brien (WV State, Jr., 6-4, 225, Port St. Lucie, FL, 2220 pass yds, 60.3% comp.%, 16 pass TD)
WR-Jermain King (WV State, Soph., 6-3, 215, Wachula, FL, 51 rec., 722 yds, 8 TD)
WR-Brian Miles (Glenville State, Sr., 5-11, 175, Chicago, IL, 39 rec., 603 yds.)
WR-Terrance Spencer (Charleston, Sr., 6-1, 275, Miami, FL, 50 rec., 772 yds)
RB-Brian Mitchell (WV State, Soph., 5-8, 170, Willingboro, NJ, 876 rush yds, 10 TD)
RB-Jimmy Sutch (Shepherd, Soph., 5-9, 200, Hagerstown, MD, 885 rush yds, 15 TD)
RB-Reggie Taylor (WV Wesleyan, Jr., 5-9, 195, Compton, CA, 1165 rush yds, 5 TD)
2nd Team Defense:
DL-Luke Black (Fairmont State, Fr., 6-6, 215, Marietta, OH, 15 TFL, 11 sacks)
DL-William Jackson (WV State, Sr., 6-2, 225, Northfork, WV, 18 TFL, 9 sacks)
DL-Scott Sears (Glenville State, Jr., 6-3, 240, Webster Springs, WV, 51 TT, 15 TFL)
DL-Dan Stone (Concord, Jr., 6-4, 305, Finksburg, MD, 50 TT, 7 TFL)
NG-Mike Heatwole (Shepherd, Sr., 6-1, 300, Falls Church, VA, 27 TT, 7 TFL)
NG-Dominic Iacovone (Charleston, Jr., 6-1, 260, Hamilton, OH, 10 TFL, 6 sacks)
ILB-Clay Beeler (West Liberty, Soph., 6-1, 225, Waverly, OH, 111 TT, 20 TFL, 9 sacks)
ILB-Joey Lindamood (Charleston, Jr., 6-1, 215, Parkersburg, WV, 56 TT, 9 TFL)
ILB-Jacquez Taylor (Shepherd, Sr., 6-0, 225, Gaithersburg, MD, 85 TT, 15 TFL)
OLB-Antonio Smith (Charleston, Sr., 5-11, 225, Miami, FL, 58 TT, 6 TFL)
OLB-Steve Trent (Seton Hill, Soph., 5-10, 250, Pittsburgh, PA, 72 TT, 7 TFL)
DB-Joe Clark (WV State, Jr., 5-10, 170, Cleveland, OH, 38 TT, 3 INT)
DB-Layton Hersh (Shepherd, Jr., 6-0, 200, Taneytown, MD, 44 TT, 5 INT)
DB-Matt Johnson (Seton Hill, Sr., 5-10, 190, Oxon Hill, MD, 64 TT, 4 PBU)
DB-Matt Vujaklya (Fairmont State, Sr., 6-2, 215, East Liverpool, OH, 31 TT, 3 INT)
2nd Team Special Teams:
P-Derek Moore (WV Wesleyan, Jr., 6-0, 230, Hurricane, WV, 38.5 ypp)
K-Alex Amick (Glenville State, Sr., 6-1, 180, Clendenin, WV, 38-42 PAT, 13-17 FG)
K-Alex Ashley (Fairmont State, Jr., 6-0, 185, Charleston, WV, 30-31 PAT, 12-21 FG)
KR-Zach Page (Fairmont State, Soph., 5-9, 180, Plain City, OH, 22.4 yds/kor, 11.2 yds/pr)
Honorable Mention Offense:
OL-Jim Funk (Seton Hill, Soph., 6-2, 265, Carrollton, OH)
OL-Kyle Knight (Fairmont State, Jr., 6-5, 310, Pittsburgh, PA)
OL-Antonio Mills (Charleston, Sr., 6-1, 300, Tampa, FL)
OL-Ben Staggs (West Liberty, Jr., 6-4, 275, Wooster, OH)
OL-Nate Threatts (Glenville State, Sr., 6-0, 275, Wyoming, DE)
C-Luke Stafford (Fairmont State, Jr., 6-3, 290, Akron, OH)
QB-Zach Amedro (West Liberty, Soph., 6-0, 185, Moundsville, WV)
WR-Johnny Bonar (West Liberty, Sr., 5-10, 170, McMechen, WV)
WR-Nasser Muhammad (Shepherd, Soph., 5-7, 170, Silver Spring, MD)
WR-Antwan Stewart (Glenville State, Fr., 6-0, 190, Lanham, MD)
WR-Ryan Travis (West Liberty, Soph., 6-3, 235, Massillon, OH)
RB-Omoniyi Bakare (Fairmont State, Soph., 5-8, 185, Woodbridge, VA)
RB-Aaron Higdon (Charleston, Jr., 5-9, 180, Palmetto, FL)
RB-Julian Johnson (Charleston, Soph., 5-9, 175, Cincinnati, OH)
Honorable Mention Defense:
DL-Darnell Jones (Seton Hill, Jr., 6-0, 290, Johnstown, PA)
DL-Elisha Merchant (WV State, Soph., 6-3, 235, Columbus, OH)
DL-Ted Schaible (Charleston, Jr., 6-4, 250, Cincinnati, OH)
DL-Andre Wright (Glenville State, Sr., 6-3, 300, Mobile, AL)
NG-Matt Prusinskas (WV Wesleyan, Sr., 6-1, 270, Salida, CA)
ILB-Donovan Godwin (WV Wesleyan, Sr., 5-11, 220, Buckhannon, WV)
ILB-Mark Hartz (Seton Hill, Sr., 6-1, 225, Moon Township, PA)
ILB-Kaleb Lawrence (Glenville State, Jr., 6-2, 240, McLouth, KS)
OLB-Greg Underwood (Fairmont State, Fr., 6-0, 190, Anderson, SC)
DB-Randy Dobie (Glenville State, Sr., 6-0, 195, Lakeland, FL)
DB-Derrick Evans (West Liberty, Jr., 5-11, 180, Prichard, WV)
DB-David Pickett (Charleston, Sr., 5-9, 175, Vero Beach, FL)
Honorable Mention Special Teams:
P-Ben Landis (Fairmont State, Soph., 6-3, 180, Johnstown, PA)
KR-Xavier Glenn (Glenville State, Jr., 5-10, 185, Atlanta, GA)
Special Honorable Mention Offense:
OL-Patrick Greene (Glenville State, Sr., 6-3, 280, Winter Haven, FL)
C-J.T. Mylan (WV Wesleyan, Sr., 5-10, 280, Pittsburgh, PA)
TE-Zach Delo (Seton Hill, Fr., 6-4, 230, Odenton, MD)
QB-Jacob Shamblin (Concord, Sr., 6-1, 190, Sr., Poca, WV)
WR-Travis Hawthorne (Fairmont State, Jr., 6-3, 215, Peoria, AZ)
WR-Landon Johnson (WV State, Fr., 5-11, 185, Sugar Land, TX)
WR-Raymond Mends (Shepherd, Soph., 5-10, 205, Leesburg, VA)
WR-Derek Thompson (Seton Hill, Sr., 6-1, 185, Wellsville, OH)
RB-Thad James (West Liberty, Sr., 5-10, 210, Southington, OH)
Special Honorable Mention Defense:
DL-Rusty Coeburn (Concord, Sr., 6-4, 240, Bluefield, WV)
DL-Justin Hutchinson (West Liberty, Sr., 6-2, 230, Canal Fulton, OH)
ILB-Louis Corum (Shepherd, Sr., 6-1, 240, Manassas, VA)
DB-Wade Klezek (WV Wesleyan, Sr., 5-11, 200, Ebensburg, PA)
DB-Chris Rotella (Charleston, Sr., 5-9, 170, Gahanna, OH)
DB-Terrence Washington (WV State, Jr., 5-11, 185, Maple Heights, MD)
