2007 All-KCAC Football Honors

Five receive football Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors

Five members of the McPherson College Bulldog football team were recently named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes for the 2007 season.

Seniors Daniel Farley, Zach Hicks, Jeff Krehbiel, and Brian Weiser were named to the Daktronics NAIA elite squad for a second time. Receiving the scholastic award for the first time was junior Brandon Luter.

“We are pleased to have each of these young men named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes,” said McPherson College Head football coach Brian Ward. “Their contributions, both on the field and in classroom, are indicative of our students fulfilling the mission of the college ‘to develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service'. Our congratulations go out to each of them.”

Farley was one of the anchors of the Bulldogs' interior offensive line the past three years. A senior majoring in secondary education/history and special education, Daniel is from Wellington , Kansas , and 2004 graduate of Wellington High School.

 

 

Hicks was the Bulldogs' third leading tackler in 2007, credited with 65 total tackles, 44 unassisted. He intercepted two passes, returning them 44 total yards, and broke up another pass from his linebacker spot. Hicks forced one fumble and recovered one loose ball. Hicks led McPherson with 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage resulting in 28 yards of lost yardage including two sacks for 18 yards.

 

Zach was two-time All-KCAC honorable mention selection following his junior and senior seasons. As a junior he ranked second among the Bulldogs with 68 total tackles, 42 of which were unassisted, along with six tackles for loss and two sacks. As a sophomore, Hicks was credited with 104 total tackles, 37 unassisted, 5.5 sacks, nine tackles for lost yardage, two fumbles forced and one recovered. A 2004 graduate of Hope High School, Hicks is majoring in physical education.

Krehbiel has been a three-year starter at long snapper for the Bulldogs after transferring to McPherson from Kansas State University for the fall of 2005. He was a two-year starter at tight end before moving to the defensive side of the ball as a senior where he was credited with nine stops, a fumble recovery, and one pass break-up

 

As a junior, Krehbiel caught five passes for 61 yards as well as three defensive stops. In his first collegiate season, Krehbiel caught nine passes for 79 yards and a touchdown in addition to contributing three tackles on the defensive side. A 2004 graduate of Pratt High School , Jeff is a senior academically, but retains one season of football eligibility. He is a business administration major.

Weiser ranked second among the 2007 Bulldogs with 69 total tackles, 33 unassisted from his linebacker spot. He was credited with 6.5 tackles lost yardage, two sacks, two passes broken up, and one forced fumble. A junior, Brian was credited with 35 tackles, 15 unassisted, one fumble recovery, one pass interception, and one-half sack form his linebacker spot. During his sophomore season, Brian was credited with 24 tackles, six unassisted, and one fumble recovery. A senior from Salina , Kansas , where he graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 2004, Weiser is majoring in sociology.

 

 

Luter was credited with 26 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for lost yardage, one-half sack, one fumble recovery, and one pass interception which he returned 39 yards. A 2005 graduate of Bayfield High School in Bayfield , Colo. , Brandon is a junior majoring in biochemistry.

 

 

Recipients of the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete award must have a minimum grade point average of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale, be a junior or above in academic standings, and been in attendance at the nominating institution a minimum of one full school year.

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Cox, Aazaad lead McPherson's All-KCAC football selections

McPherson College junior transfers Gary Cox and Aazaad Artis were named to the 2007 All-KCAC (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) football first and second teams, respectively, as kick returner and running back in a recent vote by the conference's coaches.

Receiving honorable mention recognition were seniors Travon Anderson (running back), Joe Morgan (offensive line), Zach Hicks (linebacker), and Jacob Custer (defensive line) along with junior Gary Cox (wide receiver), sophomore Jeff Paulson (defensive back), and freshmen Austin Brown (utility), Ronald Morris (linebacker), and Shelton Thigpen (defensive back).

“We are very proud of all of these young men,” said McPherson College head coach Brian Ward. “They worked hard to earn these awards and they are well deserved.”

“We wish these and our other seniors all great success in the future and look forward to seeing the underclassmen back on the field next year.”

Gary Cox, a 2001 graduate of Genesis Academy and transfer from Glendale (Ariz.) Junior College, was a unanimous first team selection as kickoff returner after leading the KCAC with an average of 27.6 yards per kickoff on 17 returns, one for an 86-yard touchdown.

Cox led McPherson with 21 pass receptions, good for 284 yards and two touchdowns. He gained 24 yards in six rushing attempts, and returned 10 punts for 50 yards.

Gary was also credited with two tackles.

“I truly believe Gary was one of the top athletes in our conference,” said McPherson College head coach Brian Ward.  “Any time he touched the ball, something big happened.  We didn't do a good enough job of getting him the football.  He only averaged 2.8 touches per game. That is not enough, next year we will be more creative to see that we can double or triple those touches.”

Cox is majoring in business.

Aazaad Artis is a 2005 graduate of Paradise Valley High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a transfer from Phoenix (Ariz.) College. He was named to the All-KCAC second team as a running back after leading the conference in scoring with 90 points. He ranked seventh during the KCAC regular season and led McPherson in rushing, picking up 707 yards on 160 carries and scoring 15 touchdowns. Artis' 15 touchdowns missed tying the McPherson College single season record for TDs scored by one.

He was selected as the KCAC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs 17-13 win at Ottawa.

Artis completed one pass for a 21-yard touchdown and caught three passes. He returned six kickoffs for 111 yards, an average of 18.5 yards per return.

“Aazaad is a very special player,” noted Ward. “He is tough, and a rhythm-type of player.  He just got stronger with the more carries he had.  He is a very quiet and humble person too, so his leadership by example was very evident on the field.” 

Artis is a business major.

Travon Anderson, a 2001 graduate of Washington Prep in Los Angeles, Calif., and transfer from Los Angeles Harbor Community College, was the Bulldogs' second leading rusher, gaining 357 yards and two touchdowns on 108 carries. He caught five passes for 15 yards.

On the defensive side, Anderson was credited with two tackles, one unassisted.

Anderson is majoring in sociology and physical education.

 

Jacob Custer, a 2004 graduate of Cathedral City (Calif.) High School and transfer from the College of the Desert, was credited with 35 tackles in 2007, 19 unassisted. He was credited with 2 ½ tackles resulting in 4.5 yards of lost yardage. Custer recovered four fumbles and forced one loose ball.

Custer is majoring in English.

 

 

 

Zach Hicks, a 2004 graduate of Hope (Kan.) High School was the Bulldogs' third leading tackler in 2007, credited with 65 total tackles, 44 unassisted. He intercepted two passes, returning them 44 total yards, and broke up another pass. Hicks forced one fumble and recovered one loose ball. Hicks led McPherson with 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage resulting in 28 yards of lost yardage including two sacks for 18 yards.

Zach was an All-KCAC honorable mention selection following his junior season when he ranked second among the Bulldogs with 68 total tackles, 42 unassisted, six tackles for loss and two sacks.

Hicks is majoring in physical education

Joe Morgan was a 2004 graduate of Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nev., and a transfer from the College of the Desert, where he was a teammate of fellow Bulldogs and All-KCAC honoree Jacob Custer.

Morgan anchored the right side of the Bulldog offensive line from his tackle position, starting all ten games this season.

Morgan is a business administration major.

 

 

Jeff Paulson, a 2005 graduate of Limon (Colo.) High School and transfer from the University of Northern Colorado, moved to defensive back from the offensive side of the ball midway through the season.

In his first game as a defensive starter, he was selected as the KCAC Defensive Player of the Week following McPherson's 41-23 Homecoming win over Haskell Indian Nations University when he was credited with ten tackles, six unassisted, two tackles for lost yardage, and one pass broken up.

Paulson finished the season with 47 total tackles, 26 of which were unassisted. He was credited with five tackles for 25 yards of lost yardage, and broke up four passes.

Although limited to just 40 carries because of his switch to defense, Paulson ranked third among the Bulldogs in rushing, gaining 234 yards with one touchdown. He completed the one pass he attempted, throwing for 31 yards. Jeff caught seven passes for 70 yards.

Paulson was named to the 2006 All-KCAC second team as a running back.

Paulson is a business management major.

Austin Brown, a 2007 graduate of Lawton (Okla.) High School, blocked seven field goals and/or point after touchdown kicks. He also forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes, returning the interceptions for a total of 29 yards.

Austin was selected as the KCAC and NAIA National Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking two kicks, a PAT and field goal attempt, as the Bulldogs turned back Ottawa University, 17-14, on the Braves home field.

On the season, Brown was credited with 18 total tackles, 12 unassisted. He had two tackles for a total of three yards of lost yardage, broke up four passes, and was credited with one sack for seven yards.

Brown is majoring in psychology.

Shelton Thigpen, a 2007 graduate of Wylie (Tex.) High School, tied for the McPherson team lead with three pass interceptions on the season and ranked eighth in the KCAC in pass interception average. He was credited with five passes broken up and one blocked field goal attempt.

Thigpen ranked fifth among the Bulldogs with 50 total tackles, 32 unassisted, and was credited with 3 ½ tackles for 11 yards of loss yardage.

Thigpen is undecided on his major.

 

Ronald Morris, a 2007 graduate of Union High School in Tulsa, Okla., ranked eighth in the KCAC and led the Bulldogs with 71 total tackles, 35 of which were unassisted. He was credited with 7 ½ tackles for a team high 33 yards in lost yardage including 1 ½ sacks for 10 ½ yards. He returned one fumble recovery for three yards.

Morris is a business management major.

 

 

CONTACT
Athletic Director
LaMonte Rothrock
Asst. to Athletic Director
Karen M. Caylor
Sports Information
Carol Swenson



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