KINGSVILLE, TEXAS -- Four South Dakota Football student-athletes have received invitations to participate in the 2006 Cactus Bowl, the NCAA Division II all-star football game played at Kinsgville, Texas, on January 6.
The four USD seniors listed on the west roster by Cactus Bowl officials include Harlon Hill trophy finalist and quarterback Wes Beschorner of Lohrville, Iowa; offensive tackle Brian Alderson of Hartford, S.D.; offensive lineman Nick Hagemann of New Vienna, Iowa; and defensive end A.J. Schable of Ida Grove, Iowa. The preliminary rosters were completed over the weekend.
The selection of four Coyotes to this all star game is the most in school history. USD is one of a handful of schools with four players invited to play in the Cactus Bowl, which is set for 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 at Javellinas Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.
All four Coyotes were recently named to the All-NCC squads. Beschorner and Alderson were league MVPs at their respective positions. Schable, who led the NCC and the nation with 19 quarterback sacks, was a first-team All-NCC selection at defensive end while Hagemann was a second-team All-NCC selection at offensive tackle.
Beschorner was the nation's passing efficiency leader with a rating of 215.2. He became just the second player ever in NCAA Division II history to record a 215 rating or higher. In addition, Beschorner set an NCAA record with an average of 10.22 yards per play. Beschorner rushed for 451 yards and eight TDs. He had 3,500 yards in total offense on 343 plays. Beschorner had a 9.75:1 interception ratio and averaged 318.2 yards in total offense, which ranked fifth in the country. He set 29 school records, including career total offense (7,476 yards), career passing (6,240 yards) and career passing TDs (64) as well as overall TDs (87), among numerous other marks. When the regular season concluded, Beschorner had the most passing TDs in the country.
Alderson and Hageman were forces on the Coyote offensive front for three straight seasons, leading USD to an overall mark of 23-10. The trio started 33 straight football games and led the way for the Coyotes to set numerous records on offense this season. USD led the NCC with 297.5 yards rushing per game and generated a nation-best 583.3 yards in total offense or 8.5 yards per play. While the pair has been at USD, they have opened holes for junior tailback Stefan Logan to rush for 1,000 or more yards three consecutive years and set a USD rushing mark. Alderson is also a candidate for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award. He was a finalist for that honor a year ago.
Schable had simply one of the best seasons by a defensive lineman in school history. He had a school-record 19 quarterback sacks, which led the NCC and NCAA Division II. In addition, he had 22.5 tackles for loss and finished with 60 tackles, including 43 solo stops. He forced two fumbles and also had two pass breakups.
South Dakota, which was nationally ranked all season, finished the season with a 9-2 (4-2 NCC) record and won a share of the North Central Conference title. The Coyotes finished the season ranked eighth in the D2football.com poll and 11th in the American Football Coaches Association poll. It is USD's first conference championship since the 1978. The Coyotes broke more than 60 school, one NCAA and two league records this season. The Coyotes placed seven players on the all-league first team, two others on the second team and three received honorable mention status.
