VERMILLION, S.D. -- South Dakota quarterback
Wesley Beschorner, a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, has been named the D2football.com Northwest Region Player of the Year, according to a recent announcement by D2football.com
Along with Beschorner (senior, Lohrville, Iowa), USD tailback
Stefan Logan (junior., Miami, Fla.), offensive lineman
Brian Alderson (senior, Hartford, S.D.), and defensive lineman
A.J. Schable (senior, Ida Grove, Iowa) all were named to the D2football.com Northwest All-Region team. Offensive lineman
Nate Carruthers (senior, Omaha, Neb.) was selected to the second team. In addition, tight end
Nick Cunningham (senior, Albert Lea, Minn.), wide receiver
Derek Gearman (junior, Lennox, S.D.) and offensive lineman
Nick Hagemann (senior, New Vienna, Iowa) were honorable mention all-region selections by D2football.com. This group of players helped lead USD to its' first North Central Conference championship since 1978 while recording a 9-2 record, including 4-2 in the NCC. USD was ranked in the nation's top-25 all 12 weeks of the season.
Earlier this month, Beschorner was named the NCC offensive back of the year while All American Brian Alderson was named co-lineman of the year in the NCC. Logan, Carruthers, Schable, Hagemann and Gearman were also named to the All-NCC squad.
Beschorner had one of the best seasons by a Coyote offensive player in school history. The senior quarterback, already called by D2football.com's Bob Eblen as the "best offensive player in the country this year," is a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II Player of the Year). Beschorner was the national leader in pass efficiency at 215.2, which is the second-best single-season rating in Division II history. In 2005, he completed 172-of-255 passes for 3,049 yards, 39 TDs and a 67.5 completion percentage. In addition, Beschorner rushed for 451 yards and eight TDs. He had 3,500 yards in total offense on 343 plays. Beschorner, who had a 9.75:1 interception ratio and he 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 (39) in the country. He had a combined 47 TDs.
Logan led the NCC and was fourth nationally in rushing with 1,751 yards on 217 carries for a league-best 8.1 yard average and 11 TDs. Logan, who had a 98-yard TD run and a 90-yard TD reception - both school records - also caught 26 passes for 428 yards and two TDs. Logan was one of two players named All-NCC for the third-straight season. He led the NCC in all-purpose yards with 213.9 yards per game, a total which was third nationally. Logan, who rushed for over 1,000 yards for the third straight year, had 10 100-yard rushing games and now has 24 in his career. He set career all-purpose and rushing yards school records at USD.
Alderson, Hageman and Carruthers have been 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, which set over 60 records in 2005, 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 trio has been at USD, they have opened holes for Logan to rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his first three seasons. Alderson is also a candidate for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award. He was a finalist for that honor a year ago.
Senior A.J. Schable had one of the best seasons by a defensive lineman in school history. Schable 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.
Gearman stepped up in his second season as a starter for USD. The junior wide receiver finished with a league-best 110.5 receiving yards per game. He had 44 receptions for a school-record 1,215 yards and a school-record 14 TDs. Gearman, a four-time track&field All-American, finished with a 27.6 per catch receiving average, which also set a USD record (players with at least 25 receptions in a season). He also set a career TD record (18) this season.
Cunningham concluded his career with a solid season, including 14 catches for 208 yards and three TDs or 14.9 yards per catch.
2005 D2Football.com Northwest All-Region Team
First Team All-Region - Offense
QB Wes Beschorner SR South Dakota
RB Matt Birkel SR St. Cloud State
RB Stefan Logan JR South Dakota
RB Jason Schwalm SR Ashland
WR Carlton Brewster SR Ferris State
WR Brian Potucek SR Central Washington
WR Brian Hynes SR Winona State
TE Zac Herold JR Nebraska-Omaha
OL Chris Kuper SR North Dakota
OL Josh Bourke SR Grand Valley
OL Brian Alderson SR South Dakota
OL David Kopke SR Michigan Tech
OL Nick Degg SR Northwood
First Team All-Region Defense
DL Damion DeRosia JR Saginaw Valley
DL Charlie Cosgrove SR St. Cloud State
DL A.J. Schable SR South Dakota
DL Michael McFadden JR Grand Valley
LB John DiGiorgio SR Saginaw Valley
LB Digger Anderson SR North Dakota
LB Taiwo Onatolu SR Nebraska-Omaha
LB Charleston Hughes JR Northwood
DB Devin Conwell SR Ashland
DB Danny Gagner SR North Dakota
DB Joe Ballard SR Grand Valley
DB Luke Lokanc SR Winona State
K Jeff Glas SR North Dakota
P Billy Koenig JR Michigan Tech
PR Weston Dressler SO North Dakota
KR Chad Gurica SR Hillsdale
Second Team All-Region - Offense
QB James McNear SR Concordia-St. Paul
RB Jamar Day SR Nebraska-Omaha
RB R.J. Rollins SR Minnesota-Crookston
RB Lee Marana JR Michigan Tech
WR Chris Denney SR Nebraska-Omaha
WR Ryan Koch SR St. Cloud State
WR Brandon Langston SR Grand Valley
TE Keith Recker SR Hillsdale
OL David Krystowiak SR Winona State
OL Loren Winter SR Western Washington
OL Blake Dickson SR Ashland
OL Nate Carruthers SR South Dakota
OL Scott Jorgensen SR Nebraska-Omaha
Second Team All-Region Defense
DL Jason Peterson SR North Dakota
DL Kevin Rees SR St. Joseph's
DL Eric Power JR Concordia-St. Paul
DL Leo Wells SR Wayne State (Mich.)
LB Jon Apgar SR Western Oregon
LB Bruce Renner SR Indianapolis
LB Jimmie Gunn SR Minnesota State
LB Brady Miller JR Ashland
DB Kyle Killingsworth JR Humboldt State
DB Josh Brandsted SR North Dakota
DB Melvyn Griffin SR Findlay
DB Josiah Wilfong SR Central Washington
K Mike Marotz SR Northern Michigan
P Andy Schlicting JR Southwest Minnesota St.
PR Nick Gurica SO Hillsdale
KR Marcus Davis JR Minnesota-Duluth
Honorable Mention (by position)
QB: Mike Reilly FR Central Washington, Cullen Finnerty JR Grand Valley, Brian Masek SR Nebraska-Omaha, Nathan Sannes SR Bemidji State
RB: Astin Martin JR Grand Valley, Eliot Vinzant JR Western Oregon, Chris Gruse SR Northwood, Garrion Corbin SR Tiffin
WR: Nate Brookreson SR Central Washington, Andy Olson SR Western Washington, Dan Grossman SR North Dakota, Tyrell Smith JR Minnesota State, Greg Aker JR Minnesota-Duluth, Vinney Mayfield SR Northern Michigan, Ray Denson SR Southwest Minnesota St., Derek Gearman JR South Dakota
TE: Kevin Boss JR Western Oregon, John Hackett SR St. Cloud State, Nick Cunningham SR South Dakota
OL: Brandon Barnes SO Grand Valley, Chris Sanderson SR Concordia-St. Paul, Ben Hochstein SO Nebraska-Omaha, Jeff Williams SR Ferris State, Nick Hageman SR South Dakota
K: Nick Parker SR Indianapolis, Scott Greene SR Grand Valley
P: Dustin Esselin SR Saginaw Valley
Returns: Kyle Kasperbauer JR Nebraska-Omaha, Sean Treasure SR Minnesota State
DL: Ross Brennan SR North Dakota, Kyle Clement SO Northwood, James Midboe SR Bemidji State, Kyle Zelazny JR Ashland
LB: Mark Henderson SR St. Cloud State, Kenny Onatolu JR Nebraska-Omaha, John Tackmann JR Winona State, Tyler Dahlen SR North Dakota, Matt Beaty SO Grand Valley, Veaila Tupou SR Northern State
DB: Bret Hughes SR Western Oregon, Kevin Adams SR Minnesota State, Jon Horn SR Northwood, Carl Lile SR Indianapolis, Julius Johnson SR Southwest Minnesota St., Marcus Davis JR Minnesota-Duluth
