University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics

http://ascsports.org/news/2009/11/19/FB_1119091607.aspx

Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team placed 18 players on the American Southwest Conference All-Conference Team released today. The Cru also took two of the individual awards handed out by the ASC. Defensive end Marco Coppola was voted ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year and quarterback LiDarral Bailey was named ASC Freshman of the Year.

            Coppola, a senior defensive end from Willis High School, leads the Cru with 5.0 sacks and also has 7.0 tackles for loss and 20 total tackles despite missing the last four games of the regular season with an injury. Coppola was also named to the ASC All-Conference First Team Defense in addition to his Defensive Lineman of the Year honor.

            Bailey, a freshman quarterback from Bremond High School, leads the Cru in rushing with 828 yards and he also has eight touchdowns on the ground. Bailey is 41-70 passing for 573 yards and five TD’s to earn Freshman of the Year honors.

            Coppola is joined on the All-Conference First Team defense by three of his teammates. Defensive tackle David Danforth, a junior from Robinson High School, has 26 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks on the season. Linebacker Jeremy Salinas, a senior from Wharton High School, leads the Cru with 58 total tackles and he also has 7.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback Brett Parker, a senior from Richmond Foster High School, leads UMHB and has tied the school single-season record with six interceptions this year. Parker also has 16 pass break-ups, 37 total tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

            The Cru placed four players on the All-Conference First Team Offense. Running back Quincy Daniels, a junior from Belton High School, has 757 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the season despite missing two full games. Three UMHB offensive linemen also made the First Team offense. Center Dustin Davis, a junior from Harker Heights High School, guard Myke Gobert, a senior from Cy-Ridge High School, and tackle Max Taylor, a junior from Lufkin High School. Those three players helped clear the way for a UMHB rushing attack that averages 331.7 yards per game and 461.5 yards of total offense per contest. The Cru has also allowed just eight sacks on the season.

            The Cru placed three players on the All-Conference Second Team Guard Ryan Krause, a junior from Medina Valley High School, is another member of the UMHB offensive line that has helped the team roll up those prolific offensive numbers. Tight end Brett McGee, a junior from Robinson High School, is also a punishing blocker and has three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown on the season. Running back Bryson Tucker, a senior from Caldwell High School, has 500 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in just four games at that position after moving over from defense. Tucker also has a TD reception, a punt return for a touchdown, a fumble return for a score and 29 total tackles on the season.

            The Cru had a pair of players voted to the All-Conference Second Team Defense. Linebacker Jerrad Jefferson, a sophomore from Waller High School, is tied for the team lead in tackles with 58 and he also has 7.0 tackles for loss on the year. Defensive back Lee Munn, a senior from Paul Pewitt High School, has 34 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception return for a touchdown this season.

            Four Cru players earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. Wide receiver Pi’Dadro Davis, a senior from Jefferson High School, has a team-best 27 catches for 446 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Fullback Marcus Carruth, a sophomore from Pflugerville High School, is a devastating blocker and also has 117 rushing yards on 12 carries on the year. Defensive tackle Chris Brent, a sophomore from Kaufman High School, has 13 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks on the year despite missing three games with injury. Defensive end Micah Spicer, a junior from Robinson High School, has 39 total tackles and 3.5 sacks on the season and he also leads the Cru with 11.0 tackles for loss. Spicer also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown this season.

            This is the third ASC All-Conference selection for Tucker. Coppola, Daniels, Dustin Davis, Pi’Dadro Davis, Gobert and Parker are all two-time All-Conference picks and this is the first ASC All-Conference honor for the other UMHB players. Mississippi College quarterback Adam Shaffer was named ASC Offensive Player of the Year while his Choctaw teammate, linebacker Quartez Ashmore, won ASC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Mississippi College guard Josh Lankford was voted ASC Offensive Lineman of the Year and the Choctaws also won the Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year honors with defensive back Jimmy Sampson and head coach Norman Joseph respectively. Louisiana College kick returner Jordan Rideaux was named ASC Special Teams Player of the Year.