ASC Announces All-Conference Football Teams and Awards

UMHB senior Teidrick Smith is the first three-time ASC Defensive Player of the Year.

11/17/2016 12:00:00 AM

All-ASC Awards

RICHARDSON, Texas – Mary Hardin-Baylor senior quarterback Blake Jackson, senior defensive end Teidrick Smith and Hardin-Simmons senior linebacker Cory Ward received player of the year honors to highlight the 2016 American Southwest Conference football awards, the ASC office announced Thursday (Nov. 17) after a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Jackson was named the ASC Offensive Player of the Year and is the second UMHB recipient of the league’s highest offensive honor, joining Cody Fredenburg (2003). A dual offensive threat, Jackson led the ASC with 35 touchdowns and ranked fifth in the ASC in passing (230.2) and 10th in rushing (47.9). Jackson anchored a UMHB offense that led Division III in scoring at 56.3 points per game.

For just the third time in ASC history two players were named Co-Defensive Players of the Year as UMHB defensive end Teidrick Smith and HSU linebacker Cory Ward shared the honors.

Smith made league history as the first player to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times (2014, 15’, 16’). A three-time all-conference selection, Smith ranked second in the ASC in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (18.0) for 105 yards lost. Smith spearheaded a Cru defense that finished the regular season ranked No. 13 in Division III with 13.6 points allowed per game.

Ward is the fourth Cowboy named ASC Defensive Player of the Year and the first since Hank Hornsby (2010). Ward was one of two league defenders to record more than 100 tackles on the year and ranked second in the ASC (105). A two-time all-conference selection, Ward led all ASC linebackers and ranked third in the league in sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (13.0).

Sul Ross State junior Zack Roberson is the first Lobo named ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year. Roberson led the ASC in sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (22.0), with both numbers ranked in the top 10 in Division III.

Other award winners include Mary Hardin-Baylor senior Broderick Jenkins, Offensive Lineman of the Year, Hardin-Simmons junior Alex Bell, Special Teams Player of the Year and HSU’s Jonathan Castaneda, as Freshman of the Year.

Jenkins is the eighth UMHB player named Offensive Lineman of the Year and first since Michael Coles (2012). Bell led Division III in kick return average (38.4), touchdowns (3) and is the fourth Cowboy named Special Teams Player of the Year. Castaneda is the first offensive lineman named ASC Freshman of the Year and the second HSU recipient following Jessie Ramos (2012).

Sul Ross State coach John Pearce received ASC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lobos to a 4-2 mark in conference play and third place finish in the conference standings. The Lobos improved by three wins in conference play from 2015 and the six overall wins are the most by an SRSU team since 1996 (6).

Three players were named all-conference at two positions: Howard Payne senior Jason Disney, Mary Hardin-Baylor senior Baylor Mullins and Louisiana College junior Lamar Carroway. Disney joins a short list as one of just nine players in ASC history to be named first team all-conference at two positions (PK, LB), and is the first from Howard Payne.

Nineteen (19) players made a return appearance to the all-conference team led by five three-time selections from Mary Hardin-Baylor – Teidrick Smith, Broderick Jenkins, Baylor Mullins, senior linebacker Matt Cody and junior running back Duane Thompson.

Mary Hardin-Baylor led all teams with 16 all-conference selections and 11 first team members. Hardin-Simmons recorded 13 selections, East Texas Baptist received 10, Sul Ross State landed eight, Louisiana College picked up seven, McMurry had four and Howard Payne had three all-conference members.

2016 All-ASC Football Teams and Awards
Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Blake Jackson, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Teidrick Smith, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Cory Ward, Hardin-Simmons
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Broderick Jenkins, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Zack Roberson, Sul Ross State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Alex Bell, Hardin-Simmons
Freshman of the Year: Jonathan Castaneda, Hardin-Simmons
Coach of the Year: John Pearce, Sul Ross State

Outstanding Sportsman Team of the Year

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
WR	Cam Peters	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Frisco, Texas)
WR	Austin Williamson	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Kermit, Texas)
WR	Balentin Carranco	Sr.	Howard Payne (Georgetown, Texas)
HB	Andrew Bell	Sr.	Louisiana College (New Iberia, La.)
DB/P	Baylor Mullins	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Merkel, Texas)
WR	Jake Hinson	Sr.	McMurry (Olathe, Kan.)
DE	Ennis Harmon	So.	Sul Ross State (Beaumont, Texas)

First Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
WR	Reese Childress	So.	Hardin-Simmons (Abilene, Texas)
WR	Shedrick Davis	Jr.	Louisiana College (Baton Rouge, La.)
SB	Chase Sojka	So.	East Texas Baptist (Shreveport, La.)
TE	Steven Savedra²	Jr.	Sul Ross State (El Paso, Texas)
OG	Broderick Jenkins³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Frisco, Texas)
OG	Josh Maronski	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Watauga, Texas)
OT	Connolly Fuller	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Richardson, Texas)
OT	Tyler Scott²	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Missouri City, Texas)
C	Cole Moulder	Jr.	Sul Ross State (Arlington, Texas)
QB	Blake Jackson	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Houston, Texas)
RB	Aurren Cooksey*²	Sr.	Louisiana College (Shreveport, La.)
RB	Markeith Miller*	So.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Garland, Texas)
RB	JaQuan Hemphill	So.	Hardin-Simmons (Coleman, Texas)
PK	Jason Disney*²	Sr.	Howard Payne (Austin, Texas)
PK	John Mowery*	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Leander, Texas)
RS	Alex Bell	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons (Midland, Texas)

First Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
DL	Teidrick Smith³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Hallettsville, Texas)
DL	Haston Adams²	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Beckville, Texas)
DL	Zack Roberson	Jr.	Sul Ross State (Houston, Texas)
DL	Ajay Fanene	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Riverside, Calif.)
LB	Cory Ward²	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (San Antonio, Texas)
LB	Matt Cody³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (League City, Texas)
LB	Jason Disney	Sr.	Howard Payne (Austin, Texas)
LB	Keith Reineke	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (McGregor, Texas)
DB	Baylor Mullins	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Merkel, Texas)
DB	Decorian Johnson	Sr.	McMurry (Houston, Texas)
DB	Jordan Washington	Jr.	McMurry (Pflugerville, Texas)
DB	Conlan Aguirre²	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Abilene, Texas)
P	Nico Francino²	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Midland, Texas)

Second Team Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
WR	Richard Johnson	So.	East Texas Baptist (Cleveland, Texas)
WR	Byron Jones	So.	Sul Ross State (League City, Texas)
SB	Lamar Carroway	Jr.	Louisiana College (Vicksburg, Miss.)
TE	Carson Embry	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Boerne, Texas)
OG	Tony Jones²	So.	East Texas Baptist (Houston, Texas)
OG	Torrance Leonard	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Lufkin, Texas)
OT	Jonathan Castaneda	Fr.	Hardin-Simmons (Abilene, Texas)
OT	Alex Gillis	Fr.	Sul Ross State (Fulton, Ill.)
C	Bryston Parker	So.	East Texas Baptist (Tyler, Texas)
QB	Ryan Breton	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Grandview, Texas)
RB	Jourdan McNeill	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Irving, Texas)
RB	Duane Thompson³	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Washington, D.C.)
RB	Adrion Smith	Fr.	Sul Ross State (Houston, Texas)
PK	Tanner Wright	Fr.	McMurry (Fort Worth, Texas)
RS	Lamar Carroway	Jr.	Louisiana College (Vicksburg, Miss.)

Second Team Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
DL	Desmond Oliver	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Denton, Texas)
DL	Jim LaFond	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons (Refugio, Texas)
DL	Cade Maxwell	Jr.	Louisiana College (Alexandria, La.)
DL	Brazos Fuller	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Alvarado, Texas)
LB	Alonte Thomas²	Sr.	Sul Ross State (Cameron, Texas)
LB	Ty Parsons	Jr.	East Texas Baptist (Dallas, Texas)
LB	Ryan DeMattie	Jr.	Louisiana College (Natchitoches, La.)
LB	Matthew Hawkins*²	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons (Aledo, Texas)
LB	Orel Ledet Jr.*	So.	Louisiana College (Breaux Bridge, La.)
LB	Caleb Taylor*²	Jr.	East Texas Baptist (Alba, Texas)
DB	Phillip Fuentes	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Midland, Texas)
DB	Kris Mack²	Jr.	Howard Payne (Dallas, Texas)
DB	Justin Arroyo	Sr.	McMurry (Houston, Texas)
DB	Reggie Davis*	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons (Bryan, Texas)
DB	Job Mason*	Jr.	Sul Ross State (Thorndale, Texas)
DB	Hunter Schmidt*	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Hockley, Texas)
P	Baylor Mullins³	Sr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Merkel, Texas)

Honorable Mention – Offense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
WR	Derrick Ledet	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Orange, Texas)
WR	Wykeyhe Walker	So.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (San Antonio, Texas)
SB	Garrett Martin	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Abilene, Texas)
SB	Bryce Wilkerson	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tyler, Texas)
TE	Jose Sahagun	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (La Vernia, Texas)
TE	Eric Haverstock	Fr.	Howard Payne (Midland, Texas)
OG	Montay Harris	So.	Sul Ross State (Arlington, Texas)
OG	Cyle Johnson	Jr.	Howard Payne (Alvarado, Texas)
OG	Corbin Campitelli	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Dallas, Texas)
OT	C.J. McGill	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Tomball, Texas)
C	Ryan Morris	Jr.	Louisiana College (DeRidder, La.)
C	Victor Rodriguez	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons (Mesquite, Texas)
C	Brycen Homer	Jr.	McMurry (Abilene, Texas)
QB	Dru Smith	Jr.	East Texas Baptist (Sherman, Texas)
QB	Easton Melancon	Sr.	Louisiana College (Ama, La.)
PK	Nico Francino	Sr.	Hardin-Simmons (Midland, Texas)
PK	Charles Firmin	Sr.	Louisiana College (Alexandria, La.)
RS	Bryce Wilkerson	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tyler, Texas)
RS	Dominic Haggerty	So.	East Texas Baptist (Shreveport, La.)

Honorable Mention – Defense

Pos.	Name	Cl.	University (Hometown)
DL	C.J. Johnson	So.	East Texas Baptist (Fort Worth, Texas)
DL	Khilan Wright	So.	East Texas Baptist (Memphis, Tenn.)
LB	Mike Quinonez	Jr.	Sul Ross State (El Paso, Texas)
LB	Josh White	Jr.	Hardin-Simmons (Springtown, Texas)
DB	Zackary Biles	So.	East Texas Baptist (New Caney, Texas)
DB	Jacob Castaneda*	Jr.	Sul Ross State (El Paso, Texas)
DB	Willie Smith*	Jr.	Louisiana College (New Orleans, La.)
DB	Sam Williams*	Sr.	East Texas Baptist (Monroe, La.)
DB	Reggie Wilson	Jr.	Mary Hardin-Baylor (Houston, Texas)
P	Ryan Travis	Jr.	East Texas Baptist (Jacksonville, Texas)

*Tie in Voting
Two-time All-Conference²
Three-time All-Conference³

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