Carson-Newman Leads SAC All-Conference Team; Guyton, Abdullah Named Players of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference regular-season champion Carson-Newman College Eagles, who finished undefeated in league play and won their 16th SAC title, placed 15 players on the 2002 South Atlantic Conference All-Conference Football Team.

Eagle quarterback Leonard Guyton, who spearheaded one of the top offenses in the country, was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Guyton threw for 1372 yards and 14 touchdowns, and rushed for 458 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Mars Hill linebacker Khalid Abdullah, who led the SAC with 17 tackles for loss, was named Defensive Player of the Year. Abdullah was named First Team All-Conference for the fourth year in a row.

Carson-Newman College veteran coach Ken Sparks was named Coach of the Year, winning the award for the 10th time in his career.

Lenoir-Rhyne's Chris Winford, (Mooresville, NC; Mooresville HS) a wide receiver and punt and kickoff return specialist who led the Bears in all-purpose yardage is the Offensive Freshman of the Year.

Catawba College linebacker Samario Houston, (Charlotte, NC / Independence HS) was the Defensive Freshman of the Year. Houston finished second on the Catawba team in total tackles with 59 and had 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.

The SAC Scholar Athlete Award for football went to Tusculum College junior linebacker Craig Pritchett. Pritchett, who was a Second Team All-Conference selection, carries a 3.68 GPA as a graphic design major. He was the 2000 SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year, and is seventh in Tusculum College history in total tackles and second in career tackles for loss. He has been named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, the Tusculum Dean's List and President's List. Pritchett, from Rossville, GA (Ridgeland HS) is also very active in the community. He is a mentor for Greeneville, TN, area youth, volunteers with a reading program at local elementary schools, a Read Across America volunteer, is a tutor for disabled children, developed a nature walk for local elementary schools, participated in a teen cessation forum at local high schools and in the Adopt-A-Highway litter pickup program.

Tusculum offensive lineman Alan Dunn, a two-time first-team All-SAC selection and an All-South Region pick in 2001, received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which goes to the top lineman or blocking back in the conference.

Carson-Newman led the way with nine First Team selections, including five on offense. Offensive lineman Bakari Wilkerson and linebacker Steve Josue are repeat First Team selections. Running backs Randy Bell and Damone Boone, who finished second and fourth overall, respectively, in rushing, both made First Team.

Catawba College, which advanced to the NCAA DII Playoffs for the fourth straight year, has 12 All-Conference representatives, including eight on the first team. Wide receiver Nick Means, Catawba's all-time leader for receptions and receiving yards, was a repeat selection on the First Team. Rodney Wallace, who led the league in rushing and was the only back to gain more than 1,000 yards during the regular season, was also a First Team pick.

Tusculum College placed nine total on the All-Conference team, with Dunn and All-American return specialist Donald Amaker making the First Team. Tusculum, which led the conference in passing defense and total defense, placed five representatives on the Second Team Defense.

Mars Hill College had seven representatives on the teams, with three First Team selections. Along with Abdullah, long snapper Charlie Gunnells is a repeat First Team selection.

Presbyterian College, which finished third in the conference standings, placed six on the teams, with three making first team. One of those is defensive lineman Nacomma Maxwell, who earns All-Conference honors for the third straight year, and second consecutive year as a First Team selection.

Wingate University had four representatives, with punter Richard Straup the only First Team representative.

Despite going winless in conference play for the second year in a row, the Newberry Indians did have some excellent individual performances that did not go unnoticed. Defensive back Todd Geter, who makes the First Team for the second year in a row, is one of two Indians on the First Team, while Newberry placed one more on the Second Team.

Lenoir-Rhyne had one representative each on the First and Second Teams. Offensive lineman Jeremy Phillips makes the First Team for the second year in a row.

The head coaches in the conference select the All-Conference teams.

A complete lists of the 2002 South Atlantic All-Conference Team follows:

2002 All-SAC Football Teams

First Team

Offense
QB - Leonard Guyton, C-N
WR - Nick Means, CAT
WR - Terry Meng, PC
WR -Cedric Squirewell, CAT
RB - Randy Bell, C-N
RB - Rodney Wallace, CAT
RB - Damone Boone, C-N
TE - Justin Heath, C-N
OL - Bakari Wilkerson, C-N
OL - Alan Dunn, TC
OL - Jeremy Philips, L-R
OL - Jeremy Durham, NEW
OL - Daniel Lynch, CAT
PK - Allan Rohrbaugh, CAT
LS - Charlie Gunnells, MH
Defense
DL - Clarence Glymph, C-N
DL - Nacomma Maxwell, PC
DL - Khanis Hubbard, CAT
DL - Germon Spence, C-N
LB - Khalid Abdullah, MH
LB - Todd McComb, CAT
LB - William Moody, C-N
LB - Steve Josue, C-N
DB - Jamel Jackson, CAT
DB - Ryan Bowers, PC
DB - Todd Geter, NEW
DB - Michael Grant, MH
P - Richard Straup, WIN
RS - Donald Amaker, TC

Second Team

Offense
QB - Luke Samples, CAT
WR - Matt Riggs, TC
WR - Kendal Brown, NEW
WR - Mikkail Jenkins, C-N
RB - Aaron Claridy, TC
RB - Cedric Johnson, MH
RB - Antonio Hailstock, WIN
TE - Ross Penland, L-R
OL - Andrew Oetzel, MH
OL - Reggie Perkins, C-N
OL - Joe Nixon, CAT
OL - Chris Dickerson, PC
OL - Drew Lunday, WIN
PK - Kjell Lorentzen, C-N
LS - Justin Anderson, C-N
Defense
DL - Tellex Lanham, MH
DL - Lebron Johnson, TC
DL - Richard Scott, CAT
DL - Mike Hobbs, TC
LB - Matt Carter, MH
LB - Craig Pritchett, TC
LB - Russell Rothar, PC
LB - Daris Robinson, TC
DB - Loman Dorsey, C-N
DB - Chad Clonch, WIN
DB - Ricardo Colclough, TC
DB - Avery Blue, C-N
P - Danny Jenkins, CAT
RS - Ryan Bowers, PC

Player of the Year: OFF: Leonard Guyton, C-N; DEF: Khalid Abdullah, MH

Freshman of the Year: OFF: Chris Winford, LR; DEF: Samario Houston, CAT

Coach of the Year: Ken Sparks, C-N

Jacobs Blocking Award: Alan Dunn, TC

SAC Scholar Athlete: Craig Pritchett, TC