Catawba Places Seven on All-SAC Team, Lakeem Perry Named SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year

Catawba has placed seven players on the 2008 All-South Atlantic Conference team. On first team offense, senior tailback Jamelle Cuthbertson and junior offensive lineman Terence Crosby represent the Indians. The first team defense has junior defensive tackle Melquan Fair and senior linebacker Charles McAfee. The only second team offensive player for the Tribe was freshman long snapper Chad Case. The two Indians on the second team defense was sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Sutton and senior cornerback Jasmon Carpenter.

The South Atlantic Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year Award was given to Lakeem Perry of Catawba.

Catawba also claimed the best in the SAC in three statistical categories. First, the Tribe had the leading rusher per game in Cuthbertson with 114.1 yards per game. Second, the Indians had the best rushing defense in the conference by only giving up 133.2 yards per game. Third, Catawba led the conference in total defense by allowing just 294.2 yards a game.

Carson-Newman led the All-SAC team with 12 players as Tusculum was not far behind with 11 selections. Tusculum head coach Frankie DeBusk was named SAC Coach of the Year and Pioneer quarterback Corey Russell won the honor of Offensive Player of the Year.

Read below for the entire list of awards from the South Atlantic Conference for the 2008 season.

2008 All-SAC Football Teams

First Team – Offense
Quarterback – Corey Russell, Tusculum
Running Back – Buck Wakefield, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Jamelle Cuthbertson, Catawba
Running Back – Nelson Woods, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Reggie Hubbard, Carson-Newman
Wide Receiver – Tyrea Allen, Mars Hill
Wide Receiver – Kelton Tindal, Newberry
Wide Receiver – Ryan Tallent, Tusculum
Tight End – Jarrell NeSmith, Tusculum
Offensive Line – Thomas Battle, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Terence Crosby, Catawba
Offensive Line – Chandler Rearden, Lenoir-Rhyne
Offensive Line – Marchent Faustin, Newberry
Offensive Line – Danny Partida, Tusculum
Placekicker – Colin Corpe, Lenoir-Rhyne
Long Snapper – Jordon Simmons, Lenoir-Rhyne

First Team – Defense
Defensive Line – Darius Wrentz, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Melquan Fair, Catawba
Defensive Line – Chris Dowdell, Mars Hill
Defensive Line – David Harris, Newberry
Linebacker – Brian Brown, Carson-Newman
Linebacker – Charles McAfee, Catawba
Linebacker – Will Newell, Newberry
Linebacker – Justin Scott, Tusculum
Defensive Back – Mario Russell, Carson-Newman
Defensive Back – Deshon Nesbitt, Mars Hill
Defensive Back – Kamaal McIlwain, Newberry
Defensive Back – Jeremy Thompson, Tusculum
Punter – John Gregory, Tusculum
Return Specialist – Patrick Pinchinat, Wingate

Second Team - Offense
Quarterback – Alex Good, Carson-Newman
Running Back – Ricky Harris, Carson-Newman
Running Back – George Washington, Mars Hill
Running Back – Marcus Foster, Tusculum
Wide Receiver – Nate Binder, Tusculum
Wide Receiver – Shawn Barrett, Wingate
Tight End – Ryan Webber, Wingate
Offensive Line – Jeff Weaver, Carson-Newman
Offensive Line – Eric Nelson, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Josh Sims, Mars Hill
Offensive Line – Matt Holmes, Newberry
Offensive Line – Cam LeGrand, Wingate
Placekicker – Michael Pinkerton, Mars Hill
Long Snapper – Chad Case, Catawba

Second Team – Defense
Defensive Line – Brandon Harmon, Carson-Newman
Defensive Line – Brandon Sutton, Catawba
Defensive Line – Lance Clark, Newberry
Defensive Line – Rynel Butler, Tusculum
Linebacker – Stanley Jones, Brevard
Linebacker – Brandon Rawls, Brevard
Linebacker – Stan Galbraith, Mars Hill
Linebacker – Jarvis Littlejohn, Tusculum
Defensive Back – Jasmon Carpenter, Catawba
Defensive Back – Marcus Shuford, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Back – Andre Moyd, Newberry
Defensive Back – Tylan Merkerson, Wingate
Punter – Chris Jones, Carson-Newman
Return Specialist – Reggie Hubbard, Carson-Newman
Return Specialist – Barry Tate, Lenoir-Rhyne

Offensive Player Of The Year – Corey Russell, Tusculum
Defensive Player Of The Year – Will Newell, Newberry
Offensive Freshman Of The Year – John Brown, Mars Hill
Defensive Freshman Of The Year – Lakeem Perry, Catawba
Jacobs Blocking Trophy – Thomas Battle, Carson-Newman
Coach Of The Year – Frankie DeBusk, Tusculum

Statistical Champions

Individual
Rushing per game – Jamelle Cuthbertson, Catawba, 114.1
Passing Avg. per game – Corey Russell, Tusculum, 319.4
Total Offense per game – Corey Russell, Tusculum, 375.1
Receptions per game – Ryan Tallent, Tusculum, 6.55
Receiving yards per game – Nate Binder, Tusculum, 81.5
All-Purpose yards per game – John Brown, Mars Hill, 133.8
Interceptions per game – Deshun Nesbitt, Mars Hill, .56
Pass Efficiency – Alex Good, Carson-Newman, 179.0
Punt Return Avg. – Kameron Kranz, Wingate, 7.9
Kick Return Avg. – Patrick Pinchinat, 35.1
Punting Avg. – John Gregory, Tusculum, 44.2
Scoring Avg. (TDs) – Buck Wakefield, Carson-Newman, 8.0
Scoring Avg. (Kick) – Gareth Rowlands, Tusculum, 6.6
Field Goal Pct. – Britt Blackmon, Newberry, 66.7
Tackles per game – Stanley Jones, Brevard, 9.8
Sacks per game – Maurice Harris, Mars Hill, .78
Tackles for loss per game – Justin Scott, Tusculum, 1.64

Team
Scoring offense – Carson-Newman, 42.7
Scoring defense – Newberry, 18.3
Passing offense – Tusculum, 326.8
Passing defense – Wingate, 155.9
Rushing offense – Carson-Newman, 323.5
Rushing defense – Catawba, 133.2
Total offense – Carson-Newman, 485.8
Total defense – Catawba, 294.2