Hayes and Hering earn All-Region honors

MINNEAPOLIS – Two Huntingdon players earned All-South Region recognition with the release of the D3football.com All-Region teams on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior linebacker Trey Hayes and junior offensive lineman Chris Hering were both named third-team All-Region.

"Trey and Chris are both very deserving of this recognition," Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said. "Both of them are leaders for us and were a key part of the success we had this season. I'm happy for them and excited that both of them will be back with us next year."

This is the seventh straight season the Hawks have had at least two All-Region performers. A total of 14 Huntingdon players have earned D3football.com All-Region honors since the All-Region teams began in 2005.

Hayes and Hering helped lead the Hawks to a 9-2 record and a third straight appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Huntingdon earned its third straight USA South Athletic Conference title with a 7-0 conference record.

Hayes is the first Huntingdon linebacker to earn All-Region recognition in back-to-back seasons and the sixth Hawk at any position to earn All-Region honors in multiple years. He was a second-team All-Region selection last season.

The Decatur, Ala., native anchored a defense that allowed 10.7 points per game in its final six regular-season games. The Huntingdon defense allowed 205 passing yards per game and 346.7 yards of total offense per game this season. The passing yards per game are the second fewest allowed by a Huntingdon defense in a season and the yards of total offense allowed are the fourth best mark in Huntingdon history.

Hayes finished the season with 75 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries. He recorded double-digit tackles in three games, including a season-high 12 tackles twice. With 222 career tackles, Hayes is the Hawks' fifth all-time leading tackler. He is Huntingdon's career leader with seven fumble recoveries.

Hering is the third Huntingdon offensive lineman to earn All-Region honors and the first since 2015. A two-year starter, the Navarre, Fla., native helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for the Hawks to average 35.3 points per game and 461.8 yards of offense per game.

Hering graded out at a team-high 91-percent on more than 700 plays this season and was third on the team with 28 knockdown blocks. He graded at 94-percent in two games and had a season-high seven knockdown blocks against North Carolina Wesleyan.

Washington and Jefferson receiver Jesse Zubik was named the South Region Offensive Player of the Year. Berry defensive end Mamadou Soumahoro was chosen as the South Defensive Player of the Year and Berry's Tony Kunczewski was selected as South Coach of the Year.

D3football.com selects All-Region teams for the North, South, East and West regions of the nation.

To view the entire D3football.com South Region teams, click here.