White, Hayes and Turk headline All-Conference team for Hawks
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon Hawks received three of the top-five individual awards and had a total of 16 players named All-Conference with the release of the USA South All-Conference football team on Wednesday.
Senior safety Anthony White was named Defensive Player of the Year, freshman linebacker Trey Hayes was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and head coach Mike Turk was named Coach of the Year.
"It's a blessing to receive this honor. I'd like to thank my coaches and teammates for putting me in this position," White said. "We've just been focused on working hard and trying to help the team win games and win the conference championship this season. Individual awards were not our main goal, but I think those awards show the kind of talent we have this year."
Huntingdon, the USA South conference champions, had nine players earn first-team honors.
Joining White as first-team selections are quarterback Luke Bailey, H-Back Darius Dawsey, offensive linemen Chael Pridgen, Quadarius Belser and Jesse Williams, defensive lineman Heath McCray, linebacker Jake Green and defensive back Brendon Brown.
The Hawks landed seven players on second-team with running back John Iwaniec, receiver Nick Haas, offensive lineman Brandon Rockett, defensive linemen Octavis Harris and Drew Wheeler, linebacker Jacob Wright and kicker Chase Young.
Four of Huntingdon's selections have earned All-Conference honors for at least two seasons. White is a three-time, first-team selection and Pridgen is a three-time, first-team selection and has earned third-team All-Region honors the past two seasons. Dawsey was a second-team selection the past two seasons. In his second season at linebacker, Jacob Wright has earned second-team honors both seasons.
The 16 All-Conference selections are the most yet for the Hawks. In its first two seasons in the USA South, Huntingdon produced a total of 13 first- and second-team All-Conference selections.
"We're thankful to have so many guys recognized for their ability," Turk said. "The guys on this team have worked hard and accomplished a lot. It's not hard to figure out that when you have success like we've had this season, it's because you have good players. We felt like we had a lot of good players this season and I'm thankful the coaches in the conference agreed."
White, a Montgomery native, is the second Hawk to be named Defensive Player of the Year. Former linebacker Zach Brownell earned the same honor last season.
"Anthony is very deserving of this recognition. His play has stood out for four years," Turk said. "He has made some really big plays during his career. Time and time again, when we've needed a big play, he's been there to make it."
White, who is the Hawks' fourth all-time leading tackler and third all-time leader in interceptions, led the USA South and is tied for third in Division III with seven interceptions this season. He also has 37 tackles, a safety and has returned a kick (45 yards) and an interception (100 yards) for touchdowns this season.
Hayes, a native of Decatur, Alabama, is the first Rookie of the Year selection for the football program. Hayes is the Hawks' fourth leading tackler this season with 45 stops. He is fourth on the team with seven tackles for loss and also has a sack and a fumble recovery."
"Trey started the past seven games for us, so he played in every conference game," Turk said. "He doesn't have gaudy stats, but he is solid. He is a dependable guy and it's exciting to know he has three more years with us. He still has a lot to learn and he needs to continue to improve, but he is a guy who has the potential to follow in the footsteps of White and Brownell."
Turk, who has been the head coach for every win in Huntingdon history, has guided the Hawks to a 79-37 record since 2004. Huntingdon's 9-1 record this season represents the most wins in a season for the Hawks.
Huntingdon needs one more win to become the first USA South team to reach 10 wins in a season. The Hawks host Hendrix College on Saturday at noon in the first round of the Division III playoffs.
"I view Coach of the Year as a team award," Turk said. "I feel like we had the best team in the league and I was fortunate enough to be the coach of that team. The success we've had this season speaks to the job our coaches do and their ability to motivate the guys and coach the fundamentals of the game."
The complete All-Conference awards are listed below.
USA South All-Conference Football Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Malik Adams, N.C. Wesleyan
Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony White, Huntingdon
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Adrian Minondo, N.C. Wesleyan
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Trey Hayes, Huntingdon
Coach of the Year: Mike Turk, Huntingdon
First-Team
Offense
Quarterback: Luke Bailey, Huntingdon
Running Back: Adrian Minondo, N.C. Wesleyan
Running Back: Deshjion Whitlock, Maryville
Receiver: Malik Adams, N.C. Wesleyan
Receiver: Raymond Bridges, Greensboro
Receiver: Terrance Owens II, Averett
Tight End/H-Back/Fullback: Darius Dawsey, Huntingdon
Offensive Line: Quadarius Belser, Huntingdon
Offensive Line: Martin Brazwell, N.C. Wesleyan
Offensive Line: David Cooper, Methodist
Offensive Line: Chael Pridgen, Huntingdon
Offensive Line: Jesse Williams, Huntingdon
Defense
Defensive Line: Zach Capehart, Maryville
Defensive Line: DeAngelo Collington, Maryville
Defensive Line: Montel Lee, Ferrum
Defensive Line: Heath McCray, Huntingdon
Linebacker: Bryan Bing, Methodist
Linebacker: Jake Green, Huntingdon
Linebacker: Gabe Johnson, Maryville
Defensive Back: Herbert Bridges, Greensboro
Defensive Back: Brendon Brown, Huntingdon
Defensive Back: Micah McMaster, Greensboro
Defensive Back: Anthony White, Huntingdon
Speical Teams
Return Specialist: Malik Adams, N.C. Wesleyan
Kicker: Brandon Torres, Methodist
Punter: Tyler Morgan, Ferrum
Second-Team
Offense
Quarterback: Dustin Midgett, N.C. Wesleyan
Running Back: John Iwaniec, Huntingdon
Running Back: Travis Jones, Averett
Receiver: Nick Haas, Huntingdon
Receiver: Anthony Radke, Methodist
Receiver: Mario Williams, Maryville
Tight End/H-Back/Fullback: Logan Winders, Maryville
Offensive Line: Jesse Benavides-Munoz, Maryville
Offensive Line: Connar Benson-Epstein, Maryville
Offensive Line: Chase Courson, Maryville
Offensive Line: Brandon Rockett, Huntingdon
Offensive Line: Brandon Sparrow, Methodist
Defense
Defensive Line: Jonathan Clark, Maryville
Defensive Line: Octavis Harris, Huntingdon
Defensive Line: J.D. Stalvey, Methodist
Defensive Line: Drew Wheeler, Huntingdon
Linebacker: Kent Minor, Maryville
Linebacker: Chase Sams, Greensboro
Linebacker: Jacob Wright, Huntingdon
Defensive Back: Nasir Beyah, Maryville
Defensive Back: Dontae Gilbert, Averett
Defensive Back: Brandon Penn, LaGrange
Defensive Back: Micah Smith, Maryville
Speical Teams
Return Specialist: Travis Jones, Averett
Kicker: Chase Young, Huntingdon
Punter: Jordan Vann, Methodist
All-Sportsmanship Team
Michael Barbour Jr., Averett
Thomas Betts, Ferrum
Sam Marsh, Greensboro
Brendon Brown, Huntingdon
Ryne Holland, LaGrange
Brady Brown, Maryville
Jordan Vann, Methodist
Shebrae Riddick, N.C. Wesleyan