All-NCAC Football Teams

November 23, 2009

ALL-NCAC FOOTBALL SQUADS ANNOUNCED;
HUDSON, VALLERY TAKE TOP HONORS

Click for Full Team (.pdf)

Wabash senior Matt Hudson (Salem, IN/Salem) and Wittenberg junior Eddie Vallery (South Solon, OH/Madison Plains) have been honored for outstanding seasons by being named North Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Year. Hudson receives the Mike Gregory Award as the NCAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. The award is presented by Richard Gregory of Columbus, in honor of his father, a multi-sport standout at Denison in the 1920s. Vallery, meanwhile, is the Defensive Player of the Year and receives the Hank Critchfield Award, commemorating the 1927 Wooster graduate.

Hudson, a senior quarterback, led the Little Giants to their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III tournament and a second-place finish in the conference. He earns the Gregory Award for the second straight season, and is the sixth player to earn the honor in back-to-back years. He led the North Coast in passing (279.6 yards per game), total offense (292.0 yards per game), and pass efficiency (169.5). Hudson finishes his career with 8,420 yards in 34 games and 79 touchdown passes. He ranks second in Wabash history and third in NCAC history in career passing yards. He is second in both school and conference history in career TD passes.

Vallery, a junior defensive lineman, dominated NCAC champion Tiger opponents with 57 tackles (33 solo), 20 tackles for losses of 121 yards, and 14.5 sacks for another 111 yards lost. He also broke up five passes, forced two fumbles and blocked a pair of kicks. Vallery helped fuel a defensive unit that allowed only nine touchdowns through the first round of the NCAA playoffs, including just three on the ground. The Wittenberg defense led the league in total defense (164.2 yards allowed per game), passing defense (100.7 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (63.5 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (6.1 points allowed per game). The Tigers spent most of the season atop the NCAA defensive categories as well.

Ohio Wesleyan freshman defensive end James Huddleston (Pontiac, MI/St. Marys Prep) is the North Coast’s Newcomer of the Year. He contributed 48 stops, three sacks and nine tackles for loss for the Battling Bishops.

Wittenberg's Joe Fincham has been named Coach of the Year for the sixth time after guiding his team to a perfect 10-0 regular season record, their ninth North Coast title and an NCAA Division III tournament bid for the first time since 2006. He has a 125-29 record in 14 seasons at the helm.

All-NCAC Football 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2003 POY 2002 2002 POY 2001 2001 POY 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 Note: Teams from 1984-1995 and 2001 and later posted in .pdf format. Adobe Reader required.	November 23, 2009 ALL-NCAC FOOTBALL SQUADS ANNOUNCED; HUDSON, VALLERY TAKE TOP HONORS Click for Full Team (.pdf) Wabash senior Matt Hudson (Salem, IN/Salem) and Wittenberg junior Eddie Vallery (South Solon, OH/Madison Plains) have been honored for outstanding seasons by being named North Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Year. Hudson receives the Mike Gregory Award as the NCAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. The award is presented by Richard Gregory of Columbus, in honor of his father, a multi-sport standout at Denison in the 1920s. Vallery, meanwhile, is the Defensive Player of the Year and receives the Hank Critchfield Award, commemorating the 1927 Wooster graduate. Hudson, a senior quarterback, led the Little Giants to their third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III tournament and a second-place finish in the conference. He earns the Gregory Award for the second straight season, and is the sixth player to earn the honor in back-to-back years. He led the North Coast in passing (279.6 yards per game), total offense (292.0 yards per game), and pass efficiency (169.5). Hudson finishes his career with 8,420 yards in 34 games and 79 touchdown passes. He ranks second in Wabash history and third in NCAC history in career passing yards. He is second in both school and conference history in career TD passes. Vallery, a junior defensive lineman, dominated NCAC champion Tiger opponents with 57 tackles (33 solo), 20 tackles for losses of 121 yards, and 14.5 sacks for another 111 yards lost. He also broke up five passes, forced two fumbles and blocked a pair of kicks. Vallery helped fuel a defensive unit that allowed only nine touchdowns through the first round of the NCAA playoffs, including just three on the ground. The Wittenberg defense led the league in total defense (164.2 yards allowed per game), passing defense (100.7 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (63.5 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (6.1 points allowed per game). The Tigers spent most of the season atop the NCAA defensive categories as well. Ohio Wesleyan freshman defensive end James Huddleston (Pontiac, MI/St. Marys Prep) is the North Coast’s Newcomer of the Year. He contributed 48 stops, three sacks and nine tackles for loss for the Battling Bishops. Wittenberg's Joe Fincham has been named Coach of the Year for the sixth time after guiding his team to a perfect 10-0 regular season record, their ninth North Coast title and an NCAA Division III tournament bid for the first time since 2006. He has a 125-29 record in 14 seasons at the helm.

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