Wednesday, December 13, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – It is a record haul for GNAC football teams as the conference led selections on both the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and Associated Press Division II All-America teams.

The conference landed six first-team selections and two second-team selections on the D2CCA All-American Football Team, the most ever for the GNAC in the program. Central Washington led all schools nationwide with five All-America selections, led by first-team honorees in tight end Kyle Self, linebacker Kevin Haynes and cornerback Tyler Hasty.

Also selected for D2CCA first-team honors were Humboldt State offensive lineman Alex Cappa and running back Ja’Quan Gardner and Azusa Pacific wide receiver Weston Carr. Wildcats’ offensive lineman James Moore and defensive lineman Bo Banner earned second-team selections.

In addition to the D2CCA honors, Cappa, Carr, Banner, Haynes and Hasty were first-team selections to the AP Division II All-America Team. Gardner was named to the second team as an all-purpose player.

Haynes, the two-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and the 2017 D2CCA Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, was the catalyst for a Wildcats’ defense that finished the season ranked third nationally in total defense, allowing 259.9 yards per game. Haynes finished with 100 tackles, second best in the GNAC. His 14 tackles for loss ranked third in the conference. In addition, Haynes set a GNAC career record with 224 solo tackles. Haynes was a Second Team D2CCA All-American in 2016.

Self, a First Team All-GNAC selection at tight end, finished the season with 453 receiving yards and was second in the GNAC with nine receiving touchdowns. He saved his most impressive game for the end of the regular season, finishing with 122 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches in a 42-28 win at Humboldt State that gave the Wildcats the outright GNAC championship.

Hasty, First Team All-GNAC selection at defensive back, provided solid backing to the CWU defense. He finished the year with 48 tackles and led the GNAC and ranked 10th in Division II with 1.6 passes defended per game (19 total). Hasty also led GNAC with eight interceptions and ranked fourth in Division II with 0.7 interceptions per game.

Gardner, the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, earned his third D2CCA All-American selection (1st in 2015, 2nd in 2016) and concluded his career as one of the top offensive players in conference history. The senior led the league and ranked 10th in Division II in rushing, averaging 125.9 yards per game, while ranking fourth in Division II with 19 rushing touchdowns. Gardner also led the GNAC and was fourth nationally with 192.6 all-purpose yards per game as he added kick return duties to his plate this season. Gardner ended his career as the GNAC’s all-time leader in touchdowns (75), points scored (450), all-purpose yards (6.979), all-purpose yards per game (170.2), rushing attempts (878), rushing yards (5,426) and rushing touchdowns (70).

Cappa was a four-time GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, a four-time First Team All-GNAC selection and earned Second Team D2CCA All-America honors in 2015. He led a Humboldt State offensive line that allowed the Lumberjacks to finish with an average of 488.3 yards of total offense per game, ninth in Division II, and allowed just 22 sacks all season. In addition to the regional accolades, Cappa was a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award and has earned an invitation to the Reeses Senior Bowl.

Moore was a First Team All-GNAC selections at offensive line. He helped protect a Central Washington offense that finished 15th in Division II in total offense, averaging 466.4 yards per game, and 19th in scoring offense at 39.4 points per game. The Wildcats led the GNAC and were 23rd in Division II in sacks allowed at 1.17 per game.

Banner, the GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year, finished the regular season with 29 tackles and his 0.92 sacks per game (11 total) ranks 16th in Division II. He leads the GNAC with 15.5 tackles for loss while helping solidify a CWU defense that finished 19th in Division II in scoring defense, allowing 17.6 points per game, and ranked fourth nationally with 10.3 tackles for loss per game.