Friday, December 2, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. - Five GNAC athletes were selected to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 3 teams led by two first-team selections for Humboldt State and three overall selections for Central Washington.
Humboldt State running back Ja’Quan Gardner was named to the first team for the second consecutive season. The runner-up in voting for the 2015 Harlon Hill Award, Gardner rushed for a GNAC-best 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. Gardner took 249 carries, which was more than double anyone else in the conference, to lead the Lumberjacks to a 6-5 season. He also made 11 catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Gardner is joined on the first team by three-time Offensive Lineman of the Year Alex Cappa, who also earned a repeat first team selection. Cappa anchored a line that provided excellent protection for the Lumberjacks’ offense, allowing just 1.73 sacks per game.
Central Washington’s Kevin Haynes was also a first-team selection. The senior linebacker tallied 109 tackles in 10 games, which was the third most in the GNAC. Haynes, who was selected as the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, also had a conference-best 19 tackles for loss. Haynes led a CWU defense that produced two shutouts this year and allowed only 81.3 rushing yards per game.
Tovar Sanchez was tabbed for second team laurels. The senior defensive lineman tallied 17.5 tackles for loss, including nine sacks. Sanchez also recorded five quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles.
Also earning a second-team honor for Central Washington was junior offensive lineman James Moore, who protected for the league’s most successful passing offense. The Wildcats threw for 303.7 passing yards per game and threw for 30 touchdowns. The Wildcats took only 33 sacks on 351 designed passing plays this season thanks to their protection at the line.
Nominated and voted upon by Division II sports information directors, Gardner, Cappa and Haynes will now move on for consideration as D2CCA All-Americans. Those awards will be announced later this month.