Wednesday, November 14, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of seniors, one a transfer who proved an offensive spark plug and the other a home grown defensive standout, top the selections for the 2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Football All-Conference Team.

Central Washington senior quarterback Reilly Hennessey was the unanimous selection of conference coaches as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year while Azusa Pacific senior linebacker Aaron Berry topped a close vote to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

A transfer from Division I-FCS power Eastern Washington prior to the 2017 season, Hennessey earned his second-straight First Team All-GNAC selection after leading the Wildcats to an 8-3 overall record and a share of the GNAC title with Azusa Pacific. He led the conference and is ranked 11th in Division II with a 161.9 efficiency rating while his 2,705 passing yards ranks 27th nationally. Hennessey completed 183 of 290 passes on the season, averaging 245.9 yards per game while leading the GNAC and ranking 15th in Division II in total offense with 289.3 yards per game.

Berry, a three-year starter at linebacker for Azusa Pacific, was also named first team for the second consecutive season after earning second-team honors in 2016. Berry finished third in the GNAC with 8.5 tackles per game (93 total) and spent much of the season among the NCAA Division II leaders in solo tackles with 55. He tied for first in the GNAC with 1.45 tackles for loss per game and also had three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to lead the Cougars as they finished at 8-3 overall and qualified for the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the second time in three years.

Hennessey leads three Central Washington players selected to receive special honors. Senior offensive lineman James Moore was the coaches’ unanimous selection for Offensive Lineman of the Year while sophomore running back Michael Roots was named the Newcomer of the Year.

Moore led a Wildcats’ offensive line that took three of five of the first-team lineman positions. The crew allowed Central Washington to finish second in Division II in total offense with 540.9 yards per game and seventh with 47.7 points per game while allowing just 3.91 tackles for loss per game, ranking the Wildcats 13th nationally.

Roots, who joined the CWU program after a season at NAIA power Southern Oregon, was part of a powerful one-two punch for the Wildcats at running back. He led the GNAC with 97 rushing yards per game and finished fourth in Division II with 7.68 yards per carry and 23rd with 1,067 rushing yards. Roots had 10 touchdowns on the season, including three on Oct. 6 at Azusa Pacific.

Berry is joined by his teammate Ma’ake Muti, who was named the GNAC’s Defensive Lineman of the Year. Muti played in all 11 regular season games and finished with 55 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery. Muti was part of an APU defensive line that enters the Division II Playoffs ranked third nationally with 3.27 sacks per game.

Hennessey and Roots are among 11 First Team All-GNAC honorees for Central Washington, including seven of the team’s 13 offensive positions. The duo is joined by senior running back Cedric Cooper, freshman wide receiver Quinton Lewis, offensive linemen Nicholas Streubel and Luke Asbjornsen, junior defensive linemen Elisha Pa’aga and Billy Greer, junior linebacker Donte Hamilton and junior defensive back Tevin Gray.

Berry and Muti lead a list of 10 first-team honorees for Azusa Pacific. Joining the pair is senior wide receiver Weston Carr, junior tight end Lucas Widmer, offensive lineman Sakalaia Hungalu, senior punter and kicker Jacob Hall, junior linebacker Willie Fair and sophomore defensive backs Josh Olave and Quentin Frazier.

In Humboldt State’s final season on the gridiron, freshman linebacker Moses Finau shined to become the conference’s Freshman of the Year. Finau finished fourth in the GNAC with eight tackles per game, was third with 1.30 tackles per game (13 total) and fifth with 0.45 sacks per game (4.5 total). Finau led the Lumberjacks with 82 tackles and had one of the team’s nine interceptions.

Humboldt State had one first-team selection in sophomore return specialist Adam Herrera.

First-year Simon Fraser head coach Thomas Ford was honored as the Coach of the Year for his efforts in starting the rebuilding process for the Clan football program. Ford opened his career with a 54-7 win over Division III Willamette, which snapped a 23-game losing streak.

Western Oregon rounded out the First Team All-GNAC with five honorees. Senior linebacker Bo Highburger received his third first-team selection and is joined by junior offensive lineman Aaron Turner, senior defensive lineman Isaiah Molden, sophomore defensive back Curtis Anderson and junior return specialist Ryan Reynolds.

2018 GNAC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year: Reilly Hennessey, Central Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Berry, Azusa Pacific
Coach of the Year: Thomas Ford, Simon Fraser
Offensive Lineman of the Year: James Moore, Central Washington
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Ma’ake Muti, Azusa Pacific
Freshman of the Year: Moses Finau, Humboldt State
Newcomer of the Year: Michael Roots, Central Washington

* - Unanimous Selection    
+ - First Team Selection In 2017  
# - Second Team Selection In 2017  
& - Honorable Mention Selection In 2017
@ - First Team Selection In 2016  
$ - Second Team Selection In 2016  
! - First Team Selection In 2015
^ - Second Team Selection In 2015