Wednesday, December 14, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two of the GNAC’s most dynamic football players have been selected to the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Team.

Humboldt State running back Ja’Quan Gardner was named to the D2CCA team for the second consecutive year after being named a first team All-American in 2015. Central Washington linebacker Kevin Haynes earned his first All-American award to cap off a season in which he was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year. Both players earned second team honors after both were named the the D2CCA All-Super Region 3 Team earlier in December.

Gardner, a two-time First Team All-GNAC selection, rushed for a GNAC best 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished the season 10th in Division II in total rushing yards, 13th with 118.2 rushing yards per game and 159.9 all-purpose yards per game. Gardner carried the ball 249 times, more than double anyone in the conference, to lead the Lumberjacks to a 6-5 record. In addition to his rushing prowess, Gardner made 11 catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Haynes emerged as the top defensive player in the league after he helped lead Central Washington to a 7-3 record and a second place finish in the GNAC at 6-2. The senior linebacker finished with 109 tackles in 10 games, third best in the GNAC, and finished 17th in Division II with 10.9 tackles per game. Haynes also led the GNAC and finished 11th in Division II with 1.9 tackles for loss per game. Haynes led a CWU defense that produced two shutouts and allowed only 81.3 rushing yards per game.

The D2CCA selections give the GNAC five All-Americans for the 2016 season. Earlier this month, the American Football Coaches Association selected Humboldt State offensive lineman Alex Cappa, Simon Fraser linebacker Jordan Herdman and Azusa Pacific defensive back C.J. Broussard to its All-America team.