GNAC Football

WOU's Charleston to Play in Super Bowl

For the second team in three seasons, a former Western Oregon football player competed in the Super Bowl. Jeff Charleston, who played three seasons at Western Oregon (2001-03) before finishing up his career at Idaho State was a part of the defensive line rotation for the 2010 New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Champions.

Charleston, who played for Indianapolis in 2007, signed with New Orleans midway through the 2008 season after being cut by the Colts at the end of the 2007 campaign.

Charleston had 69 tackles, including 10 1/2 for losses and 4 1/2 for sacks in his final season at WOU in 2003. After redshirting at Idaho State in 2004, he led the Bengals and the Big Sky Conference in sacks (12) and tackles for losses (21) in 2005.

Charleston joins NY Giant tight end Kevin Boss as participants of the Super Bowl. Boss played in the NFL championship game two years ago.

Western Oregon Wide Receiver Leads North Past South

Kauleinakoku

Western Oregon wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to break a 6-6 and the North went to beat the South 27-21 in the East Coast Bowl in Petersburg, Va. Nov. 28

Kauleinamoku's catch gave the North a lead which it would never relinquish. He finished the game with two catches for 53 yards.

Kauleinamoku also had a pair of punt returns for 21 and nine yards, respectively.

The East Coast Bowl featured 74 of the best Division I-FCS, II, III and NAIA players from a variety of states. This was the eighth year of the bowl.

All revenue generated from this event is used to award a high school student who will attend a Division I-FCS, II, III or NAIA college with financial assistance.

Alumni Notes: Three Ex-Wolves Play In Arena League

Three former Western Oregon University football players completed successful seasons in arena football leagues this past year but Ryan Belcher grabbed bragging rights over Mark Thorson and Antar Brame as he and the Spokane Shock won the ArenaCup Championship.

Belcher was named to the All-AF2 second team in 2009, his third year with the team. He started in all eight games he played, including all four playoff games. His played on the offensive line helped the Shock finish the season tied for third in the af2 in scoring (60.8) and fifth in total offense (302.8 ypg).

Belcher played at Western Oregon from 2003-06 starting as a true freshman through his senior year in the trenches where he earned All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference and All-Independent honors. Belcher also served as an assistant offensive line coach with the Wolves in 2007.

Brame, playing in the American Indoor Football Association, finished tied for ninth in the league with six interceptions as his team, the Utah Valley Thunder, finished the season at 11-3. Brame played a large role in the team's backfield including sealing a victory with an interception against the league runner-up, Wyoming Cavalry.

Brame played for WOU in 2002 and 2003. During his two seasons, he totaled 72 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions.

Thorson made the most of his first shot in the af2 as he led the Boise Burn to a first-round playoff victory over the Arkansas Twisters with five touchdown passes. In the next round of the playoffs, Thorson's Burn went against Belcher's Shock and fell 59-35 but on because the efforts of, Thorson who was 16-of-33 for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the game.

Thorson played for the Wolves from 2004-07, finishing as the school's all-time leader in pass attempts (987), pass completions (568) and touchdown passes (60).