Tuesday, July 3, 2012

PORTLAND -- Three Great Northwest Athletic Conference football players have been named pre-season first team All-Americans by the web site Beyond Sports Network (BSN).

Dixie State tight end Joe Don Duncan and defensive backs Jeremiah Maluia and Bryce Peila of Humboldt State and Western Oregon first team selections and were among 11 players selected to the pre-season Division II team.

Last year, Duncan led the GNAC in receiving with 64 catches for 949 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the nation's tight ends.

Peila had nine interceptions for 243 yards, while Maluia had four interceptions and ranked 11th in the conference in tackles with 64.

Two players - lineman Brett Freyendall of Humboldt State and Matthias Goossen of Simon Fraser - were second team picks. CWU lineman Joey Tivnan and running back Bo Palmer of Simon Fraser were third team picks.

Named to the honorable list with offensive lineman Mike Nelson of Central Washington and David Kulp of Humboldt State, defensive lineman Gavin Drake of Western Oregon and linebacker Scotland Foss of Western Oregon.

First Team: TE - Joe Don Duncan, DSC (6-4, 270, Sr., Corona, CA). DB - Jeremiah Maluia, HSU (5-11, 202, Jr., Compton, CA); Bryce Peila, WOU (6-1, 200, Sr., Central Point, OR). Second Team: OL - Brett Fryendall, HSU (6-4, 270, Sr., Corona, CA); Matthias Goossen, SFU (6-4, 300, Jr., Richmond, BC). Third Team: OL - Joey Tivnan, CWU (6-2, 285, Sr., Centralia, WA). RB - Bo Palmer, SFU (5-9, 185, Sr., North Vancouver, BC). Honorable Mention: OL - Mike Nelson, CWU (6-4, 275, Jr., Carnation, WA); David Kulp, HSU (6-2, 285, Jr., Lompoc, CA). DL - Gavin Drake, WOU (6-3, 285, Sr., Portland, OR). LB - Scotland Foss, WOU (6-3, 235, Sr., Albany, OR).