LITTLE ALL AMERICA TEAM Mount Union LB on second team
Shaun Spisak was a key contributor on the Raiders undefeated season.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORT
Mount Union linebacker Shaun Spisak was named to The Associated Press Little All-America second team.
Spisak led the Raiders defense in tackles (132) and tackles for loss (10.5) this season, playing a key role in Mount Union's undefeated regular season.
Spisak was the recipient of the Ohio Athletic Conference's Bill Edwards Award as the conference's best linebacker.
Linfield College quarterback Brett Elliott, who set an NCAA single-season record with 59 touchdown passes, was joined on the first-team by Fort Valley State's Derrick Wimbush. The senior running back ran for 1,840 yards and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in Division II.
Colorado School of Mines quarterback Chad Friehauf won the Harlon Hill last week after throwing for 4,646 yards and 39 touchdowns to lead the Miners to their first playoff win and a 12-1 record. But he had to settle for second-team Little All-American because of Elliott.
Record breaker
The junior from Lake Oswego, Ore., has passed for 4,313 yards with just nine interceptions, guiding Linfield (12-0) to an appearance in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, Va.. The Wildcats play Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-1) for the D-III national title Saturday.
"Individual records are a reflection of the team," Elliott said. "We have one more game, and then after that all the records I can tell my kids about or something."
Last week, Elliott broke the all-division record of 56 TD passes, set by Mississippi Valley State's Willie Totten in 1984, when he tossed three TD passes in semifinals against Rowan.
"He's the best quarterback we've played this year by far," Rowan safety Eric Bailey said. "His accuracy and his arm strength are amazing."
Mary Hardin-Baylor placed two players on the three AP All-America teams -- offensive lineman Jeff Oliver was selected to the second team and his linemate, Matt Bush, is a third-teamer.
Wooster running back Tony Sutton, who led Division III with 2,240 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns, made the first team for the second straight season, as did Ferris State linebacker Kevin Myers.
Pittsburg State offensive lineman Nathan Baker leads the first-team offensive line. He's joined by Nick Didier of Concordia-Moorhead; Scott Blum of Rowan; Joe Berger of Michigan Tech; and Todd Herremans of Saginaw Valley State.
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