When you go 10-0, win everything in sight, beat your biggest rival and advance as the conference’s only national playoff representative, you expect to rack up when it comes to all-conference selections.
And Catawba did — sort of.
The Indians, who accomplished all of the above, have 13 names listed on the all-South Atlantic Conference team. Included is the Coach of the Year in David Bennett and the Defensive Player of the Year in Radell Lockhart.
But somehow, some way, Catawba still didn’t have the most players. That honor went to Carson-Newman, which have 15.
“I guess for us to get more kids on there than Carson-Newman, we have to consistently beat them,” sighed Bennett.
Lockhart continues a Catawba tradition. He is the fourth Indian in five years to be Defensive Player of the Year. He follows Maurice McDaniel in 1996, Michael Robinson in 1998 and DeVonte Peterson in 1999.
Lockhart has 59 tackles, 26 for losses. He has seven sacks.
Bennett is 51-14 in six years and his winning percentage is third nationally among active coaches.
The Offensive Player of the Year award was shared by Presbyterian quarterback Todd Cunningham and Mars Hill running back Terrence Stokes.
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Catawba is ranked first in the nation in scoring defense (8 points) and put five on first-team defense. Lockhart, Peterson, linebacker Shawn Sanders and defensive backs Ryan Norman and Dyran Peake were named.
Amazingly, Carson-Newman had more (6).
Peterson, who was double-teamed every game, had 49 tackles. Sanders had 44 stops. Peake had 40 tackles and two interceptions. Norman had 23 tackles and three interceptions, one he returned for a score against Tusculum.
Another amazing stat: Only one Indian was on second-team defense. Linebacker Shawn McBride was second on the team with 61 tackles. Catawba’s leading tackler Todd McComb (83 stops) was not named.
Offensively, Don Moore, a preseason All-American guard, was the only Indian.
Making second-team offense were quarterback Mitch Ellis (103-176, 14 TD’s), tailback Kevin McKenzie (969 yards), Ryan Millwood (24 catches, 324 yards and four TD’s) and center Scott Faw.
Making second-team special teams was kicker Matt Gross (35-27 PAT’s and 12-14 field goals).
Bennett thought Anthony Spencer (team leader in interceptions), Nick Means (leading receiver), end Cedric Squirewell and lineman Ben Hepler had good enough seasons to be named.
Bennett said, “But it’s like Cedric told me. He said, ‘Coach, as long as we’re conference champs, it’s better than individual honors. I’d rather be a part of a great team.’
“I thought that was a great quote.”
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