Catawba finished its regular season with eight all-South Atlantic Conference selections.

So why was coach David Bennett miffed?

Because only three Indians made first-team defense and only two made second-team. What really burns his innards is that Carson-Newman had eight defensive players on the two teams.

“How in the world can a defense that’s first in the nation against the run and third overall have less players than another team in your conference?” he wanted to know.

But Bennett couldn’t complain much about postseason awards.

He was the SAC Coach of the Year, DeVonte Peterson was the Defensive Player of the Year and Brian Hinson won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the league’s best offensive lineman.

“That award should be called the ‘Staff of the Year’ award,’’ Bennett said. “It tells me what kind of staff I’ve got.”

Bennett referred to a coaching session last week when the assistants supposedly went home at 1 a.m.

“I thought I’d gotten everybody out of there,” he said. “Come to find out (offensive coordinator Jamie) Snider was in there putting in plays until three in the morning.

“These coaches are driven. They are focused.”

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DEFENSIVEAWARDS: There was no question about Peterson’s award. The 6-4, 250-pound junior from Clinton dominated the line of scrimmage, with 75 tackles, 47 for losses. He led the league with 14.5 sacks and had 56 quarterback pressures.

Joining him on first team were defensive back Darrell Erby and linebacker Shawn McBride.

McBride had 67 tackles, 18 for losses. Erby had 26 tackles and 11 pass breakups.

Radell Lockhart, another junior defensive lineman, was second-team, along with senior linebacker Steve McKnight from Kannapolis. Lockhart had 12 sacks and 67 tackles while the brutish McKnight led Catawba in tackles (78).

Bennett wanted to talk about those who didn’t make it — like defensive back Alvis James, who blocked a field goal, had three interceptions and scored three defensive touchdowns.

“Derrick Montgomery should have been on that team too,” Bennett said of his senior defensive lineman. “He had 11 sacks.”

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HIGH-STEPPING: James scored on an interception to cap the win over Lenoir-Rhyne. The player who calls himself “the big play man” high-stepped into the end zone, resulting in a celebration penalty.

“The play before, I told Darrell Erby, ‘Somebody’s going to get an interception’ “ said James. ‘You want it or do you want me to get it?’ I didn’t know they threw a flag on me.

“Grinning, he added, “Coach Bennett gave me that look. All I could do was give him a hug.”

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OFFENSIVEAWARDS: Besides Hinson, tailback Kevin McKenzie was first-team and offensive lineman Don Moore was second team.

“(The Jacobs Trophy)was something I wanted,” Hinson said. “Coach Snider was excited about it. I asked him if it was a trophy, or a plaque or what? He said he didn’t know. He had never seen it.”

Hinson, from Star, is the first Catawba blocker to win it, although he points out, “Brian Ray and Scott Wood (former linemen) should have won it too.”

McKenzie finished with 717 yards, despite missing two games. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

Who would Bennett have liked to see on offense? Receiver Ryan Millwood and fullback Joe Hilliard.

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WHERE’S MITCH? Left off the offense was quarterback Mitch Ellis, who set Catawba’s single-season passing mark with 2,181 yards.

After last Saturday’s game, it appeared Mike Warfield had kept the record with just over 2,200 yards. But sports information director Jimmy Lewis pointed out that 77 of Warfield’s yards came in an NAIA playoff game against Central State of Ohio. Stats from playoff games don’t count, so Ellis, a former North Rowan star, now has the mark.

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INJURIES: Ask Bob Casmus, the Catawba trainer, about his injury list and he’ll go into a long speech, explaining each injury in terms that only Dr. Kildare could understand.

That’s not Bennett.

Asked about Catawba’s injury situation going into Saturday’s home playoff game against Fort Valley State, he simply said, “We’ve got a bruised toe, a bruised shoulder, a bruised elbow and a pulled groin.”

Simple, but to the point.

Bennett added, “Seth Wagoner has a bruised calf. I said dadgum, son, an offensive lineman can play with a calf bruise. So he’s out there and looking a lot better.”

If Wagoner can’t go, Bennett said he could slide Moore over or utilize Demetrious Hopper and Blount. “We have confidence in those guys,” he said.

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WELCOMEMATT: Bennett has welcomed back Matt Gross to his kicking ways of last year.

Gross, a third-team All-American last season as a freshman, suffered the old sophomore jinx this year, hitting on just 11-of-24 field goals.

But with the national playoffs on the line and Catawba holding a precarious 14-7 lead on Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday, he came through with a 32-yard field goal.

“Gross had so much success his freshman year that not making second or third team all-conference may have a way to humble him a little bit,” said Bennett. “