So Dakota`s Beschorner , No Dakota`s Anderson Headline 2005 Football Gazette NCAA II Northwest All America Team
Released on = December 22, 2005, 11:19 pm
Press Release Author = Don Hansen\'s National Weekly Football Gazette
Industry = Small Business
Press Release Summary = A pair of finalists for the 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy - quarterback Wesley Beschorner of the University of South Dakota and linebacker Digger Anderson of the University of North Dakota - highlight a talented 2005 All-Northwest Region Team selected by Don Hansen\'s Football Gazette.
Press Release Body = WESTMONT, IL. - A pair of finalists for the 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy - quarterback Wesley Beschorner of the University of South Dakota and linebacker Digger Anderson of the University of North Dakota - highlight a talented 2005 All-Northwest Region Team selected by Don Hansen\'s Football Gazette.
This marks the fourth year Football Gazette has selected NCAA Division II All-Region Teams. The national publication has selected NCAA Division II All-America teams since 1988.
The first-team and second-team All-Region selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2005 NCAA Division II Football Gazette All-America team will be selected in early January.
Beschorner, a senior from Lohrville, Iowa, passed for 3,049 yards and 30 touchdowns in leading the Coyotes to a 9-2 record and a share of the North Central Conference title. Beschorner, who finished second in the Hill Trophy voting, tied tied or set 29 USD records during the 2005 season, directing a Coyotes offense that led the nation in scoring (49.7 ppg) and total offense (583.3 ypg). Individually, he led NCAA-II in passing efficiency (215.2 rating) and ranked fifth in total offense (318.2 ypg).
Anderson, a senior from Coon Rapids, Minn., earned first-team All-Region honors for a third straight season, helping the Fighting Sioux to a 10-3 record, a share of the 2005 NCC title and a repeat trip to the NCAA-II national playoffs. Anderson, who finished fifth in the Hill Trophy voting, recorded a team-leading 99 tackles (54 solo) with 12 TFLs, 4.0 quarterback sacks and five interceptions.
Grand Valley State, which completed a perfect 13-0 season with a 21-17 victory over Northwest Missouri State University in the National Championship game on Dec. 10, placed 12 players on the All-Region squad, along with North Dakota.
A total of 82 players earned some form of Football Gazette All-Northwest Region honors. Players from 23 of the 37 football-playing schools in the Northwest Region earned All-Northwest Region accolades.
FOR MORE INFORMATION please contact Football Gazette Northwest Region Chair Michael Herzberg, Sports Information Director at Winona State University, at 507-457-5576. The Football Gazette website is located at http://www.donhansen.com.