Bernard Scott leads Wildcats' all-America selections
12/11/2008 6:00:00 AM | Football
ABILENE ? The ACU Wildcats enjoyed one of the greatest football seasons in school history in 2008, and they began to reap the rewards of that campaign Wednesday when the American Football Coaches' Association and Daktronics announced their respective NCAA Division II all-America teams.
Only one player per school is allowed on the AFCA team, and that one player for the Wildcats is running back Bernard Scott, who is a top-three finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. Scott was joined in the backfield on the AFCA team by Glenville State (W.Va.) running back Jerry Seymour, who led the nation in rushing.
The Wildcats, though, had the most selections of any school in the country to the Daktronics team, which is voted on by the nation's sports information directors. The Wildcats had six players on the Daktronics team, including three on the first team led by Scott at running back. Scott was the top vote-getter at the running back position on the Daktronics team and was voted the Ron Lenz Offensive Player of the Year.
ACU's other first team selections to the Daktronics all-America team were senior center Sam Collins and junior offensive tackle Tony Washington. ACU's second team selections were wide receiver Johnny Knox, offensive guard Joseph Thompson and placekicker Matt Adams.
Scott was second in the nation in rushing yards (2,156) and led the nation in all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game in leading the Wildcats to an 11-1 record, a trip to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals and the program's first outright Lone Star Conference championship since 1973.
Scott has already been named to the Daktronics All-Super Region Four offensive player of the year, and he was the Lone Star Conference's offensive back of the year for the second consecutive year. Scott ? last year's runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy ? will find out Friday night if he is the 2008 winner at the awards banquet.
Collins started a school-record 46 straight games at center for the Wildcats, never missing a game in his career and helping the 2008 Wildcats lead the nation in total offense and scoring offense. Washington started 12 games at left tackle for the Wildcats, while Thompson was the starter at right guard for ACU. Those three players formed the core of one of the nation's top offensive lines, a unit that allowed just eight sacks on the season.
Washington was voted the LSC South Division Offensive Lineman of the Year, while both Collins and Thompson were also voted first team all-LSC South Division and first team all-region.
Knox became ACU's all-time leader in touchdown receptions in 2008, finishing his two-year career with 30 TD receptions. He also finished in the top 10 in ACU history in catches and receiving yards.
Adams finished his career as both the LSC and ACU leader in PATs, PAT attempts and kicking points. He's the only kicker in ACU history to kick four field goals in two games, and he's also the LSC and ACU single-season leader in PATs, PAT attempts and kicking points.
