12 Manchester Football Players Earn All-HCAC Honors
12 Manchester Football Players Earn All-HCAC Honors
Posted
Dillon Bender-
12 Manchester Football Players Earn All-HCAC HonorsCARMEL – Manchester University was well represented on the All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference teams as 12 Spartans earned recognition from the league office this week.
Manchester had a pair of All-HCAC First Teamers in RB Donavan Henderson, Jr. and OL Connor Bettis. MU placed four players on the All-HCAC Second Team and had six players named to the Honorable Mention All-HCAC Team.
All-HCAC First Team
RB Donavan Henderson, Jr.
• Led the HCAC in rushing yards (1,709), rushing touchdowns (20), and rushing yards per game (170.9).
• Ranked second nationally in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. Ranked third nationally in rushing TDs.
• MU's all-time rusher with 3,969 yards and 53 touchdowns.
• Tied NCAA record with 8 rushing TDs against Anderson.
• Three-time HCAC Offensive Player of the Week.
• Named to D3football.com National Team of the Week on Nov. 19.
OL Connor Bettis
• Two-time All-HCAC honoree after being named to the All-HCAC Second Team in 2018.
• Played in all 10 games this season.
• Key member of offensive line that helped power one of the nation's top rushing attacks.
All-HCAC Second Team
OL Melvin Jackson
• Second-year starter on MU's offensive line.
• Played in nine games during his sophomore season.
• Key member of offensive line that helped power one of the nation's top rushing attacks.
LB Devontay Moore
• Made immediate impact in first season in a Manchester uniform.
• Led the HCAC and ranked 11th nationally with 11 sacks.
• Ranked third in the HCAC with 14 tackles-for-loss for 96 yards.
• Led Manchester and ranked fifth in the HCAC with 68 total tackles.
• Also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, broke up two passes, and blocked a punt.
CB Jaquan Walker
• Tied for first in the HCAC with four interceptions. Returned those interceptions for a combined 70 yards.
• Led the HCAC and ranked eighth nationally with 13 pass break-ups.
• Finished sophomore season with 32 total tackles.
RET Chico Ward
• Played in all 10 games as a freshman this fall.
• Ranked second in the HCAC with 581 kickoff return yards.
• Averaged 20.8 yards a return.
• Longest kickoff return went for 73 yards against Defiance.
Honorable Mention
K/P Andrew Kibler
• Two-time HCAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Finished the season 36-of-37 on PATs. Added three field goals for 45 total points.
• Punted 50 times for 1,644 yards, averaging 32.9 yards per punt.
• Placed seven punts inside the 20-yard line.
TE Charlie Peterson
• Appeared in all 10 games as a sophomore.
• Caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
• Also helped block for one of the nation's top rushing attacks.
QB Austin Roberts
• Senior totaled 1,094 yards of offense in final season for the Black & Gold.
• Threw for 765 yards, rushed for 319 yards and caught one pass for 10 yards.
• Threw for eight touchdowns and rushed for six touchdowns.
LB Conner Sherwin
• The Whitko graduate played in all 10 games as a junior.
• Finished season with 51 total tackles.
• Had 1 sack and 2.5 tackles-for-loss for six yards.
• Forced one fumble, while recovering a pair.
DL Nolan Sipe
• Totaled 54 tackles in final season in a Manchester uniform.
• Had a pair of sacks for 13 yards. Also had 7.5 tackles-for-loss for 29 yards.
• Grabbed first career interception this season against Bluffton.
LB Justin Thomas
• Started all 10 games during senior campaign.
• Ranked 10th in the HCAC with 64 total tackles.
• Had one sack for six yards and finished with six tackles-for-loss for 27 yards.
