RICHARDSON – The Lone Star Conference announced the annual football all-conference and all-academic awards Friday, with the back-to-back-to-back LSC Champion Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions racking up eight first team all-conference, five second team all-conference, 14 honorable mention all-conference, and two LSC all-academic honors.
 
Leading the team with an individual honor was cornerback Uriah Harris, who was named the LSC Defensive Back of the Year. The senior from Frostproof, Fla., averaged 4.9 tackles per game, had an interception which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown, and broke up three passes. He was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week after the 36-0 shutout win over West Texas A&M. He also earned first team all-LSC honors.
 
Also earning first team all-conference honors at defensive tackle was Tavita Faaiu. The senior from San Francisco, Calif., led the team in sacks with four and had eight tackles for loss mixed in his 23 total tackles. He forced a fumble, had four quarterback hurries, and broke up a pass.
 
On offense, running back Richard Cooper and wide receiver Lance Evans repeated as first team all-conference honorees. Offensive tackle Jared Machorro and quarterback Luis Perez earned first team all-conference honors for the first time in their careers.
 
Cooper – a senior from Angleton – finished second in the league in rushing, averaging 103.0 yards per game. He has 927 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 153 carries this season, with a career high 224 yards and two touchdowns in the win over A&M-Kingsville. He had four games of over 100 yards rushing this season and went over 3,000 career rushing yards in his career, becoming just the fifth Lion to do so.
 
Evans – a senior from Mansfield – finished third in the conference in receiving yards per game. He caught 34 passes for 556 yards and seven touchdowns, with a season-high seven catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Oklahoma Panhandle State.
 
Machorro – a junior from Coldspring – led an offensive line that pushed opponents around, allowing only four sacks this season, the fewest in the league and third fewest in the nation.
 
Perez – a junior from San Diego, Calif. – was the most efficient passer in the league this season, completing 202-of-306 passes for 2,802 yards with 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He had seven games of over 250 yards passing and four games of over 300 yards passing, with a season-best 396 yards at Panhandle State. He had five touchdown passes in wins at Eastern New Mexico and UT Permian Basin. He leads the LSC in five categories - pass efficiency, passing yards per game, passing yards per attempt, passing yards per completion, points responsible for per game and total offense.
 
Special teams was a strong point for the Lions this season, and two players in that phase earned first team all-conference honors in return specialist Shawn Hooks and punter Hector Dominguez.
 
Hooks – a junior from Daingerfield – leads the nation in punt return touchdowns with three. He took an opponent's punt to paydirt at Western New Mexico, at Angelo State, and in the regular season finale against Tarleton State. His 18.0 yards per punt return average ranked second in the conference. He earned LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice this year.
 
Dominguez – a senior from Hacienda Heights, Calif. – placed 18 of his 37 punts inside the opponents' 20-yardline this season and had an average of 41.2 yards per punt, which ranked second in the league. He earned LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice this year and had the longest punt of the season with a 70-yarder at Western New Mexico.
 
Five Lions were named second team all-LSC, starting up front with offensive linemen Christian Rodriguez and Jason Osei.
 
Rodriguez is a senior from Port Isabel, Texas, and Osei is a senior from London, England. The duo were key components in the strong offensive line play which paved the way for Cooper and protected Perez.
 
John Thomas earned second team all-LSC honors at tight end. The senior from Bossier City, La., was a key blocker in the Lions' offense and also caught seven passes for 66 yards this season, with an 11-yard touchdown catch at Eastern New Mexico.
 
Darby Smith earned second team all-LSC honors at wide receiver for the second consecutive season after leading qualifying players in yards per reception this season. The senior from Ennis had 26 receptions for 537 yards, averaging 20.7 yards per catch. He had consecutive games of over 100 yards receiving against Midwestern State and Western New Mexico, scoring twice against MSU.
 
Kicker Kristov Martinez earned both second team all-LSC honors as the leading scorer amongst the league's kickers. The sophomore from Edinburg connected on 15-of-21 field goals this year with a long of 44 yards. He also made 48-of-51 point after field goal attempts. He recovered his own onside kick against Tarleton and had 20 touchbacks on 67 kickoffs. He also earned LSC All-Academic honors as well.
 
On the all-LSC honorable mention list were center John Aguilar (Lubbock, Texas), tackle Malik Ellis (Daingerfield, Texas), tackle Poet Thomas (Beverly Hills, Mich.), return specialist Buck Wilson (Commerce, Texas), tight end Chris Chumley (Longview, Texas), cornerback Yusef Sterling-Lowe (Oakland, Calif.), defensive end Mike Onuoha (Edmond, Okla.), defensive end Kieston Carter (Mexia, Texas), long snapper Austin Jordan (Rowlett, Texas), defensive tackle Adam Sagapolu (Hayward, Calif.), linebacker Cameron Rogers (San Antonio, Texas), linebacker Brucks Saathoff (San Antonio, Texas), linebacker Hatari Byrd (Fresno, Calif.), and safety Trey Porter (Garland, Texas).
 
Joining Martinez on the LSC All-Academic Team was wide receiver Justice Luce (Lucas, Texas).

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FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Joel Onyia	Midwestern State	OG	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
Stuart Sanchez	A&M-Kingsville	OG	Jr.	Corpus Christi, Texas
Jared Machorro	A&M-Commerce	OT	Jr.	Coldspring, Texas
Bo Villarreal	A&M-Kingsville	OT	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy	Midwestern State	C	Sr.	Hilo, Hawaii
Stehly Reden	A&M-Kingsville	TE	Jr.	Valley Center, Calif.
Xavier Ayers	Western New Mexico	WR	Sr.	Albuquerque, NM
Del'Michael High	Tarleton State	WR	Jr.	Dallas, Texas
Anthony Autry	A&M-Kingsville	WR	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Lance Evans	A&M-Commerce	WR	Sr.	Mansfield, Texas
Luis Perez	A&M-Commerce	QB	Jr.	Chula Vista, Calif.
Kamal Cass	Eastern New Mexico	RB	Jr.	Clovis, NM
Richard Cooper	A&M-Commerce	RB	Sr.	Angleton, Texas
Torrey Thomas	A&M-Kingsville	FB	So.	Katy, Texas
Julio DeLaGarza	A&M-Kingsville	PK	So.	Brownsville, Texas
Shawn Hooks	A&M-Commerce	RS	Jr.	Daingerfield, Texas

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Brandon Jones	A&M-Kingsville	DE	So.	Houston, Texas
Markus Jones	Angelo State	DE	So.	Crowley, Texas
Darian Childers-Brown	Midwestern State	DT	Sr.	Copperas Cove, Texas
Tavita Faaiu	A&M-Commerce	DT	Sr.	San Francisco, Calif.
Cody Burtscher	Tarleton State	ILB	Sr.	Glen Rose, Texas
Brad Hardin	Eastern New Mexico	ILB	Jr.	Aztec, N.M.
Justin Jackson	Angelo State	OLB	So.	Missouri City, Texas
Braedon Robinson	A&M-Kingsville	OLB	Jr.	San Antonio, Texas
Uriah Harris	A&M-Commerce	CB	Sr.	Frostproof, Fla.
Lee Anthony Dawson	West Texas A&M	CB	So.	Austin, Texas
Davontae Merriweather	West Texas A&M	S	Sr.	Palmdale, Calif.
Sir'Vell Ford	Midwestern State	S	So.	Rosenberg, Texas
Todd Countee	Eastern New Mexico	S	So.	Albuquerque, N.M.
Hector Dominguez	A&M-Commerce	P	Sr.	Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Stephen Dugas	Angelo State	DS	Sr.	Cypress, Texas

SPECIAL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year (J.W. Rollins award): Myles Carr, A&M-Kingsville
Offensive Back of the Year: Kamal Cass, Eastern New Mexico
Receiver of the Year: Xavier Ayers, Western New Mexico
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy, Midwestern State
Freshman of the Year: Wyatt Strand, Eastern New Mexico
Defensive Player of the Year (J.V. Sikes award): Brandon Jones, A&M-Kingsville
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Brandon Jones, A&M-Kingsville
Linebacker of the Year: Cody Burtscher, Tarleton State
Defensive Back of the Year: Uriah Harris, A&M-Commerce
Coach of the Year: Daren Wilkinson, A&M-Kingsville
 

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Christian Rodriguez	A&M-Commerce	OG	Sr.	Port Isabel, Texas
Jason Osei	A&M-Commerce	OG	Sr.	London, England
Zach Andrews-Worline	Western New Mexico	OT	Sr.	San Diego, Calif.
Isaiah Talbert	Eastern New Mexico	OT	Jr.	Denver, Colo.
Austin Carson	West Texas A&M	C	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
John Thomas	A&M-Commerce	TE	Sr.	Bossier City, La.
Bubba Tandy	Tarleton State	WR	Sr.	Hopkinville, Ky.
Junior Pomee	West Texas A&M	WR	Jr.	Perris, Calif.
Darby Smith	A&M-Commerce	WR	Sr.	Ennis, Texas
Aaron Johnson	Eastern New Mexico	WR	Sr.	Colorado Springs, Colo.
Myles Carr	A&M-Kingsville	QB	Jr.	Arcadia, Calif.
Devon Paye	West Texas A&M	RB	Sr.	Columbia, Md.
Josh Stevens	Angelo State	RB	Jr.	Ormand Beach, Fla.
Vincent Johnson	Midwestern State	RB	So.	Lubbock, Texas
Brandt Baily	Tarleton State	FB	Fr.	Eastland, Texas
Kristov Martinez	A&M-Commerce	PK	So.	Edinburg, Texas
DeAndre Black	Midwestern State	RS	Jr.	Pittsburgh, Pa.

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Daelin Young	West Texas A&M	DE	Jr.	Mesquite, Texas
Harold Wills	Midwestern State	DE	Sr.	Gainesville, Texas
Bright Ihegworo	Angelo State	DT	R-Fr.	Sugar Land Texas
Samula Tupou	Eastern New Mexico	DT	Sr.	Kapahulu, Hawaii
ZeMarcus Green	A&M-Kingsville	ILB	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Dominic Barry	Western New Mexico	ILB	Jr.	Moreno Valley, Calif.
Willie Brown	Angelo State	ILB	Sr.	San Angelo Texas
Desmond Blue	Eastern New Mexico	OLB	Jr.	Sarasota, Fla.
EJ Speed	Tarleton State	OLB	So.	Crowley, Texas
Fred Lawrence	Angelo State	CB	Jr.	Abilene, Texas
Jarrod Sanders	A&M-Kingsville	CB	Jr.	Flomation, Ala.
Richard Franklin	Angelo State	S	Sr.	Dallas, Texas
Devonte Williams	A&M-Kingsville	S	So.	Houston, Texas
Alfonzo Wilson	Western New Mexico	S	Sr.	San Diego, Calif.
Tyler Vargas	Western New Mexico	P	R-Fr.	Ramona, Calif.
Kolter West	Eastern New Mexico	DS	Sr.	Ft. Sumner, NM

 

HONORABLE MENTION
Tyler Hamilton	Angelo State	C	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
John Aguilar	A&M-Commerce	C	Jr.	Lubbock, Texas
Islam Sbeih	Midwestern State	OG	Jr.	East Oakland, Calif.
Josh Bongiovanni	Eastern New Mexico	OG	Jr.	Tracy, Calif.
Corin Brooks	UT Permian Basin	OT	Sr.	Riverside, Calif.
Rance Layton	Angelo State	OT	Sr.	Seminole, Texas
Aundra Long	A&M-Kingsville	OT	Sr.	Huntsville, Texas
Malik Ellis	A&M-Commerce	OT	So.	Dangerfield, Texas
Jordan Wade	Eastern New Mexico	OT	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Denzell Dotson	Midwestern State	OT	Sr.	Phoeniz, Ariz.
Jakob Popple	Oklahoma Panhandle State	OT	Jr.	Salado, Texas
Reggie Harris	Angelo State	OT	Sr.	Killeen, Texas
Kevin Fisher Jr	Midwestern State	OT	So.	Lakeland, Fla.
Travis Vornkahl	West Texas A&M	OT	So.	Sealy, Texas
Poet Thomas	A&M-Commerce	OT	Jr.	Beverly Hills, Mich.
Conner Hollabaugh	West Texas A&M	PK	Sr.	Amarillo, Texas
Bailey Giffen	UT Permian Basin	PK	Fr.	Bryan, Texas
William 'Quade' Coward	Midwestern State	QB	Sr.	Cleburne, Texas
Luis Lopez	A&M-Kingsville	RB	Jr.	San Diego, Texas
Adrian Seales	Midwestern State	RB	So.	Stafford, Texas
Buck Wilson	A&M-Commerce	RS	Jr.	Commerce, Texas
PJ Leonce	West Texas A&M	RS	So.	Baytown, Texas
Anthony Autry	A&M-Kingsville	RS	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Chris Chumley	A&M-Commerce	TE	Sr.	Longview, Texas
Dorian Johnson	Midwestern State	TE	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Jordan Thomas	A&M-Kingsville	WR	Jr.	San Antonio, Texas
Devyn Williams	Oklahoma Panhandle State	WR	Jr.	Killeen, Texas
Breion Evans	Midwestern State	WR	Sr.	Austin, Texas
Statron Jones	Midwestern State	WR	Sr.	Manor , Texas
Cullen Craft	Midwestern State	CB	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Dominique Martin	Tarleton State	CB	Sr.	Lancaster, Texas
Yusef Sterling-Lowe	A&M-Commerce	CB	Jr.	Oakland, Calif.
DaMarcus Wilson	Midwestern State	CB	R-Fr.	Fort Worth, Texas
Alex Kuyinu	A&M-Kingsville	DE	Sr.	Missouri City, Texas
Chase Varnado	Tarleton State	DE	Jr.	Stephenville, Texas
Mike Onuoha	A&M-Commerce	DE	So.	Edmond, Okla.
Kieston Carter	A&M-Commerce	DE	Jr.	Mexia, Texas
Austin Jordan	A&M-Commerce	DS	Jr.	Rowlett, Texas
Bobby Joe Nielsen	Midwestern State	DS	Jr.	Lampasas, Texas
Trent Gow	Tarleton State	DS	Sr.	Mansfield, Texas
Edgar Luna	Midwestern State	DT	Sr.	Cameron, Texas
Adam Sagapolu	A&M-Commerce	DT	Jr.	Hayward, Calif.
Dakota Montoya	Eastern New Mexico	DT	Jr.	Clayton, NM
Solomon Perdue	West Texas A&M	DT	Jr.	Austin, Texas
Frank Seiuli	UT Permian Basin	DT	Jr.	Pago Pago, American Samoa
Gerred Johnson	West Texas A&M	DT	R-Fr.	Mansfield, Texas
Keandre Hall	Eastern New Mexico	DT	So.	Lubbock, Texas
Jared Thames	UT Permian Basin	DT	Jr.	Glen Rose, Texas
Cameron Rogers	A&M-Commerce	ILB	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
Alex Olson	West Texas A&M	ILB	Sr.	Highland Village, Texas
Hayden Dennis	West Texas A&M	ILB	R-Fr.	San Antonio, Texas
Basill Jackson	Tarleton State	OLB	Jr.	Arlington, Texas
Brucks Saathoff	A&M-Commerce	OLB	So.	San Antonio, Texas
DeMarcus Spurlock	A&M-Kingsville	OLB	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Hatari Byrd	A&M-Commerce	OLB	Sr.	Fresno, Calif.
Austin Williams	West Texas A&M	OLB	Jr.	Baytown, Texas
Jordan Meyers	Midwestern State	OLB	Sr.	Lewisville, Texas
John Cummings	West Texas A&M	P	Jr.	Plano, Texas
Mitchell Henton	Midwestern State	P	Jr.	Dallas, Texas
Tristen Ridge	Tarleton State	S	Sr.	Waco, Texas
Darryn Cain	Oklahoma Panhandle State	S	Fr.	Houston, Texas
Trey Porter	A&M-Commerce	S	Jr.	Garland, Texas
Jaydon Cunigan	Midwestern State	S	Fr.	Beaumont, Texas
Chazz Slatinsky	West Texas A&M	S	So.	Forney, Texas

 

2016 LSC FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS
Player	Team	Pos.	Yr.	Major	Hometown
Zed Woerner	Tarleton State	Jr.	QB	Kinesiology	Marble Falls, Texas
Cody Burtscher	Tarleton State	Sr.	LB	Bio-Medical Science	Glen Rose, Texas
Dillon Vaughan	West Texas A&M	Jr.	OL	Finance	Corpus Christi, Texas
Garrett Neuman	West Texas A&M	Jr.	OL	Business Management	Hondo, Texas
Rance Layton	Angelo State	Grad.	OL	Integrated Agribusiness	Seminole, Texas
Kristov Martinez	A&M-Commerce	So.	K	Management	Edinburg, Texas
Aundra Long	Texas A&M-Kingsville	Sr.	OL	History	Huntsville, Texas
Grant Aschenbeck	Angelo State	So.	LB	Integrated Agribusiness	East Bernard, Texas
Sequoia Smith	Oklahoma Panhandle State	So.	DE	Animal Science	Boyd, Texas
Justice Luce	A&M-Commerce	So.	WR	Psychology	Lucas, Texas
Brad Hardin	Eastern New Mexico	So.	LB	Physical Education	Aztec, N.M.

Academic Player of the Year: Zed Woerner, Tarleton State