Seven Bearcats garner all-region honors

Northwest Missouri State had seven players that were named to the Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Team Wednesday.

All-American senior safety Nate DeJong, All-American senior offensive tackle Rod Williams and senior linebacker Collin DeBuysere each made first team all-region.

Williams, who was named First-Team All-Region by Daktronics last month, was a three-year starter at left tackle. He helped open running lanes for James Franklin III and Jordan Simmons who both averaged better than five yards per carry.

DeJong and DeBuysere combined for 12 interceptions on the year as Northwest led NCAA Division II with 28. DeJong led the team with seven picks while DeBuysere was the second leading tackler with 74 and added a team-high nine tackles for a loss.

Senior defensive lineman Travis Chappelear and sophomore punter Kyle Goodburn were picked on the second team. Senior kicker Todd Adolf, who was a Fred Mitchell Award finalist, joined cornerback Brandon Dixon on the third team.

The Northwest defense was one of the best in the nation holding opponents to 13 points per game, the third lowest total in NCAA II.

Chappelear was the third leading tackler for the Bearcats with 62 tackles and added 8.0 tackles for a loss. The senior blocked two kicks and recorded 1.5 sacks with one forced fumble as he was also invited to play in the 2013 Casino Del Sol College All Star game at Kino Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.

Goodburn led the MIAA in punt average and was fourth in the nation averaging 44.2 yards per punt.

Adolf, a first-team All-MIAA selection, connected on 16-18 field goals and made all 70 extra points.

Dixon picked off five passes in his debut season with Northwest, tying for second on the team in that category with twin brother Brian Dixon.

The first-team and second-team All-Region selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2012 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team will be named later this month.

A total of 103 players earned some form of Don Hansen All-Super Region Three honors. Players from 38 of the 46 football-playing schools in Super Region Three earned All-Region accolades.