BEREA, OHIO -- Ten Baldwin-Wallace College football players have been tabbed to the 2004 All-Ohio Athletic Conference team. The Yellow Jackets finished the 2004 season with a 6-4 overall and 5-4 OAC record.
Named as first-team All-OAC selections are sophomore running back Brandon Hedges (Oregon/ Clay), junior outside linebacker Justin Princehorn (Massillon/ Washington), senior defensive back Justin Andes (Canal Fulton/ Canton Central Catholic) and freshman punter Kevin Soflkiancs (Middleburg Heights/ Midpark). Named to the second-team were 2003 Division III All-American tight end Nate Wilder (Youngstown/ Cardinal Mooney), sophomore offensive guard Tom Lutz (Oregon/ Clay), senior defensive end Ryan Lewis (Holland/ Springfield) and junior middle linebacker Joe George (Massillon/ Perry). Tabbed as honorable mention All-OAC choices are senior offensive tackle Josh Jameyson (Wellington) and senior defensive end Rick Schontz (Butler, Pa./ Butler).
Hedges, who carries a 3.3 grade average in sport medicine and fitness management, led the OAC in rushing with 1,162 yards on a school single-season record 225 attempts with 13 touchdowns and in all-purpose yards with 1,315 yards and led B-W in receiving with 23 catches for 152 yards and scoring with 78 points. Hedges was a two-time OAC Offensive Player of the Week and had seven 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 192-yard effort.
Princehorn, who carries a 3.3 grade point average in computer science and is a three-year starter, moved up to the first-team after being tabbed as a second-team pick as a sophomore. He was second on the team in tackles this year with 72 and first in 2003 with 104. In addition this year, Princehorn had two quarterback sacks, nine tackles for lost yardage, caused two fumbles and had a team-leading two interceptions and 11 pass breakups. After three seasons, Princehorn has 183 career tackles, including 23 tackles for lost yardage and six interceptions.
Andes, who carries a 3.73 grade point average in biology and pre-med, started in the Yellow Jacket secondary for the third straight year. The two-time Academic All-OAC player and three-time Academic All-District IV choice was third on the team in tackles with 55, including 30 solo stops. He had one interception and nine pass breakups. Has had 123 career tackles and six interceptions.
Soflkiancs, a business administration major, led the OAC and Division III in punting with a 42.7-yard average in 55 attempts with 20 punts landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He was a two-time OAC Special Teams Player of the Week, a national Football Gazette Player of the Week and set B-W records for punting average in a season, in a game and at The George Finnie Stadium.
Wilder, a business administration and computer information technology major, ended an outstanding four-year career at B-W. He caught 21 passes this year for 234 yards and a team-leading five TD. A year ago, Wilder earned first-team All-OAC, first-team All-North Region and third-team Football Gazette Division III All-American accolades when he caught 20 passes for 294 yards and six TD. He ended his career with 60 catches for 798 yards and 12 TD.
Lutz, who carries a 3.61 grade average, started at guard and led a Yellow Jacket offensive line that helped Hedges, his high school teammate, lead the OAC in rushing and the B-W offense average 331 yards per game.
Lewis, who carries a 3.1 grade average in business administration, is a second-team All-OAC choice for the second straight year. This year, he had 46 total tackles and led B-W with nine quarterback sacks for minus 61 yards and 15 tackles for losses of 77 yards. For his career, Lewis had 110 tackles, including 16 sacks, 35 tackles for loss and 16 pass deflections.
George, who carries a 3.6 grade point average in biology and pre-med, has started 31 straight games for the Yellow Jackets and is just one of 11 players in school history to record more than 200 career tackles (currently has 225). He led B-W in tackles with 87 and additionally had 4.5 tackles for lost yardage and one interception.
Jameyson, a business administration major, was a two-year starter and served as a team captain this year. He joined Lutz in helping Hedges achieve a 1,000-yard season in 2004 and helped the Jacket offense score 18.9 points per game. As a junior, Jameyson helped graduated All-American Mark Anders rush for more than 1,000 yards and B-W reach the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time since 1991.
Schontz, who carries a 3.0 grade average in health and physical education, ended a strong four-year varsity career, including three seasons as a starter. This fall, Schontz had 29 tackles, including one QB sack and five tackles for lost yardage. During his four-year career, he had 122 tackles, 12 sacks and 22 tackles for lost yardage and five caused fumbles.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on B-W football and other athletics teams, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
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