Area briefs: SU places 8 on All-ODAC football team

FOREST — Shenandoah University had eight football players earn All-ODAC honors in selections announced Tuesday by the league office, and Bridgewater College tight end and Clarke County High School graduate Cord Keating was also selected to the All-ODAC team.

 

Seniors Jajuan Johnson and Cory Gay lead the SU group with a pair of first team selections on defense.

 

Senior Nick Erdman and junior Byron Mitchell garnered second team honors on defense with Jake Brent, Qiydaar Murphy, Evan Griffin and Sean Blackman all named third team All-ODAC.

 

Johnson grabs a first team spot at linebacker after leading the league in tackles per game, 11.9, and finishing fourth in total tackles, 107.

 

Johnson’s 107 stops are a new school record.

 

Gay, a three-year starter at punter, joins Johnson on the first team after averaging 36.9 yards per punt this season. This was just 0.2 yards from leading the league and he led the ODAC in both punts downed inside the 20, 11, and fair caught (15).

 

Gay also was a perfect 4 for 4 passing this season on fake punts. All four passes went for first downs.

 

Erdman had a second-best-in-ODAC 13.5 tackles for loss to help him gain a spot on the second team defensive line. He had 50 total tackles on the year and picked off his first career pass in the season finale at Washington and Lee.

 

Erdman finishes his career as the all-time TFL leader at SU.

 

Mitchell was tied for second in conference-play interceptions with three and his 61 overall tackles was good for 21st in the league.

 

As a kick returner, Mitchell finished fifth in the league in return yard average and is 469 return yards led the league.

 

Murphy, a wide receiver, and Brent, a tackle, are the lone SU representatives to the All-ODAC team on the offensive side of the ball.

 

Murphy finished fifth in the league in receiving yards per game and tied for seventh in touchdowns.

 

Brent, a preseason All-America, anchored the offensive line from his left tackle position. He helped SU to 284.8 yards per game and a 137.9 per game rushing average.

 

Griffin, a defensive end, and Blackman, a cornerback, round out the third team honorees.

 

Griffin was third in the league in sacks with six and second in conference sacks at 4.5.

 

Blackman had 48 total tackles from his cornerback position. Teams consistently threw away from him all year long but he still posted four pass breakups on the year.

In addition, Keating, a senior at Bridgewater College, made second team All-ODAC at tight end. Keating led Bridgewater in receiving yards with 401 in only seven games, with his 401 yards leading the league among tight ends. Keating averaged 14.3 yards per catch on 28 receptions and scored two touchdowns.

 

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bishops 67, Hornets 59

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Shenandoah University lost to former USA South Conference rival North Carolina Wesleyan College in the South Region Challenge Tuesday.

The Hornets (1-2) trailed 39-32 at halftime.

SU was led by Avery Green, who had 22 points, three steals and two assists; Xavier Alston, who had eight points and six rebounds; and Daron Bogier, who had eight points.

N.C. Wesleyan’s Brandon Givens had 43 points.

 

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Eagles 64, Hornets 50

FREDERICKSBURG — Junior forward Aby Diop scored a career-high 15 points and added 10 rebounds in leading the 13t- ranked University of Mary Washington to a win over Shenandoah University on Tuesday night at the Anderson Center in the Eagles' home opener.

 

The Eagles built a four-point cushion at 33-29 at halftime, as Shenandoah stayed close by making 6-11 three point attempts in the opening 20 minutes. UMW used a balanced attack in the first, as junior guard Sam Partonen scored eight points while Diop, junior Brieneke Matthes, and freshman Caitie Geoghegan each posted six points. UMW shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half, while six of the Hornets' 10 field goals were from long range.

 

The Eagles used a 9-2 run to open the second half, including five from Diop, to up the lead to 11 at 42-31 with 17:53 remaining. The Hornets were able to close the deficit to six several times, including with 6:22 to play, but Diop quickly returned the lead to nine and successful free throws from Diop and sophomore Amanda Witmer kept the lead at 10 at 60-50 with 2:44 to play. In the final minute, Partonen and Witmer each made two free throws for the 14-point win.

 

The Eagles won the battle of the boards, 49-27.

Shenandoah was led by Sara D’Amico’s 13 points. Crystal Petrus added 12 points and Holly Chittenden 11.

 

 

 

 

BOYS’ SOCCER

Dunsmore new Colonels’ head coach

WINCHESTER — James Wood High School has named Matt Dunsmore its new varsity boys’ soccer coach.

For the past five years, Dunsmore has served as the coach of James Wood’s JV boys’ soccer team.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue coaching soccer at James Wood at the varsity level,” said Dunsmore in a press release. “During my time as the JV coach, I’ve taken great pride in seeing our younger players progress and move on to compete at the varsity level.

“I’m looking forward to working with our players and the school administration to continue building the soccer program at James Wood.”

Dunsmore succeeds Christopher Hild who served as James Wood’s varsity boys’ soccer coach for the past four seasons.

Hild’s teams accumulated a record of 24-37-6. In 2011, Hild led James Wood to its first-ever Northwestern District regular season and tournament titles and its first Region II tournament berth in a 9-6-2 season.

In addition to his coaching experience at James Wood High School, Dunsmore has served as a coach with Winchester United for the past six years. He served as an assistant coach his first year with Winchester United and has been a head coach the past five years.

As a high school player, Dunsmore represented South Dakota in the Olympic Development Program. As a club and select soccer player, Dunsmore was part of three state championship teams in South Dakota.

“Coach Dunsmore has done an excellent job with our JV soccer program the past several years,” said James Wood Principal Joe Salyer in a press release. “I’m looking forward to seeing him move up to the varsity level and continuing to develop our soccer players into outstanding student-athletes.”