Four Gorillas Earn Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Honors - KOAM TV 7

Four Gorillas Earn Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Honors

PITTSBURG — Four members of the Pittsburg State University football team earned All-Super Region Three honors from the Don Hansen Football Committee today (Jan. 9).

John Brown earned first-team honors as both an all-purpose back and a return specialist, while junior linebacker Nate Dreiling also garnered first-team recognition. Brown also was named the Super Region Three Special Teams Player of the Year. Senior defensive end Gus Toca and junior offensive tackle Cody Holland received second-team accolades.

All four individuals now advance to the Don Hansen Football Committee All-America ballot. The 2012 Don Hansen Division II All-America Team will be announced later this month.

Brown, a native of Homestead, Fla., compiled 2,000 all-purpose yards on the season, ranking second in Division II in all-purpose yards (200.0 ypg).  He caught 63 passes for 973 yards (15.4 ypc) and eight touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 202 yards and a score. Brown also ranked eighth nationally in punt returns (15.4 ypc) and averaged 24.7 yards on kickoff returns, compiling 825 combined return yards on the season.

Dreiling, from Victoria/Hutchinson, Kan., made a team-leading 83 tackles with 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 quarterback sacks, two interceptions and seven pass break-ups.

Toca, a Blue Springs, Mo., native recorded 40 tackles on the season with 14.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks, while Holland, from Neosho, Mo., anchored a Pitt State offensive line that helped the Gorillas average 33.0 points and 454.4 total yards per game.

Brown and Dreiling already have been named to the Daktronics Division II All-America Team, while Brown also has garnered All-America honors from the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association.

Missouri Western running back Michael Hill, a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, was named the Super Region Three Offensive Player of the Year, while Missourn Southern defensive tackle Brandon Williams was named the Super Region Three Defensive Player of the Year. Minnesota State's Aaron Keen received Super Region Three Coach of the Year honors.