CLARION, Pa. - Ten members of the Shepherd University football team have been named to the 2015 NCAA Division II All-Super Region One squad released today by the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Region Committee. Junior quarterback Jeff Ziemba (Newark, Del./St. Mark's), junior wide receiver Billy Brown (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg), senior fullback Jon Hammer (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford),  sophomore offensive lineman Lavonte Hights (N. Chesterfield, Va./Meadowbrook), senior defensive end Shaneil Jenkins (District Heights, Md./Suitland), and sophomore linebacker James Gupton (Waldorf, Md./North Point) were first team selections, senior kicker Ryan Earls (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island),  junior defensive back Tre Sullivan (Accokeek, Md./Gwynn Park), and junior return specialist CJ Davis (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) were named to the second team, while senior offensive lineman Zach Buffkin (Langley, Va./Langley) was a third team choice.  Additionally, Ziemba was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year, while head coach Monte Cater garnered Super Region One Coach of the Year honors.

Ziemba led the Rams to the NCAA Division II Championship game before bowing to Northwest Missouri State. Ziemba led the Rams to a 13-1 overall record, the Super Region 1 title and was named the MEC Offensive Player of the Year. Ziemba completed 235 of 373 passes for 3,414 yards and 30 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

Cater led his Rams to an outstanding 13-1 overall record, the MEC title, the Super Region 1 Championship and the NCAA Division II Title game. Cater, the 2015 MEC Coach of the Year, has completed 29 seasons at Shepherd. He has a career record of 222-91-1 (.709) at Shepherd.

Brown had 89 receptions for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Rams this season.  All three marks set Shepherd single-season records. He ranked second nationally in receiving yards.

Hammer, a key in the Shepherd offense with his blocking ability, had six catches for 76 yards.

Hights keyed the Rams' offensive line as the starter at right tackle all season.

Jenkins recorded 41 tackles (26 solos). He led the Rams with 23 tackles-for-loss (-106 yards) and 13.5 sacks (-80 yards). He added three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.

Gupton recorded 80 tackles (45 solo). He added 4.5 tackles-for-loss (-10 yards) and a pass breakup. He recorded a game-high 19 tackles in the national championship game against Northwest Missouri State.

Earls topped the Rams in scoring with 109 points as he connected on 18-of-23 field goals and 55-of-63 extra points. Earls completed his career as Shepherd's career leader in kick scoring (305 points), field goals (41), and extra points (182). He his 109 points and 18 field goals this year established Shepherd single season kick-scoring marks.

Sullivan recorded 55 tackles (37 solos) on the year. He posted two tackles-for-loss (- 4 yards). He added 11 pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Davis had 27 kickoff returns for 823 yards, both Shepherd single-season marks. He ranked fifth in NCAA II in kickoff returns with a 30.5 average. Davis also added 19 punt returns for 210 yards with an 11.1 average.

Buffkin helped key an offensive line that helped Shepherd rank second nationally in team passing efficiency.

The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988.  Don Hansen's Football Gazette began selecting Division II All-Region squads in 2003.
 
The first-team and second-team All-Region selections advance to a national ballot from which the 2015 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America team will be named later this month.

Shepherd and Slippery Rock each placed six players on first team, while New Haven and Charleston had three each and East Stroudsburg, Assumption and Johnson C. Smith had two first team members.

Shepherd led the overall team with 10 selections, Slippery Rock had nine, IUP and Charleston had eight each, West Chester and Shippensburg had seven and New Haven, and California had six.

2015 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All Super Region 1 Team
First Team Offense
POS NAME  HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Matt Soltes  6-3 220 Sr. E.Stroudsburg Vernon, N.J.  Vernon
QB Jeff Ziemba  6-3 210 Jr. Shepherd Newark, Del.  St. Mark's
RB Andre Anderson 5-8 195 Jr. New Haven New Haven, Conn. James Hilhouse
RB Shamar Greene 5-9 185 Jr. Slippery Rock Duquesne, Pa.  West Mifflin
RB Rahmann Lee  6-0 190 Sr. Glenville St. Capitol Heights, Md.
FB Jon Hammer  6-0 238 Sr. Shepherd Jarrettsville, Md. North Harford
WR Billy Brown  6-4 236 Jr. Shepherd Gaithersburg, Md. Gaithersburg
WR Matt Lehman  6-3 200 Jr. Clarion  Lower Burrell, Pa. Burrell
WR Jon Schnaars  6-3 210 Sr. E.Stroudsburg Harrisburg, Pa. Central Dauphin
TE Daree' Goodwin 6-4 235 Sr. W. Liberty Wheeling, W.Va. Wheeling Park
OC Joe LoSchiavo  6-3 305 Jr. S. Rock Lakewood, Oh. St. Edward
OG Ethan Cooper  6-4 320 Jr. IUP  Steelton, Pa.  Central Dauphin East
OG Justin Johnson  6-3 290 Jr. Charleston Parkersburg, W.Va. Parkersburg
OT Lavonte Hights 6-3 288 So. Shepherd N. Chesterfield, Va. Meadowbrook
OT Cory Tucker  6-4 305 Sr. S. Rock South Park, Pa. South Park
OT Zach Voytek  6-5 300 Sr. New Haven Trumbull, Conn.  Trumbull
AP Michael Anderson 5-9 190 Jr. WV.Wesleyan Elkridge, Md.  Howard
PK Cole Tracy  6-0 185 So. Assumption Camarillo, Cal.  Newbury Park

First Team Defense
POS NAME  HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Anthony McDaniel 6-1 275 Sr. Bowie St. Ft. Washington, Md. Henry A. Wise
DL Joe Phillips  6-3 260 Jr. S. Rock Washington, Pa. Washington
DL Ben Polci  6-4 285 Sr. Merrimack Newton, Mass. Newton North
DE Andrew Cohen 6-3 255 Sr. West Chester Holland, Pa.  Council Rock South
DE Shaneil Jenkins 6-4 275 Sr. Shepherd District Heights, Md. Suitland
DE Marcus Martin  6-3 245 So. S. Rock West Mifflin, Pa. West Mifflin
LB Tyler Condit  5-11 235 Sr. New Haven Caldwell, N.J.  James Caldwell
LB James Gupton  5-10 208 So. Shepherd Waldorf, Md.  North Point
LB Austin Jacques 6-3 240 Sr. J.C. Smith Springdale, Md. Flowers
LB D'Gary Wallace 6-0 210 Sr. Urbana  Dayton, Ohio  Dunbar
LB Teven Williams 5-11 220 Sr. S. Rock Huber Heights, Ohio Wayne
CB Mike Ford  5-9 170 Sr. AIC  Sammamish, Wash. Skyline
CB Torie Wagner  5-9 180 Sr. Charleston Severn, Md.  Old Mill
SAF Aaron Terry  5-11 195 Jr. California Pasadena, Md.  Chesapeake
SAF Carlo Thomas  6-2 185 So. J.C. Smith E. Orange, N.J.
SAF Mike Zanders  5-9 180 Jr. Gannon Charlotte, N.C. Hopewell
P Brett Benes  6-0 180 Jr. Charleston Boca Raton, Fla. Cardinal Newman
RS Deonte Harris  5-8 175 Fr. Assumption Baltimore, Md. Archbishop Curley

Second Team Offense
POS NAME  HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB James Harris  6-2 225 Sr. California Woodstock, Ga. Etowah
RB Calvinaugh Jones 5-9 200 Sr. Concord Glen Burnie, Md. Meade
RB Chris Temple  5-11 220 So. IUP  Malvern, Pa.  Great Valley
FB T.J. Latimer  6-0 25- Sr. Mercyhurst Warren, Pa.  Warren
WR Garry Brown  6-1 200 Jr. California Columbus, Ohio Westerville South
WR Jere Brown  5-11 190 Sr. Merrimack Freeport, N.Y.  Freeport
WR Terrence Younger 6-2 195 Sr. Va.-Wise Naruna, Va.  William Campbell
TE Sean Binckes  6-4 243 Sr. LIU-Post Brooklyn, N.Y. Xaverian
TE Tim Brown  6-3 235 Sr. West Chester Clifton Heights, Pa. Upper Darby
OC Coleman Osborne 6-3 275 Jr. Concord Gretna, Va.  Gretna
OG Tyler Drob  6-2 285 So. West Chester Cherry Hill, N.J. Cherry Hill East
OG Zach Erb  6-3 290 Jr. Charleston Mechanicsville Hoover
OG Tyler Peerson  6-4 285 Jr. California Bethlehem, Pa. Freedom
OT Doug Gilbert  6-4 345 Jr. West Chester Mount Laurel N.J. Lenape
OT Jorge Vicioso  6-5 300 Sr. IUP  Passaic, N.J.  Passaic
AP Robert Healy  5-10 190 Jr. E.Stroudsburg E. Meadow, N.H. East Meadow
PK Ryan Earls  6-0 166 Sr. Shepherd Stevensville, Md. Kent Island

Second Team Defense
POS NAME  HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Tyrone Brown  6-0 270 Sr. Kutztown Philadelphia, Pa. Roman Catholic
DL Drake Harris  6-1 300 Sr. New Haven Union, N.J.  Union
DL Darnell Vickers 6-2 285 Jr. West Liberty Akron, Ohio  Kenmore
DE Karon Gibson  5-11 260 Sr. IUP  Sicklerville, N.J. Woodbury
DE Richard Nase  6-2 230 Fr. Shippensburg Summit Hill, Pa. Panther Valley
LB Zachary Blair  6-2 190 Jr. Va.-Wise Front Royal, Va. Skyline
LB Kevin Clarke  6-0 210 Jr. IUP  West Mifflin, Pa. West Mifflin
LB Bob Vernick  6-1 230 Jr. S. Rock Butler, Pa.  Butler
CB Jeremiah Johnson 6-1 185 So. Concord Baltimore, Md. Perry Hall
CB Teddy Patton  5-9 170 Jr. West Chester Wilmington, Del. McKean
SAF Jordan Bowman 6-0 210 Jr. California Harrisburg, Pa. Central Dauphin
SAF Tre Sullivan  6-0 190 Jr. Shepherd Accokeek, Md. Gwynn Park
SAF Brian Hall  5-11 180 Sr. Bowie St. Capitol Heights, Md. Gwynn Park
P Tyler Ford  6-0 210 Jr. Bentley Amherst, N.H.  Souhegan
RS C.J. Davis  5-9 188 Jr. Shepherd Hagerstown, Md. South Hagerstown

Third Team Offense
POS NAME  HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
QB Malik Grove  5-11 185 So. Notre Dame Cincinnati, Ohio Lakota West
QB Jeff Kidd  6-4 210 Jr. LIU-Post Salem, Oregon  Sprague
QB Connor Simmons 6-2 210 Jr. Clarion  New Palestine, Ind. New Palestine
QB Lenny Williams 5-10 195 Fr. IUP  McKees Rocks, Pa. Sto-Rox
RB Elad Covaliu  5-10 215 Sr. Saint Anselm Rockville, Md. Walter Johnson
RB Tevin Drake  6-0 215 Sr. Glenville St. Brooksville, Fla.
RB Lawrence Elliott 6-1 207 Jr. Bloomsburg Utica, N.Y.  Thomas Proctor
RB Brock Jones  5-10 210 Sr. Gannon Peninsula, Ohio  Walsh Jesuit
RB Stephen Scott  5-8 205 Jr. Lincoln Baltimore, Md. Balt. Polytechnic
FB Dan Wheeler  6-2 270 Sr. Shippensburg Lewistown, Pa. Lewistown
FB Shaun Workinger 5-11 235 Sr. Concord Greensboro, N.C. Page
WR Joey Augustin  6-4 200 Jr. Charleston Christiansburg, Va. Christiansburg
WR Shane Hubbard 6-1 202 Jr. LIU-Post St. Albans, N.Y. John Adams
WR Devante Jenkins 6-3 205 Jr. So. Conn. St. Carson, Cal.  North Torrance
WR Nyme Manns  6-4 212 Jr. Bowie St. Baltimore, Md. Patterson
WR Sheldon Mayer 5-7 170 Sr. Shippensburg Norristown, Pa. Norristown
WR Kowan Scott  6-4 190 Sr. California Easton, Pa.  Wilson
WR Mitchell Shegos 6-2 200 Jr. Notre Dame Fenton, Mich.  Fenton
WR Kellen Williams 6-0 210 Jr. Kutztown Chambersburg, Pa. Chambersburg
TE Del'Vaughn Dennis 6-4 255 So. Lock Haven Enola, Pa.  East Pennsboro
TE John Matarazzo 6-4 245 Sr. Mercyhurst New Castle, Pa. New Castle
OC Luke Erdman  6-1 280 Sr. Lock Haven Shamokin, Pa.  Line Mountain
OC Addison Hayes 6-2 314 Sr. Va. Union Savannah, Ga.  Windsor Forest
OG Zack Buffkin  6-3 291 Sr. Shepherd Langley, Va.  Langley
OG Mike McGlashen 6-1 265 Sr. Cheyney Philadelphia, Pa. George Washington
OG Jared Orazio  6-6 315 Sr. New Haven Greenfield, N.H. Contoocook Valley
OT Juwaughn Arnold 6-5 290 Sr. Charleston Mocksville, N.C. Davie county
OT Sullivan Crotty 6-5 270 Sr. Assumption Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Christian Bros.Acad.
OT Leon Hill  6-5 330 Sr. Glenville St. Olympia Fields, Il.
OT Zach Jones  6-5 315 Sr. AIC  Wappingers Falls, NY. Roy C. Ketchum
OT Jordan Morgan 6-4 300 Jr. Kutztown Philadelphia, Pa. Parkway Northwest
OT Mike Sollenne  6-3 250 Fr. LIU-Post Massapequa Park, NY Massapequa
AP Deonte Harris  5-8 175 Fr. Assumption Baltimore, Md. Archbishop Curley
AP Andrew Smith  5-8 200 Sr. Shippensburg Haymarket, Va. Battlefield
AP Delrece Williams 6-0 200 So. Clarion  Homestead, Pa. Steel Valley
PK Billy Deane  5-9 165 Jr. Shippensburg Ashburn, Va.  Broad Run
PK Phil Esposito  6-0 200 Jr. Clarion  Brockway, Pa.  Brockway
PK Andrew Huska 5-10 160 Sr. S. Rock Ford City, Pa.  Ford City
PK Will Johnson  5-11 175 Jr. W. Salem St. High Point, N.C. High Point

Third Team Defense
POS NAME  HT. WT. YR. SCHOOL HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
DL Jemal Averette 6-2 288 So. IUP  Upper Marlboro, Md. O.L. Good Counsel
DL Josh Ganzelli  6-0 295 So. West Chester Downingtown, Pa. Downingtown East
DL Matt Koerper  6-4 255 Jr. Clarion  Mars, Pa.  Seneca Valley
DL Danny Omoregie 6-1 300 Sr. AIC  Lynn, Mass  Classical
DE Michael Bloomfield 6-3 250 Sr. W. Salem St. Jacksonville, N.C. White Oak
DE Andrew Justice 6-1 215 Sr. AIC  Brooklyn, N.Y. Lincoln
DE Paulin Miano  6-6 265 Jr. Va. Union Washington, D.C. Bell
DE Joe Wetty  6-3 230 Jr. Bloomsburg Downingtown, Pa. Downingtown East
LB Tony Ballon  6-1 230 Sr. Lock Haven Jersey City, N.J. Harrisburg
LB Joseph Blanks  6-1 240 Sr. Va. Union Pembroke, N.C. Purnell Swett
LB Joe Dever  6-3 220 Sr. Mercyhurst Cleveland, Ohio St. Edward
LB Allen Holman  6-1 230 Jr. Shippensburg Harrisburg, Pa. Bishop McDevitt
LB Rhakeem Stallings 6-1 225 Jr. Charleston Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith
LB Demetrius Steed 5-11 225 Sr. AIC  Boston, Mass.  Bedford
LB Matt Zakrzewski 6-2 250 Sr. New Haven Traverse City, Mich. Saint Francis
CB Eric Henderson 5-8 170 Jr. Fayetteville St.Charlotte, N.C.
CB Jacob Jean-Charles 6-2 170 Jr. Fairmont St. Miami, Fla.  North Miami Beach
CB Rodeshawn Joseph 6-1 185 Jr. Va. Union Pompano Beach, Fla. Boyd Anderson
CB Phil Moreland  5-10 185 Sr. Seton Hill Cleve. Heights, Ohio Cleveland Heights
CB Curtis Pumphrey 5-8 165 Sr. Bowie St. Laurel, Md.  Atholton
CB Jay Watkins  5-10 188 So. IUP  Chester, Pa.  Hyde School
SAF Jarrod Casey  6-0 205 Jr. Assumption Milford, Mass.  Bridgton Academy
SAF Jamir Gee  6-0 205 Sr. Pace  Patterson, N.J.  Monroe
SAF Zaire Lewis  6-2 210 So. Charleston Akron, Ohio  Stow-Munroe
SAF Roderick Lindsey 5-11  Sr. Chowan Fort Meyers, Fla. Arkansas Baptist
SAF Kevin Malone  5-10 195 Jr. West Chester Philadelphia, Pa. West Catholic
P Andrew Huska 5-10 160 Sr. Slippery Rock Ford City, Pa.  Ford City
P Dylan Kondis  6-1 250 Jr. Mercyhurst New Kensington,Pa. Plum
RS Sheldon Mayer 5-7 170 Sr. Shippensburg Norristown, Pa. Norristown
RS Jarvis McClam 6-1 195 Jr. Seton Hill Laurel, Md.  Laurel
RS Curtis Pumphrey 5-8 165 Sr. Bowie St. Laurel, Md.  Atholton

COACH OF THE YEAR: Monte Cater, Shepherd
OFF. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matt Soltes – ESU; Jeff Ziemba - Shepherd
DEF. PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marcus Martin, Slippery Rock
SP. TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Deonte Harris, Assumption
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Lenny Williams, IUP