2016 GNAC Football All-Conference Team

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) football postseason awards have been announced after voting conducted by the league's coaches and Western Oregon was well represented by 14 overall honorees. Senior DL Jeremy Moore was selected the 2016 GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year, while junior Paul Revis was a pick at three different positions for the second consecutive year.
 
Taking All-GNAC First Team honors were Revis at receiver and punt return, Moore at defensive line, and sophomore linebacker Bo Highburger. A lengthy list of Wolves made it on the second team: sophomore RB Malik Braxton, senior TE Andy Avgi, junior OL Jacob Zartman and Bryson Dizon, Revis as a kick returner, senior DL George Swartzlender, senior LB Tafatolu Tafai, junior LB Tyler Johnson, and senior DB Danny Hankins. Earning honorable mentions were junior DL Michael Kluge, senior DB Austin Spencer and junior DL Kui Williams.
 
In addition to being the 2016 GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year, Moore was a unanimous selection to the First Team at defensive line for the first time in his career. Moore led the Wolves and was tied for the lead in the GNAC with nine sacks accounting for 68 yards of lost yardage. He tallied 40 total tackles, including 14 overall for loss, and had five quarterback hurries.
 
Revis earned unanimous first-team selections at wide receiver after posting his second-career 1,000-yard season and at punt return after leading all of Division II in the statistic. Revis led the GNAC in receiving yards (1,057) and receptions per game (7.0) in aiding the WOU offense. He was also fourth in the league with nine touchdowns and fifth in the league scoring 5.4 points per game. Revis held the league's single-game receiving yards record with 250 against Simon Fraser on Oct. 8 until fellow All-GNAC First Team pick Jesse Zalk of Central Washington posted 307 against the Clan three weeks later. Revis topped the nation with 388 punt return yards for an average of 24.3 yards. He ran back a punt return for a touchdown in week one during Western Oregon's 38-30 win at Sacramento State. Revis also earned a Second Team nod at kick returner despite leading the league with a 22.9 average yardage. For Paul, it is his third consecutive First Team pick at receiver and second at punt return.
 
Highburger anchored the second line of defense for Western Oregon in 2016, leading the team and finishing second in the GNAC in overall stops with 111. He was also tied for fourth in the league with 13.5 tackles for loss. Highburger posted six games with 10 or more tackles, highlighted by a season-best 19 stops in the Wolves' road win at Simon Fraser to close out the season. Bo was a unanimous pick at linebacker in earning his first All-GNAC selection.
 
Braxton rushed for 412 yards and three touchdowns during his sophomore season, while making 10 receptions for another 157 yards with a score. Avgi closes out a stellar athletic career at Western Oregon with a Second Team nod after earning First Team honors in 2015. The tight end made 16 grabs for 198 yards with five touchdowns. Zartman and Dizon opened up holes in the running game and protected the quarterback in the passing game all season. Both earned their first selections to the All-GNAC team with Zartman earning unanimous recognition. On the defensive side of the ball, Swartzlender was tabbed for his second All-GNAC selection (First Team in 2015) with 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble. Tafai and Johnson earned first-time all-league selections with solid seasons. Tafai finished third on the team with 62 overall tackles while breaking up two passes, forcing a fumble and recovering another during the season. Johnson was just ahead of Tafai in the overall tackle list with 65 for the season with 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception, two break-ups and two quarterback hurries. Hankins had some astronomical highlights in the secondary for the Wolves. He tied for the most tackles from a WOU defensive back this year with 40 while posting three inceptions (including a pick-six in the season finale against SFU), eight pass break-ups, 11 defended passes, one-blitzing QB hurry and a fumble recovery.
 
Kluge was having a steady year before an injury kept him out of the final four games. He had six tackles for loss in his season total of 17 stops with a sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Spencer ranked seventh on the team in tackles with 40 while adding six pass defends and six break-ups. He also forced a fumble. Williams had four sacks and seven total tackle for losses in 2016 to bolster a physical defensive line. He forced a team-best two fumbles and had 32 total stops for the year.
 
GNAC league champion Azusa Pacific took three top awards with quarterback Andrew Elffers being named Offensive Player of the Year, receiver Weston Carr earning Freshman of the Year, and Victor Santa Cruz being named Coach of the Year. Central Washington's Kevin Haynes was the league's Defensive Player of the Year and lineman Uso Olive took Newcomer of the Year. Offensive Lineman of the Year was awarded to Alex Cappa of Humboldt State.
 

2016 GNAC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year: Andrew Elffers, Azusa Pacific
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Haynes, Central Washington
Coach of the Year: Victor Santa Cruz, Azusa Pacific
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Alex Cappa, Humboldt State
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Jeremy Moore, Western Oregon
Freshman of the Year: Weston Carr, Azusa Pacific
Newcomer of the Year: Uso Olive, Central Washington
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
* Andrew Elffers	Azusa Pacific	QB	6-3	220	Jr.	Arcadia, Calif. (Maranatha)
* Justin Lane	Central Washington	QB	6-2	211	Sr.	Arlington, Wash. (Illinois State Univ.)
*+$ Ja'Quan Gardner	Humboldt State	RB	5-7	205	Jr.	Ceres, Calif. (Central Valley)
* + Kurt Scoby	Azusa Pacific	RB	5-8	190	So.	Duarte, Calif. (Monrovia)
*+ Jesse Zalk	Central Washington	WR	5-8	162	Sr.	Battle Ground, Wash. (Prairie)
* Weston Carr	Azusa Pacific	WR	6-1	195	Fr.	Benicia, Calif. (Benicia)
*+@ Paul Revis	Western Oregon	WR	5-9	165	Jr.	Scappoose, Ore. (Scappoose)
Josiah Thropay	Azusa Pacific	TE	6-4	260	Sr.	Monrovia, Calif. (Charter Oak)
* James Moore	Central Washington	OL	6-5	310	So.	Tacoma, Wash. (Bethel)
*+@ Alex Cappa	Humboldt State	OL	6-7	305	Jr.	Dublin, Calif. (Dublin)
* Sakalaia Hungalu	Azusa Pacific	OL	6-1	310	So.	Honolulu, Hawaii (McKinley)
*+ Lucas Govan	Humboldt State	OL	6-4	285	Sr.	Carmel, Calif. (Carmel)
* Joe Kupcikevicius	Azusa Pacific	OL	6-5	295	Jr.	Oak Lawn, Ill. (Mt. San Antonio CC)
*+ Cameron Southward	Humboldt State	K	6-1	200	Sr.	Auburn, Calif. (American River JC)
* Tyree Davis	Azusa Pacific	KR	5-11	180	Sr.	San Diego, Calif. (Mesa CC)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
*& Jeremy Moore	Western Oregon	DL	6-2	280	Sr.	Tigard, Ore. (Tigard)
*+ Tovar Sanchez	Central Washington	DL	6-3	248	Sr.	Seattle, Wash. (Ingraham)
* Jason Schwartz	Azusa Pacific	DL	6-3	240	Jr.	Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dos Pueblos)
* Uso Olive	Central Washington	DL	6-1	315	Sr.	Seattle, Wash. (Univ. of Wyoming)
*+@ Jordan Herdman	Simon Fraser	LB	6-2	235	Sr.	Winnipeg, Man. (Sturgeon Heights Collegiate)
*+@ Kevin Haynes	Central Washington	LB	6-1	228	Jr.	Battle Ground, Wash. (Battle Ground)
* Mykal Walker	Azusa Pacific	LB	6-3	215	So.	Vacaville, Calif. (Vacaville)
* Bo Highburger	Western Oregon	LB	6-1	215	So.	Veneta, Ore. (Elmira)
* C.J. Broussard	Azusa Pacific	DB	6-1	198	Sr.	Clovis, Calif. (Clovis)
*# Taliuaki Suliafu	Azusa Pacific	DB	6-0	185	Jr.	Moreno Valley, Calif. (Moreno Valley)
* Jackson Huerta	Central Washington	DB	5-10	194	Jr.	Covington, Wash. (Kentwood)
* Tyree Davis	Azusa Pacific	DB	5-11	180	Sr.	San Diego, Calif. (Mesa CC)
* Alex Elterman	Humboldt State	P	6-2	230	Jr.	Templeton, Calif. (Monterey Peninsula Coll.)
*+ Paul Revis	Western Oregon	PR	5-9	165	Jr.	Scappoose, Ore. (Scappoose)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
Robert Webber	Humboldt State	QB	5-9	180	Jr.	Corona, Calif. (Corona Centennial)
* Malik Braxton	Western Oregon	RB	5-11	195	So.	Lynnwood, Wash. (Meadowdale)
* Jalen Jana	Simon Fraser	RB	5-11	200	So.	Surrey, B.C. (Cheyney Univ.)
* Brandon Jackson	Azusa Pacific	WR	6-3	185	Fr.	Sutter, Calif. (Sutter)
John Todd	Humboldt State	WR	6-3	192	So.	San Diego, Calif. (Valhalla)
Justin Buren	Simon Fraser	WR	6-1	200	Jr.	Coquitlam, B.C. (Centennial)
*+ Andy Avgi	Western Oregon	TE	6-6	270	Sr.	Woodburn, Ore. (Woodburn)
* Josh Stolz	Central Washington	OL	6-0	260	Sr.	Vancouver, Wash. (Mountain View)
Felix Gacusana, Jr.	Simon Fraser	OL	6-3	305	Sr.	Burnaby, B.C. (St. Thomas More)
* Jacob Zartman	Western Oregon	OL	6-4	310	Jr.	St. Helens, Ore. (St. Helens)
* Josh Hanson	Humboldt State	OL	6-2	300	Jr.	Eureka, Calif. (Eureka)
Bryson Dizon	Western Oregon	OL	6-4	285	Jr.	Portland, Ore. (David Douglas)
* Jamie Cacciatore	Azusa Pacific	K	5-8	170	Sr.	Orange, Calif. (El Modena)
* Paul Revis	Western Oregon	KR	5-9	165	Jr.	Scappoose, Ore. (Scappoose)
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
* Kyle Wilson	Simon Fraser	DL	6-7	270	So.	Newmarket, Ont. (Bill Crothers)
*+ George Swartzlender	Western Oregon	DL	6-3	320	Sr.	Burns, Ore. (Burns)
* Conrado Simpson	Azusa Pacific	DL	6-5	270	Jr.	Rosemead, Calif. (East Los Angeles CC)
* Billy Tanuvasa	Azusa Pacific	DL	6-2	315	Sr.	Corona, Calif. (Santa Ana CC)
* Aaron Berry	Azusa Pacific	LB	6-2	205	So.	Perris, Calif. (Perris)
* Justin Herdman	Simon Fraser	LB	6-1	235	Sr.	Winnipeg, Man. (Sturgeon Heights Collegiate)
* Jeff Shott	Humboldt State	LB	6-1	225	Jr.	Mission Viejo, Calif. (Capistrano Valley)
Tafatolu Tafai	Western Oregon	LB	6-2	240	Sr.	Waipahu, Hawaii (Waipahu)
Sean Elledge	Central Washington	LB	6-0	221	Jr.	Monroe, Wash. (Glacier Peak)
Tyler Johnson	Western Oregon	LB	6-2	230	Jr.	Eugene, Ore. (Willamette)
* Max McIntosh	Central Washington	DB	6-1	186	Sr.	Puyallup, Wash. (Univ. of Idaho)
Jordan Pugh	Simon Fraser	DB	6-1	190	Sr.	Nanaimo, B.C. (Nanaimo Redman)
* Danny Hankins	Western Oregon	DB	5-11	170	Sr.	Portland, Ore. (Grant)
* Hunter Malberg	Azusa Pacific	DB	5-11	195	Sr.	North Bend, Wash. (Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth)
* Jacob Hall	Azusa Pacific	P	6-2	195	So.	Greenville, Ill. (Greenville)
* Tyree Davis	Azusa Pacific	PR	5-11	180	Sr.	San Diego, Calif. (Mesa CC)
HONORABLE MENTION
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
Ma'ake Muti	Azusa Pacific	DL	5-11	290	So.	Wahiawa, Hawaii (Leilehue)
Jonathan Thropay	Azusa Pacific	LB	6-4	220	Sr.	Monrovia, Calif. (Charter Oak)
Ethan Zeidler	Azusa Pacific	WR	6-0	205	Sr.	Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata)
Kyle Self	Central Washington	TE	6-5	229	Jr.	Vaughn, Wash. (Peninsula)
Darrien Williams	Central Washington	DB	6-1	192	Fr.	Tacoma, Wash. (Lincoln)
Blake Williams-Miller	Central Washington	LB	6-0	205	Sr.	Everett, Wash. (Everett)
Richard Doctor	Humboldt State	WR	5-9	205	Jr.	Lemoore, Calif. (Lemoore)
Josh Hinson	Humboldt State	DL	6-2	254	Jr.	Fresno, Calif (Fresno CC)
Gus Johnson	Humboldt State	OL	6-3	290	Sr.	Reno, Nev. (Galena)
Jacob Christensen	Simon Fraser	OL	6-4	280	Sr.	Campbell River, B.C. (Timberline)
Brad Lyons	Simon Fraser	DL	6-4	260	So.	Port Coquitlam, B.C. (South Dakota State Univ.)
Evan Telford	Simon Fraser	OL	6-4	275	Sr.	Victoria, B.C. (Mount Douglas)
Michael Kluge	Western Oregon	DL	5-11	285	Jr.	Aloha, Ore. (Aloha)
Austin Spencer	Western Oregon	DB	6-0	190	Sr.	Sherwood, Ore. (Sherwood)
Kui Williams	Western Oregon	DL	6-4	266	Jr.	Honolulu, Hawaii (McKinley)
* - Unanimous Selection
+ - First Team Selection In 2015
# - Second Team Selection In 2015
& - Honorable Mention Selection In 2015
@ - First Team Selection In 2014
$ - Second Team Selection In 2014