AP News, December 14th, 2006
Cullen Finnerty and Eric Fowler are Grand Valley State's All-American connection.
The Lakers' prolific pass-catch combo was selected to The Associated Press Little All-America team released Thursday, two days before Grand Valley State plays for a second consecutive Division II national championship.
Finnerty is the top-rated (175) passer in D-II, with a 2,995 yards and 40 touchdown passes. The senior is also a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II's most outstanding player, which will be handed out Friday night.
Fowler is Finnerty's favorite target, leading the nation with 1,598 yards receiving and 21 touchdown catches.
The Lakers' offensive stars are joined on the AP Little All-America team by Grand Valley's best defensive player, lineman Mike McFadden. The Lakers also placed cornerback Brandon Carr and offensive lineman Brandon Barnes on the third team.
Grand Valley State (14-0) plays Northwest Missouri State (14-0) on Saturday in Florence, Ala., for the national championship.
The other finalists for the Harlon Hill joined Finnerty in the Little All-America backfield.
Danny Woodhead of Chadron State set an NCAA all-divisions record with 2,756 yards rushing this season.
"It's an honor," Woodhead said of topping the record previously set by Kavin Gailliard of American International in 1999, "but it's not really a big deal to me. It's probably more of a big deal to my offensive linemen. Give them all the credit."
Germaine Race of Pittsburg State is the other All-American running back. The senior ran for 1,942 yards and 31 touchdowns and is one of three players to repeat as Little All-America first-teamers.
East Stroudsburg receiver Evan Prall, who was selected as an all-purpose player, and Shepherd defensive back Dan Peters are the other two-time All-Americans.
Joining Fowler at receiver is Weston Dressler of North Dakota, who caught 90 passes for 1,215 and 16 touchdowns.
Michael Allen of Division III Whitworth is the tight end. The senior caught 53 passes for 1,100 yards and nine touchdown.
The Little All-America offensive line is Ben Hochstein of Nebraska-Omaha, Robert Duncan of North Carolina Central, Alan Barbre of Missouri Southern, Heath Benedict of Newberry and Robbie Klinetrobe, who helped clear the way for Woodhead at Chadron State.
David Chudzinski of Wayne State is the kicker.
The defensive line is led by McFadden and Albany State lineman Alton Pettway, who was the only defensive player to be a Harlon Hill Trophy semifinalist. Trey Lewis of Wasburn and Alex Hall of St. Augustine's fill out the front four. Hall's teammate, linebacker Kevin Jones, was also selected.
The other linebackers are Ben Stroup of Edinboro and Jared Brock of West Texas A&M, the only sophomore on the first team.
Jordan Davis of South Dakota joins Peters in the secondary, along with Division III standouts Mario Harris of Wesley and Craig Haywood of King's, Pa., who led the nation with 12 interceptions.
The punter is Curtis Lilly of East Central, who led the nation with a 45.2-yard average.
East Stroudsburg's Jimmy Terwilliger is the second team quarterback. He finished his career with 148 touchdown passes to tie the NCAA all-divisions record held by Justin Peery of Division III Westminster, Mo., and his 16,064 career yards of total offense is third in NCAA history.
Mount Union running back Nate Kmic also made the second-team. The sophomore leads Division III with 2,254 yards rushing and the Purple Raiders (14-0) play Wisconsin-Whitewater (14-0) for the national championship on Saturday.
