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DAVIS, RANDOLPH AND SIMONEAU RECEIVE INVITATIONS TO THE 2011
HARLON HILL BANQUET AS TOP THREE FINISHERS

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FLORENCE, Ala. --  The voting has concluded for the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year Award, and while the results of that voting won't be announced until December 16, three players have received invitations to attend the 26th Annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet for the naming of the top player in Division II. 

Senior quarterback Micah Davis of Delta State (Miss.) University, senior running back  Jonas Randolph of Mars Hill (N.C.) College and senior quarterback Dane Simoneau of the Washburn (Kan.) University have emerged as the top three vote-getters from a field of nine finalists in voting by the sports information directors at the 149 schools that compete in Division II football. 

The Hill Trophy is sponsored by the City of Florence, Ala.,  Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Opti-Net, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa  and Herff Jones. 

Candidates for the 2011 Hill Trophy were nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates.

National voting concluded on  December 2  and  the  top three finishers are invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet. The winner of the 2011 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the Harlon Hill Trophy and  Division II Football Hall of Fame  Banquet on Friday, December 16 in Florence, prior to the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on Dec. 17. The banquet will include the induction of coaches Coach Bill Burgess of Jacksonville State (Ala.) University and Fred McAfee of Mississippi College into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. 

Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling Judy Keenum at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

Other finalists for the 2011 award were senior quarterback Lee Chapple of the University of North Alabama, junior running back Joe Glendening of Hillsdale (Mich.) College, junior quarterback Brandon Kelsey of the Midwestern State (Texas) University, senior quarterback Adam Neugebauer of West Virginia Wesleyan College, senior running back Rashaad Slowley of Southern Connecticut State University and senior quarterback  Jake Spitzlberger of the University of Nebraska-Kearney. 

Davis, a senior from Wesson, Miss., has led Delta State to an 11-2 record this season and into the Dec. 10  NCAA Division II semifinal playoff game at Pittsburg State. He also led the Statesmen to the 2010 Division II Championship Game. This season he has thrown for 3,423 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for another 13 scores to also lead the Statesmen in scoring. He is ranked among the Division II national leaders in passing and total offense and has led four dramatic fourth quarter comebacks this season to keep Delta State in contention for the national championship. He has thrown for more than 7,500 career yards and has almost 8,000 yards of career total offense. 

Off the field, he has been named a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete, receiving an $18,000 post graduate scholarship.  

Randolph, a senior from Daleville, Ala., led Mars Hill to its first post season game since becoming an NCAA Division II member while also re-writing the Lions' record books. He became the South Atlantic Conference's career rushing leader with 5,608 yards. He led all NCAA divisions in rushing yards per game (197.27) and was the SAC Offensive Player of the Year. His 2,170 yards in 2011 also set new SAC and school marks. He also had six games of 200 or more rushing yards and nine games of over 100 rushing yards this season. He is a three-time first team All-Super Region 2 honoree and was the Super Region 2 Offensive Player of the Year this season. 

He finished the year with 2,170 yards rushing on a Division II-leading 366 carries and scored 18 touchdowns. he averaged more than 37 yards per game more than the next closest Division II rusher. 

Simoneau, a senior from Salina, Kan., led Washburn to a 10-3 record and into the second round of the 2011 Division II playoffs.  The 2011 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Offensive Player of the Year, Simoneau set eight Washburn records this season passing for 4,089 yards, completing 280 of 482 passing attempts with 38 touchdowns. He also set a school record with 4,062 total offensive yards. 

He ranks second nationally in total passing yards and fourth in the nation with an average of 314.5 passing yards per game. He is also fourth nationally in total offense with 312 yards per outing. 

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The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed  by  Texas A&M-Kingsville runningback Johnny Bailey - in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger  Graham in 1993 and Valdosta State University quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994. North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first defensive player to win the award when he claimed the Hill Trophy in 1995.

Truman State University running back Jarrett Anderson won the 1996 award and Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler claimed the Hill Trophy in 1997 award. Running back Brian Shay of Emporia State won in 1998, followed by Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999 and Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, and Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002.  The 2003 trophy was awarded to North Alabama quarterback Will Hall, and Chad Friehauf of the Colorado School of Mines won the 2004 award. East Stroudsburg's Jimmy Terwilliger claimed the 2005 Hill Trophy as a junior and Chadron State running back Danny Woodhead won the 2006 and 2007 Hill Trophies to become just the third two-time winner. Running back Bernard Scott of Abilene Christian won the 2008 Hill Trophy, followed by running back Joique Bell of Wayne State (Mich.) in 2009 and Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski in 2010. 

 2011 Harlon Hill Trophy Top Three 

(listed alphabetically)

Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown

Micah Davis QB 6-2 205 SR Delta State Wesson, Miss.

Jonas Randolph RB 5-10 185 SR Mars Hill Daleville, Ala.

Dane Simoneau QB 6-3 227 SR Washburn Salina, Kansas

Other 2011 Harlon Hill Trophy Finalists

Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown

Lee Chapple QB 6-1 190 SR North Alabama Alpharetta, Ga.

Joe Glendening RB 5-10 188 JR Hillsdale East Grand Rapids. Mich.

Brandon Kelsey QB 6-2 203 JR Midwestern State Arlington, Texas

Adam Neugebauer QB 6-2 210 SR West Virginia Wesleyan Pittsburgh, Pa.

Rashaad Slowley RB 6-0 205 SR Southern Connecticut St. Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Jake Spitzlberger QB 5-10 175 SR Nebraska-Kearney Lakewood, Colo.

November 21, 2011

NINE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2011 HILL TROPHY 

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FLORENCE, Ala. --  A field of 22 candidates has been trimmed to nine national finalists in regional voting for the 2011 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

The finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II sports information directors in regional voting and will now be placed on the national ballot where all 149 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 26th winner. The top two players  from each of Division II's Super Regions advance to the national ballot, but three players advanced from Region 2 due to a tie in the voting. 

The list of 2011 finalists is comprised of six quarterbacks and three running backs.

Six of the finalists helped lead their teams into the NCAA Division II playoffs this season and one of this weekend's second round playoff matchups will have Hill finalists facing each other.

Advancing from Super Region 1 are senior quarterback Adam Neugebauer of West Virginia Wesleyan and senior running back Rashaad Slowley of Southern Connecticut State.

Super Region 2 is represented by senior quarterback Lee Chapple of the University of North Alabama, senior quarterback Micah Davis of Delta State (Miss.) University and senior running back Jonas Randolph of Mars Hill (N.C.) College. Chapple and Davis will face each other in this weekend's Super Region 2 second round playoff game, while Randolph will lead his team against North Greenville in the second round.. 

The top vote getters in Super Region 3 are Hillsdale (Mich.) College junior running back Joe Glendening and University of Nebraska-Kearney senior quarterback Jake Spitzlberger.

Advancing from Super Region 4  are junior quarterback Brandon Kelsey of Midwestern State (Texas) University and senior quarterback Dane Simoneau  of Washburn University.

National voting will conclude on December 2  and  the top three finishers will be invited to the Shoals for the presentation banquet. 

The winner of the 2011 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 26th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, December 16 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. This year�s Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the 13th  induction  into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. 

Tickets are $50 each or $400 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661. 

The NCAA Division II Championship Game is scheduled for December 17 at Florence�s Braly Municipal Stadium at 10 a.m.

The Hill Trophy is sponsored by the City of Florence, Ala., Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, Opti-Net, the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa and Herff Jones.

Chapple, a senior from Alpharetta, Ga., has led North Alabama to a 9-2 record entering the second round of the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,084 yards and 23 touchdowns and ranks seventh nationally in passing, 10th in passing yards per game and 15th in total offense. In two seasons with the Lions he has thrown for more than 6,000 yards and 44 touchdowns and led the Lions to back-to-back playoff appearances.

Davis, a senior from Wesson, Miss., is the 2011 Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year and has directed the Statesmen to a 9-2 record entering the second round of the playoffs. He has thrown for 2,918 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 180 yards and another 11 touchdowns. He ranks 13th nationally in total offense and has already been named a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete, receiving an $18,000 post graduate scholarship.  

Glendening, a junior from East Grand Rapids, Mich., is the nation's second leading rusher with 1,600 yards and 27 touchdowns. He averaged 160 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry this season. Ranked fifth in Division II in all-purpose yards with 2,031, he was named the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.  

Kelsey, a junior from Arlington, Texas, has led Midwestern to a perfect 10-0 record this season and is ranked fifth in the nation in passing efficiency. He has completed 68.9 percent of his passes, while throwing for 1,868 yards and 18 touchdowns. He leads the No. 1 offense in Division II, averaging 548 yards per game, and has rushed for 902 yards to push his total offense to 277 yards per game. He was voted Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Neugebauer, a senior from Pittsburgh, Pa., leads Division II with an average of 32 pass completions per game and 373 passing yards per game. He threw for 4,111 yards and 40 touchdowns in the regular season. Even with 521 total pass attempts, he still ranks 15th in passing efficiency with a 154 rating. He was chosen West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. 

Randolph, a senior from Daleville, Ala., was named the South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led Mars Hill to an 8-2 record entering this weekend's second round playoff game against North Greenville. He is the nation's leading rusher in all divisions with 1,970 yards and 197.0 average per game. He has also rushed for 17 touchdowns and averages 10.2 points per game. 

Simoneau, a senior from Salina, Kan., has led Washburn to a 10-2 record and a first round playoff win over Abilene Christian.  The 2011 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Offensive Player of the Year, he has 3,873 yards passing and 36 TD passes. He ranks second in the nation in total passing yards and fourth in passing yards per game. 

Slowley, a senior from Mount Vernon, N.Y., is the 2011 Northeast 10 Conference Most Valuable Player. He ranks third in Division II in rushing with 1,584 yards on 274 carries. He averaged 5.78 yards per carry and 158.4 yards per game. He added 233 yards receiving and ranks sixth in Division II in all-purpose yardage.

Spitzlberger, a senior from Lakewood, Colo., has led Nebraska-Kearney to a 10-1 record while throwing for 2,426 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for another 983 yards. The 2011 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, he is fifth in the nation in total offense with an average of 309 yards per game. 

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The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed  by  Texas A&M-Kingsville running back Johnny Bailey - in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger  Graham in 1993 and Valdosta State University quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994. North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first defensive player to win the award when he claimed the Hill Trophy in 1995.

Truman State University running back Jarrett Anderson won the 1996 award and Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler claimed the Hill Trophy in 1997 award. Running back Brian Shay of Emporia State won in 1998, followed by Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999 and Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, and Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002.  The 2003 trophy was awarded to North Alabama quarterback Will Hall, and Chad Friehauf of the Colorado School of Mines won the 2004 award. Terwilliger claimed the 2005 Hill Trophy as a junior. 

Chadron State's Danny Woodhead won the Hill Trophy in 2006 and 2007, joining Bailey and Bonner as the only multiple winners of the award. Abilene Christian's Bernard Scott won the 23rd Hill Trophy, followed by Wayne State's (Mich.) Joique Bell in 2009 and Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski last year..

2011 HILL TROPHY FINALISTS

Pos. Ht Wt Cl School Hometown

Lee Chapple QB 6-1 190 SR North Alabama Alpharetta, Ga.

Micah Davis QB 6-2 205 SR Delta State Wesson, Miss.

Joe Glendening RB 5-10 188 JR Hillsdale East Grand Rapids. Mich.

Brandon Kelsey QB 6-2 203 JR Midwestern State Arlington, Texas

Adam Neugebauer QB 6-2 210 SR West Virginia Wesleyan Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jonas Randolph RB 5-10 185 SR Mars Hill Daleville, Ala.

Dane Simoneau QB 6-3 227 SR Washburn Salina, Kansas

Rashaad Slowley RB 6-0 205 SR Southern Connecticut St. Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Jake Spitzlberger QB 5-10 175 SR Nebraska-Kearney Lakewood, Colo.

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