Redhawks dominate OVC honors

It came as absolutely no surprise that Southeast Missouri State won two of the Ohio Valley Conference's top individual postseason football awards.

Or that the Redhawks placed a league-high and school-record eight players on the all-OVC first team while adding a pair of second-team picks.

The numbers spoke for themselves after the OVC announced its all-conference squads and special honors Tuesday. Voting was done by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Tony Samuel was named OVC coach of the year after one of the best seasons in Southeast history, and record-setting senior tailback Henry Harris was named OVC offensive player of the year.

Harris, who has broken five single-season school records, is Southeast's first OVC offensive player of the year. He has been aided by an offensive line that saw four of its members named first team all-OVC.

"Henry is very deserving. He's having a great season and he's really matured this year," Samuel said. "I'm happy how the [OVC] coaches were able to recognize the offensive line. The offensive line, like Henry will tell you, plays a huge part in our success."

Harris ranks first nationally in all-purpose yardage (219.8 yards per game), second in rushing (147.9 yards per game), second in rushing touchdowns (17) and fourth in scoring (9.82 points per game).

Harris rushed for a school-record 293 yards against Southwest Baptist on Nov. 6, the highest total by an FCS player this year. He has broken Southeast single-season records for rushing yardage (1,627), all-purpose yardage (2,418), rushing attempts (285), rushing touchdowns (17) and total touchdowns (18).

Harris has compiled the fifth-highest single-season rushing total in OVC history.

Harris also this week was named one of 20 finalists for the Walter Payton Award that goes to the FCS's outstanding player.

Other all-OVC picks

Joining Harris on the all-conference first team are the four offensive linemen -- senior center Sean Middleton, senior guard Bryan Curry, senior guard Frank Knights and sophomore tackle Evan Conrad -- along with junior quarterback Matt Scheible, senior defensive tackle J.J. Sanchez and sophomore safety Tylor Brock.

Senior linebackers Joshua Jackson and Justin Woodlief made the second team.

"I'm very happy for all of them," Samuel said. "They're all very deserving."

Southeast's offensive line, which includes senior tackle Brandon Harris, has helped the Redhawks rank third nationally in rushing with 271.9 yards per game while tying for first nationally in fewest sacks allowed with 0.45 a contest.

This year marks only the second time in OVC history and first time since 1956 (Middle Tennessee) that one team had four first team offensive line selections.

Scheible has thrown for 1,177 yards and eight touchdowns against just one interception -- fewest in the nation -- while rushing for 833 yards and seven touchdowns. The OVC's third-leading rusher is the first Southeast quarterback to make first team all-OVC.

Sanchez has registered 45 tackles. He ranks third on the team in sacks (two) and tackles for loss (six).

Brock leads the OVC and is tied for 10th nationally with six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also has 53 tackles.

Jackson is Southeast's leading tackler with 70. He has one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Woodlief is tied for second on the squad in tackles (64) and interceptions (four). He also has a team-high two forced fumbles.