Mary Hardin-Baylor has been predicted to win its fifth straight
American Southwest Conference football title in 2010 after a vote
by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and
selected media members, the ASC office announced on Tuesday, Aug.
3. Earning preseason player of the year honors were Hardin-Simmons'
Justin Feaster (offense) and Hank Hornsby (defense), and Louisiana
College's Jordan Rideaux (special teams).
Mary Hardin-Baylor, which went 10-2 overall (7-1 in ASC) and
reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs last
season, totaled 237 points and collected 21 of the possible 27
first-place votes in the annual preseason poll to be the tabbed the
favorites. Coach Pete Fredenburg's Cru has won at least a share of
the ASC title in seven of the last eight seasons, going 63-4 over
that time frame in conference games.
Hardin-Simmons, which went 6-4 (5-3 in ASC) during an
injury-plagued season last year, was picked as the conference
runner-up. The seven-time ASC champion Cowboys totaled 206 points
and three top-spot votes.
Defending ASC co-champion Mississippi College (9-3, 7-1), which
also reached the second round of the playoffs in 2009, was
predicted to finish third with 182 points and garnered one
first-place vote. Louisiana College (168 points) was picked to
finish fourth and landed the final two top-spot votes, followed by
McMurry, East Texas Baptist, Howard Payne, Sul Ross State and Texas
Lutheran.
Feaster, a senior quarterback, was named ASC Preseason Offensive
Player of the Year, following his selection as a D3football.com
preseason All-American. Last season, the 6-1, 205-pound Feaster
tossed five touchdowns in three games before suffering a
season-ending injury. In 2008, he threw for a league-high 3,023
yards and 31 TDs against just eight interceptions and was named a
finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, an award given to honor the most
outstanding NCAA Division III football player.
Hornsby, a senior end, was named ASC Preseason Defensive Player of
the Year. The 6-3, 238-pound Hornsby posted 44 tackles in 2010 and
ranked in the league's top 10 in the categories of sacks (6.5) and
tackles for loss (10.5 for 48 yards). Hornsby spearheaded a unit
that ranked second in the ASC in total defense, yielding only 3,366
yards over 10 games.
Rideaux, a senior return man, was selected as ASC Preseason
Special Teams Player of the Year. The 5-8, 170-pound Rideaux has
claimed the final award two consecutive years. He led the league
last season with a 9.8-yard average on punt returns and also
returned kicks at 23.5 yards per clip, finding the end zone once
each way. Rideaux also led the ASC in receiving yards (1,157),
receptions per game (7.8) and all-purpose yards (1,501).
The poll, as voted on by ASC coaches, Sports Information Directors
and media members:
Team (first place votes), Points, 2009 Record
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (21) 237, 10-2, 7-1 ASC (T1st)
2. Hardin-Simmons (3) 206, 6-4, 5-3 ASC (4th)
3. Mississippi College (1) 182, 9-3, 7-1 ASC (T1st)
4. Louisiana College (2) 168, 7-3, 6-2 ASC (3rd)
5. McMurry 135, 4-6, 4-4 ASC (5th)
6. East Texas Baptist 110, 3-7, 3-5 ASC (6th)
7. Howard Payne 81, 4-6, 2-6 ASC (T7th)
8. Sul Ross State 53, 2-8, 2-6 ASC (T7th)
9. Texas Lutheran 43, 0-10, 0-8 ASC (9th)