Dec. 27, 2005

McNeese State place kicker Blake Bercegeay, wide receiver Quinten Lawrence and linebacker Trey Bennett have been named to the Football Gazette's NCAA 1-AA all-southwest region team.

Bercegeay, a freshman from Gonzales, was named to the first team and Lawrence, a sophomore from Carencro, and Bennett, a sophomore from Newton, TX, were named to the third team.

Bercegeay led the Southland Conference in kick scoring the past season. He made 16 of 19 field goals and was second in overall scoring with 64 points. Lawrence led the Cowboys in receiving with 27 catches for 572 yards and six touchdowns and Bennett was credited with 61 tackles and two quarterback sacks during the season.

The Cowboy rookie was one of 11 players from SLC teams to be named to the first team.

Others were quarterback Barrick Nealy and offensive tackle Thomas Keresztury of Texas State on offense and end Michael young and linebacker Cory Vavala of Nicholls State, tackle Troy Collins of Northwestern State, tackle Fred Evans and punter Cory Elolf of Texas State, linebacker Ryan Luedecke and defensive back Keldrick Holman of Stephen F. Austin and defensive back Daniel Adams of Southeastern Louisiana.

Nealy was named the team's offensive player of the year and Keresztury was named the offensive lineman of the year. Grambling's Melvin Spears was named regional coach of the year.