Jan. 9, 2008

By Patrick Clark

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. (Tuesday, January 8, 2008) - Two standouts from the Redhawks football team were named Honorable Mention All-Americans by the Sports Network. Senior linebacker Adam Casper and sophomore kicker/punter Doug Spada were among 24 Ohio Valley Conference players selected to the Sports Network's Football Championship Subdivision All-American team.

Casper, a two time First Team All-OVC selection led the OVC with 112 tackles, including 47 solo stops, in 10 games played, good for an average of 11.2 per contest. He was also credited with four tackles for losses totaling six yards, three forced fumbles, four pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. On September 29, he tied his career-high with 20 tackles versus Eastern Illinois for the second year in a row.

He finished his Southeast career with 262 tackles, 137 unassisted stops, 14 tackles for losses totaling 30 yards, two fumble recoveries with one returned for a touchdown, one interception and one blocked field goal. He also scored two rushing touchdowns from the fullback position in 2004.

Casper was also named to the Tenth Annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star team in December after compiling a 3.44 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Finance.

Spada handled all kicking duties for the Redhawks this past season, was also a First Team All-OVC selection as a punter. This past season season, he punted 59 times, averaging 42.5 yards per kick. He placed 27 inside the opponents 20-yard line and boomed 12 punts over 50 yards. He averaged a career-best 50.2 yards per punt, including a career-long 73-yard boot at Missouri State on November 10. Against Murray State on October 20, he placed six punts inside the Racers 20-yard line.

As a kicker Spada led the team in scoring with 63 points converting 14-22 (63.6%) of his field goal attempts and 21-23 of his point after attempts. He was a perfect 6-6 from 20-29 yards out and kicked a season and career long 50-yard attempt against Murray State.