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 This interception return for a TD versus Furman was one of many big plays that helped Rico Reese earn first team All-SoCon honors by the league's media. |
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Nov. 28, 2005
Cullowhee, N.C. - After landing 10 players on the league coaches All-Southern Conference team. The SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) announced that six Catamounts have been named to its annual all-conference team. Like the coaches selections, kick returner Mike Malone and safety Primus Glover were named first team, with defensive end Rico Reese also getting a first team honor. Second team picks include linebacker Lamar Barnes, corner back Francis Brown and punter Tim Mayse.
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Malone, who led the SoCon and currently ranks second in the NCAA, averaged 31.29 yards per kick return this season. Western additionally ranks first in the nation in kick returns with an average of 27.44 yards per return. The Gainesville, Ga., native, who is the reigning 100 and 200-meter Southern Conference champion, did his most damage this year versus Elon. First, he returned the opening kickoff 80 yards, setting up a field goal. The next time he touched the ball, he returned the kickoff 90 yards for his first career touchdown. Those 170 yards in kick returns versus Elon ranks 10th on the SoCon single-game list. His 31.29 yards per return are eighth on the SoCon single-season top 10 and second on the WCU all-time list, trailing All-American Kerry Hayes' average of 36.1 yards per return (16 returns for 584 yards) in 1993.
Glover (Springfield, Ga.) registered a career-high 47 tackles, including three for losses and a sack, while tallying four pass breakups, an interception, a force fumble and a fumble recovery. He started the season in fine fashion, collecting five, six and seven tackles versus Mars Hill, Furman and Cincinnati, respectively. He additionally had two TFLs and a sack with a PBU in Western's win over Furman. Glover closed the season on a strong note as well, getting eight tackles in both the Wofford and Appalachian State games. His lone interception of the season came at Chattanooga.
Reese (Austell, Ga.) got his season off to a great start by getting five tackles, a sack, two quarterback pressures and an interception return for a touchdown in Western's win over Furman. At Georgia Southern, Reese tied for team high honors with a career-high 11 tackles, including eight solo stops. Versus Elon, he had seven tackles, including two TFLs, followed by a seven-tackle performance versus Wofford, including two tackles for losses and a sack. Like the Furman game, Reese had a game-changing play against the Terriers. With Wofford down just 10-0 and facing fourth-and-four, he broke through the line to register a 10-yard sack forcing the turnover on downs. Two plays later, Reid scored his 11-yard TD and essentially sealed the game. Reese concluded his career by collecting nine tackles at Appalachian State, including two TFLs and a half sack. He finished the season by ranking second on the team in tackles with 58, which ranks 15th in the SoCon. Reese additionally turned in 12 tackles for losses to rank fifth in the SoCon and 52nd in the nation
Glover and Reese help Western Carolina lead the nation in pass defense, allowing just 132.33 passing yards per game. The Catamounts also led the SoCon and ranked fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense with a rating of 98.81.
Barnes (Clayton, N.C.) ranked no lower than third on the team in tackles in each of his last three years, including a tie for second this season with 58 stops. Of his 58 tackles, which tied for 15th in the SoCon, eight went for losses, while adding a forced fumble. He had three career games this season. First, he tallied 10 stops, including two for losses, in a near upset at Cincinnati. At Georgia Southern, he led the Cats with 11 tackles, including one for a loss. Barnes concluded his stellar career by recording a career-high 12 tackles at Appalachian State, including one for a loss. Barnes played a key role in Western ranking 20th in the nation in total defense and 24th in scoring defense.
Brown (Camden, N.J), who was granted a fifth year by the NCAA prior to the season, took full advantage of his opportunity by recording 35 tackles and leading Western with four interceptions, the 10th-highest total by a Catamount since 1969. He additionally ranked second in the SoCon in picks and sixth in the league in passes defended, while ranking 22nd in the nation in interceptions. Brown was also third in the SoCon and 48th in the nation in punt returns, averaging 8.0 yard per return. He had nine tackles and two interceptions in the Cats' season-opening win over Mars Hill, followed by a five-tackle outing and getting a game-sealing interception in WCU's win over Furman. He closed his career with four tackles on Senior Day versus Wofford and getting five stops with an interception at Appalachian State.
Mayse (Pine Mountain, N.C.), who led the SoCon in punting last season with an average of 39.8 yards per punt, picked up where he left off to rank 11th in the nation in punting this season with an average of 41.80, which was the best by a SoCon player in the NCAA statistics. Of Mayse's 49 punts this season, including a long of 63 yards, he had eight punts of 50 yards or more, 10 fair caught and pinned the opponent inside their own 20 11 times. Mayse's season average ranks sixth on the WCU single season list. Also, with one year remaining, his current career average of 40.8 yards per punt ranks third on the WCU all-time list.
