Dec. 4, 2001

Howe Named to Daktronics All-Region Team

Truman senior quarterback Eric Howe (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) has been named to the 2001 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-Midwest Region football team, as selected by a vote of the sports information directors and released today.

Howe, the only Bulldog selected to the all-region team, was named to the second Daktronics team.

Howe completed 228 of 357 pass attempts for 2,838 yards and threw for 24 touchdowns. He completed 63.9 percent of his passes for an efficiency rating of 145.54, averaging 258.0 passing yards and 259.5 total offensive yards a game to rank first and second in those categories in the MIAA, respectively.

A first-team all-MIAA quarterback this year, he finished his career as the second-most prolific passer in MIAA history with 9,097 yards and is also second all-time in the MIAA in total offense with 9,040 yards. Howe led the MIAA in passing average for the third straight year (258.0 ypg). He set school career passing records for yards (9,097), attempts (1,203), completions (687) and touchdowns (70), as well as the Truman career total offensive yards (9,040) and plays (1,375) records. Howe finished his career with three of the top 10 best passing seasons in MIAA history, coming in sixth this year with 2,838 yards.

The Bulldogs finished 8-3 and were third in the MIAA with a 6-3 record, completing their sixth winning season in seven seasons. The team registered eight wins for the first time since 1994.

There are six repeat selections on the 2001 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-Midwest Region football team.

The University of North Dakota has seven first-team picks. UND, 13-1 overall, will play unbeaten Grand Valley State for the NCAA Division II championship on Saturday in Florence, Ala.

North Dakota running back Josh Ranek will also be in Alabama for the presentation ceremony of the 2001 Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. Ranek, Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner, and Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes are the finalists for the Hill trophy. Howe made the final eight cut for the Harlon Hill this year.

First-team Daktronic selections advance to the national ballot for the 2001 Daktronics Division II All-America team.

First-Team Offense

All Purpose Back: Dan Graf, 6-0, 182, Sr., North Dakota

Tight End: Jared Peck, 6-4, 290, Sr., North Dakota State

Wide Receiver: Jerris Evans, 5-11, 186, Sr., Missouri Western &Matt Holmlund, 6-2, 205, Sr., Augustana

Center: John Young, 6-2, 325, Sr., Central Missouri

Guard: Matt Howard, 6-2, 272, Sr., Pittsburg State &Conor Riley, 6-3, 310, Jr., Nebraska-Omaha

Tackle: Seth Ward, 6-7, 310, Sr., Northwest Missouri & Steve Wells, 6-6, 304, Sr., Pittsburg State

Quarterback: Kelby Klosterman, 6-1, 195, Jr., North Dakota

Running Back: Eddie Acosta, 5-10, 195, Jr., Bemidji State & Josh Ranek, 5-9, 200, Sr., South Dakota State

Kicker: Cameron Peterka, 6-4, 190, Sr., North Dakota

First Team Defense

Defensive Linemen; Ben Dixon, 6-4, 251, Jr., North Dakota; Aaron McConnell, 6-3, 285, So., Pittsburg State & Leif Murphy, 6-3, 270, Jr., North Dakota State

Linebackers: Eric Walker, 5-9, 224, Jr., Missouri Western; Earl Henry, 5-11, 204, Sr., Pittsburg State; Travis O'Neel, 6-1, 246, Sr., North Dakota & Eric Schmidt, 6-2, 235, Sr., North Dakota

Cornerbacks: Travis Stepps, 5-10, 195, Sr., Pittsburg State & Craig Riendeau, 5-10, 190, Sr., North Dakota

Safetys: Chad Gieger, 5-11, 190, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha & Dontaye McCoy, 6-1, 211, Jr., Emporia State

Punter: Aaron Pederson, 6-3, 195, Sr., North Dakota State

Second Team Offense

All-Purpose Back: Kevin Nickerson, 5-7, 175, Sr., Central Missouri

Tight End: Dan Linden, 6-1, 235, Sr., Southwest State

Wide Receiver: Jamaica Rector, 5-10, 175, Fr., Northwest Missouri & Dan Weldon, 6-5, 216, Jr., Minnesota State, Mankato

Center: Curt Lessman, 6-3, 296, Sr., Central Missouri

Guard: Peter Lawton, 6-4, 300, Jr, Minnesota-Duluth & Mike Bryant, 6-4, 297, Sr., North Dakota

Tackle: Chuck Klabo, 6-6, 305, Jr., North Dakota State & Jason Bisbee, 6-5, 280, Sr., Augustana

Quarterback: Eric Howe, 6-1, 200, Sr., Truman State

Running Back: Lamar Gordon, 6-1, 218, Sr., North Dakota State; Tyler Hawkins, 6-0, 197, Jr, Northern Colorado & Lee Thompson, 5-7, 195, So., Central Missouri

Kicker: Eddie Ibarra, 6-2, 195, Sr., Northwest Missouri

Second Team Defense

Defensive Line: Brad Harris, 6-3, 267, Sr., Pittsburg State; Eric McDowell, 6-3, 285, So., Missouri Western & Andrew Tippins, 6-3, 259, Jr., Minnesota State, Mankato

Linebackers: Mark Blackburn, 6-1, 210, Sr., South Dakota; Antonio Jackson, 6-0, 215, Sr., Wayne State; Andrew LeClair, 6-5, 244, Sr., North Dakota State & Abrian Stovall, 6-1, 245, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha

Cornerbacks: Tyreece Whyte, 5-10, 197, Sr., Missouri Western & Tyree Kellogg, 5-11, 195, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha

Safetys: Ben Nauman, 6-3, 190, So., Augustana & Kevin Westbrock, 6-0, 195, Sr., Minnesota-Duluth

Punter: Pat Amon, 5-10, 155, Sr., Emporia State