Nov. 12, 2000

'Dogs Place Six on Academic All-District Football Teams; Naeve to Play in DII Cactus Bowl

Six Truman football players have been named to the Verizon Academic All-America District VII football teams (formerly sponsored by GTE). Senior defensive back John Naeve (Camanche, Iowa) and senior defensive end Leo Smith (Monroe City, Mo.) were first-team selections and will advance to the national ballot.

Naeve was a first-team all-MIAA pick last year, and is currently under consideration for all-conference honors again in 2000, along with Smith. Naeve completed his career with 304 total tackles, 127 solo stops, 14 tackles for losses, three sacks, nine interceptions, 16 pass break-ups and four fumble recoveries. Naeve has also been selected to play in the Cactus Bowl in Kingsville, Texas, on Jan. 13, 2001. Formerly the Snow Bowl, held in Fargo, N.D., the Cactus Bowl selects NCAA Division II seniors to play in the all-star contest.

Smith has been a three-year starter on Truman's defensive line, registering 137 career tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 17 sacks, eight pass break-ups and four fumble recoveries.

Three Bulldogs were second-team academic all-district picks, as junior tight end Eric Ess (Edwardsville, Ill.), sophomore defensive back Lance Dorsey (Hannibal, Mo.) and kicker/punter Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert) were chosen to the contingent. Ess had nine catches for 80 yards in 2000, while Dorsey finished the year with 27 stops, including three pass deflections. Lepper averaged 38.9 yards per punt, and made six of 12 field goals and 35 of 42 PATs.

Sophomore wide receiver Alfonso Pugh (Galesburg, Ill.) was a third-team selection after finishing third on the team in receiving with 37 catches for 523 yards. Pugh also scored three touchdowns on special teams, taking two kickoffs and one punt back for the score. He was ranked eighth in the nation in punt returns (16.8 ypr) in the last week of the season.

The Truman Bulldogs finished the 2000 season with a 6-5 record and 5-4 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, tying for fourth-place.

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