ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Twelve South Dakota State University football players, including first-team selections Danny Batten, Ryan Berry and JaRon Harris, have been named to the 2008 all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team.

Batten, a junior from Gilbert, Ariz., was a first-team selection on the defensive line after tying for the league lead in sacks during the regular season with nine and finishing fourth in tackles for loss with 14.5. He recorded a sack in six of eight league games from his defensive end position, including two at Indiana State. Overall, Batten ranked fourth on the team with 75 tackles, while adding an interception and pass breakup.

Batten finished third in the balloting for MVFC Defensive Player of the Year, finishing behind Northern Iowa defensive lineman James Ruffin and Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams.

Berry, a senior from Watertown, was selected as the first-team quarterback after a record-setting season. He led the MVFC in passing yards per game (258.8), touchdown passes (30) and total offense (250.8 ypg), while ranking second in pass efficiency (149.34). In league games, Berry threw for 21 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His seven touchdown passes against Illinois State on Nov. 8 set SDSU and league single-game records. During the 2008 season, Berry established Jackrabbit single-season records for completions (256), attempts (395) and touchdown passes (30). He also set SDSU career marks for completions (485), attempts (834), passing yards (6,023) and touchdown passes (56).

In addition, Berry was runner-up in the voting for MVFC Offensive Player of the Year, which went to Western Illinois running back Herb Donaldson.

Harris, a senior from Sioux Falls, earned a spot on the first team at wide receiver after leading the league in nearly every receiving category. In 12 games, Harris caught 70 passes (5.8 receptions per game) for 966 yards (80.5 ypg) and 11 touchdowns. Three times he topped 100 yards receiving in a game, including 10-reception, 169-yard outing with two touchdowns against Missouri State.

Second-team honorees from the SDSU offense were Kyle Minett, Glen Fox, Kevin Robling and Peter Reifenrath. Defensively, Jimmy Rogers and Eric Schroeder were honored on the second team.

A sophomore from Ruthton, Minn., Minett was a dual threat in the Jackrabbit backfield during the 2008 season. He ranked second in the league with an average of 107.4 rushing yards per game, posting a season total of 1,289 yards as he topped the 100-yard mark six times. He also caught 44 passes for 415 yards to rank third among the league leaders in all-purpose yards (142.0 ypg). Minett scored a touchdown in 11 of the team’s 12 games and ranked second in the league for scoring with 18 total touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions for 112 points.

Fox, a junior from Fairfax, Iowa, formed the other half of a potent receiving tandem with Harris. Fox ranked third in the league with an average of 5.5 receptions per game, totaling 66 catches. He also ranked fourth in the MVFC with an average of 66 receiving yards per game, going over the 100-yard mark four times. Of his 10 receiving touchdowns, eight came in conference play, including a three-touchdown outing against Illinois State in which he tallied nine receptions for 104 yards.

Robling, a senior center from Jordan, Minn., anchored a Jackabbit offensive line that helped SDSU lead the MVFC in passing offense (267.7 ypg), total offense (405.2 ypg) and scoring offense (35.6 ppg), en route to setting a school record with 427 points scored. Robling was honored twice as the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week during the 2008 season.

Reifenrath proved to be a consistent performer as he handled the placekicking duties for the Jackrabbits in 2008. He led the league in kick scoring with 84 points (7.6 ppg) and field goals, making 16-of-22 attempts. A sophomore from Decorah, Iowa, Reifenrath was 5-for-7 on field goals of 40 yards or longer, connecting on three 40-plus-yard field goals in the season finale at North Dakota State to earn MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Rogers, a junior from Chandler, Ariz., led the team in tackles for the second consecutive season by tallying 93 stops from his linebacker position. He tallied double digits in tackles three times, including season-best 13 against Youngstown State. He added an interception and two pass breakups.

Schroeder earned second-team recognition despite being hampered by injury for the first half of the season. When healthy, the senior defensive lineman from Stewartville, Minn., tallied 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks over the final four games. He also blocked a pair of kicks during the season.

Recognized on the honorable mention squad were tight end Colin Cochart, offensive lineman Nick Flesner and linebacker Chris Johnson.

Cochart, a sophomore from Kewaunee, Wis., ended the season with 23 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns. His average of 17.4 yards per reception led the team.

A senior from Pierce, Neb., Flesner started all 12 games at either guard or tackle. A three-year starter, he helped the Jackrabbits to three consecutive seven-win seasons.

Johnson, a junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, ranked second on the team with 82 tackles. He made 10 or more stops in a game three times, while also recording a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery.

South Dakota State, coached by John Stiegelmeier, finished the 2008 season with a 7-5 overall record. The Jackrabbits finished third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference during their inaugural season in the league, posting a 6-2 mark in league play.

The all-conference team was selected based on a vote by the league's coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
*Courtesy: SDSU Sports Information

2008 Valley Football Balloting

Offensive Player of the Year - Top 3
Pts. Player, School
67 RB Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois
40 QB Ryan Berry, South Dakota State
21 RB Larry Warner, Southern Illinois

Defensive Player of the Year - Top 4
Pts. Player, School
50 DL James Ruffin, UNI
44 LB Jason Williams, Western Illinois
21 DE Danny Batten, South Dakota State
20 LB Brandin Jordan, Southern Illinois

2008 all-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: RB Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DL James Ruffin, UNI
'BRUCE CRADDOCK' VALLEY FOOTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR: Dale Lennon, Southern Illinois

FIRST TEAM
QB -- Ryan Berry, South Dakota State 6-3 190 Sr. Watertown (S.D.) High
RB -- Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois 5-11 225 Sr. St. Louis (Mo.) CBC High
Larry Warner, Southern Illinois 5-5 169 Sr. Vicksburg (Miss.) Warren Central / Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
FB -- Dre Gibbs, Western Illinois 5-10 225 Jr. Lawrenceville (Ga.) Dacula High
WR -- JaRon Harris, South Dakota State 6-1 200 Sr. Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington High
Eyad Salem, Illinois State 6-2 180 Jr. Elgin (Ill.) Larkin High / Minnesota State-Moorhead
TE -- Clay Harbor, Missouri State 6-4 230 Jr. Dwight (Ill.) High
OL -- Zach Harrington, North Dakota State 6-2 295 Sr. Carrington (N.D.) High
Reshad Jones, Western Illinois 6-4 230 Sr. Sheboygan (Wis.) South High
Aaron Lockwood, Southern Illinois 6-3 305 Sr. Topeka (Kan.) Seaman High / Barton County Community College
Brad Samsa, Youngstown State 6-3 280 Sr. Warren (Ohio) Howland High
Austin Steichen, UNI 6-3 300 Jr. Remsen (Iowa) Saint Mary's High
PK -- Taylor Rowan, Western Illinois 6-0 190 Sr. Melbourne (Fla.) High
DL -- Danny Batten, South Dakota State 6-4 250 Jr. Gilbert (Ariz.) Mesquite High
Josh Galloway, Western Illinois 6-3 250 Sr. Reno (Nev.) High / Glendale Community College
Everette Pedescleaux, UNI 6-6 305 Sr. Plymouth (Minn.) Armstrong High / Univ. of Minnesota
James Ruffin, UNI 6-4 265 Jr. Burnsville (Minn.) High
LB -- Ramon Humber, North Dakota State 5-11 222 Sr. Brooklyn Park (Minn.) Champlin High
Brandin Jordan, Southern Illinois 5-11 230 Jr. Kenner (La.) John Curtis Christian High
Josh Mahoney, UNI 6-1 234 Jr. Sioux Falls (S.D.) O'Gorman High
Jason Williams, Western Illinois 6-3 225 Sr. Chicago (Ill.) DuSable High
DB -- Korey Lindsey, Southern Illinois 6-0 187 So. Baton Rouge (La.) Scotlandville Magnet High
Darrell Lloyd, UNI 6-0 191 Sr. O'Fallon (Mo.) Fort Zumwalt High
Nick Schommer, North Dakota State 6-0 197 Sr. Prescott (Wis.) High
Patrick Stoudamire, Western Illinois 5-11 200 Jr. Portland (Ore.) Centennial High
P -- Scott Ravanesi, Southern Illinois 6-0 196 Jr. Carol Stream (Ill.) Glenbard North High
RS -- Larry Warner, Southern Illinois 5-5 169 Sr. Vicksburg (Miss.) Warren Central / Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

SECOND TEAM
QB -- Pat Grace, UNI 6-2 230 Jr. Sioux City (Iowa) Bishop Heelan High
Cody Kirby, Missouri State 5-11 200 So. Rogers (Ark.) High
RB -- Corey Lewis, UNI 6-0 197 Sr. St. Paul (Neb.) High
Kyle Minett, South Dakota State 5-10 210 So. Ruthton (Minn.) R-T-R High
FB -- Ryan Mahaffey, UNI 6-4 255 So. Grinnell (Iowa) High
WR -- Glen Fox, South Dakota State 6-2 205 Jr. Fairfax (Iowa) Prairie High
Kole Heckendorf, North Dakota State 6-2 188 Sr. Mosinee (Wis.) High
TE -- Jerimiah Wurzbacher, North Dakota St. 6-5 250 Sr. Fargo (N.D.) South High
OL -- David Arkin, Missouri State 6-5 281 So. Wichita (Kan.) Kapaun High
Mike Farrell, Southern Illinois 6-3 295 Sr. Lake Bluff (Ill.) Lake Forest High
Austin Howard, UNI 6-7 301 Jr. Davenport (Iowa) Central High
Kevin Robling, South Dakota State 6-3 275 Sr. Jordan (Minn.) High
Jonathan St-Pierre, Illinois State 6-3 305 Sr. Longueuil (Quebec) Edouard-Montpetit / Univ. of Miami
PK -- Peter Reifenrath, South Dakota State 5-11 185 So. Decorah (Iowa) High
DL -- Crispin Fernandez, Youngstown State 5-10 270 Jr. Porterville (Calif.) Monache High
Joe Lardinois, North Dakota State 6-4 260 Sr. New Franken (Wis.) Notre Dame Academy
Jeremy Robertson, UNI 6-4 255 Sr. Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Washington High / North Iowa Area CC
Eric Schroeder, South Dakota State 6-3 285 Sr. Stewartville (Minn.) High
LB -- James Cloud, Southern Illinois 6-2 216 Sr. Hackensack (N.J.) High / Coffeyville Community College
De'Veon Harris, UNI 6-1 215 Sr. Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely High / Toledo / North Iowa Area CC
Chauncey Mixon, Southern Illinois 6-1 221 Jr. Mobile (Ala.) Davidson High
Jimmy Rogers, South Dakota State 5-10 215 Jr. Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton High
DB -- Mike McEachern, Western Illinois 6-1 205 Sr. Calgary (Alberta) Western Canada
Terrell McMoore, UNI 6-1 185 Sr. Minneapolis (Minn.) Washburn High
Marty Rodgers, Southern Illinois 5-10 184 Jr. Webb City (Mo.) High
Roger Wright, Missouri State 5-11 193 Sr. Grandview (Mo.) High
P -- Bobby Kelsey, Illinois State 6-1 220 Sr. Channahon (Ill.) Providence Catholic
RS -- Tom Nelson, Illinois State 6-0 200 Sr. Arlington Heights (Ill.) John Hersey High

Honorable Mention
Illinois State: DL Adam Blankenship; DB Kelvyn Hemphill; OL Joe Niklasch
Indiana State: LB Jayden Everett; DB Donye McCleskey; DB Alex Sewall
Missouri State: DB Cedric Alvis; WR Chris Geisz; DB Skylar Smith
North Dakota State: OT Keith Buckman; LB Mike Maresh; RB Tyler Roehl
UNI: RS Jarred Herring; LB Jamar Thompson, RT/LG Bob Swift
South Dakota State: TE Colin Cochart; OL Nick Flesner; LB Chris Johnson
Southern Illinois: NT Chris Arthurs; WR Marc Cheatham; QB Chris Dieker; PK Kyle Dougherty; FB John Goode; TE Ryan Kernes
Western Illinois: LB Travis Cherry; LB Kyle Glazier; DE Victor Visoky
Youngstown State: P Ben Nowicki; DB Brandian Ross; QB Brandon Summers

VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
1985 Mike Smith, QB, Northern Iowa
1986 Sean Payton, QB, Eastern Illinois
1987 Carl Boyd, RB, Northern Iowa
1988 Paul Singer, QB, Western Illinois
1989 DeAndre Smith, QB, Missouri State
1990 DeAndre Smith, QB, Missouri State
1991 Derrick Franklin, RB, Indiana State
1992 Toby Davis, RB, Illinois State
1993 Kurt Warner, QB, Northern Iowa
1994 Rob St. Sauver, QB, Western Illinois
1995 Dedric Ward, WR, Northern Iowa
1996 Dedric Ward, WR, Northern Iowa
1997 Aaron Stecker, RB, Western Illinois
1998 Karlton Carpenter, RB, S. Illinois
1999 Cornell Craig, WR, S. Illinois
2000 Charles Tharp, RB, Western Illinois
2001 P.J. Mays, RB, Youngstown State
2002 Russ Michna, QB, Western Illinois
2003 Russ Michna, QB, Western Illinois
2004 Joel Sambursky, QB, S. Illinois
2005 Laurent Robinson, WR, Illinois State
2006 Marcus Mason, RB, Youngstown St.
2007 Eric Sanders, QB, Northern Iowa
2008 Herb Donaldson, RB, Western Illinois

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
1985 James Houston, LB, Illinois State, Mark Farley, LB, Northern Iowa
1986 Brian Gant, LB, Illinois State
1987 Matt Soraghan, LB, Missouri State
1988 John Jurkovic, DT, Eastern Illinois
1989 John Jurkovic, DT, Eastern Illinois
1990 Tim Lance, DB, Eastern Illinois
1991 William Freeney, LB, Northern Iowa
1992 William Freeney, LB, Northern Iowa
1993 Andre Allen, LB, Northern Iowa
1994 Andre Allen, LB, Northern Iowa
1995 Tim Carver, LB, Eastern Illinois
1996 Mike Miano, DL, Missouri State
1997 Harry Deligianis, DT, Youngstown State
1998 James Milton, LB, Western Illinois
1999 Edgerton Hartwell, LB, Western Illinois
2000 Edgerton Hartwell, LB, Western Illinois
2001 Adam Vogt, LB, Northern Iowa
2002 Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State
2003 Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State
2004 Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State
2005 Brent Hawkins, DE, Illinois State
2006 Cameron Siskowic, LB, Illinois State
2007 Brannon Carter, LB, Northern Iowa
2008 James Ruffin, DL, Northern Iowa

COACHES OF THE YEAR
1985 Darrell Mudra, Northern Iowa
1986 Al Molde, Eastern Illinois
1987 Darrell Mudra, Northern Iowa
Bruce Craddock, Western Illinois
1988 Bruce Craddock, Western Illinois
1989 Jesse Branch, Missouri State
1990 Jesse Branch, Missouri State
1991 Terry Allen, Northern Iowa
1992 Terry Allen, Northern Iowa
1993 Terry Allen, Northern Iowa
1994 Terry Allen, Northern Iowa
1995 Bob Spoo, Eastern Illinois
1996 Terry Allen, Northern Iowa
1997 Randy Ball, Western Illinois
1998 Todd Berry, Illinois State
1999 Todd Berry, Illinois State
2000 Don Patterson, Western Illinois
2001 Mark Farley, Northern Iowa
2002 Don Patterson, Western Illinois
2003 Jerry Kill, Southern Illinois
2004 Jerry Kill, Southern Illinois
2005 Jon Heacock, Youngstown State
2006 Jon Heacock, Youngstown State
2007 Mark Farley, Northern Iowa
2008 Dale Lennon, Southern Illinois