ASU’s McKenna named MVP, POY for SIAC
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Posted: 1:19 AM Nov 25, 2009
ASU’s McKenna named MVP, POY for SIAC
Late Tuesday, Albany State quarterback A.J. McKenna receives the conference’s top honors after posting stellar offensive numbers this season.
Reporter: Scott Chancey
Email Address: scott.chancey@albanyherald.com
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A.J. McKenna passed for 2,027 yards and 19 TDs this year.
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ALBANY — AJ McKenna’s motivation all season was to be the leader of Albany State’s offense.
The SIAC took notice of that and named the senior its Most Valuable Player on Tuesday. McKenna, who also was the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, led the Rams to an 8-3 record and an NCAA Division II playoff appearance. He finished the season with 2,027 yards passing and 19 touchdowns.
“I mean, it’s just a tribute to my teammates and coaches for giving me the opportunity to play,” said McKenna, who also rushed for 328 yards and a score. “My teammates were able to make plays, and the coaches gave us the opportunity to get on the board.”
After rotating last season with then-senior Kisan Flakes, McKenna made the most of his opportunity to play full-time under center. His mobility after being chased out of the pocket, as well as his arm, made him a dual threat.
“I knew I had to come back strong this year,” McKenna said. “We fought hard all season, and we had a really productive year as a team.”
Rams coach Mike White saw that firsthand.
“I don’t know if I was surprised by him getting All-Conference as much as the other two awards. That was great,” White said. “I know he’s extremely happy, and we’re extremely excited for him.”
McKenna said much of his success was due to the talks he had with first-year quarterbacks coach Uyl Joyner, who starred at both Dougherty High School and Albany State.
“Being able to work with him made me a much better player and person,” McKenna said. “He’s a good coach, and a lot of my credit goes to him.”
Senior receiver/running back Demetrice Johnson joins McKenna on the All-Conference First Team, as well as offensive lineman Joseph Ephrem (Jr.) and senior strong safety Mario Fuller. Johnson, who started the season at receiver, finished with 859 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. As a receiver, he totaled 446 yards and five other scores.
“I thought A.J.’s competition (for the awards) was going to be (Johnson),” White said of Johnson, who also had 332 kick-return yards. “I really did. What a year he had. We were extremely proud to have him. He had a great offseason training and did an outstanding job.”
Fuller led the Rams in tackles for the second consecutive year, totaling 67 this season, including 11.5 for loss. He also had 10 pass breakups, four interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
“Mario was probably one of the most overlooked guys in the conference,” White said. “Last year, they left him off the ballot altogether. That was the name I was looking for this year and I was glad to see it. I’m very proud of him.”
Receiver Ronnie Childs, defensive lineman Joshua Ingram, defensive back Jonathan Armstrong and kicker Juan Bongarra were named to the Second Team. Childs had 36 catches for 529 yards and three scores, and Ingram had 32 tackles, four sacks, two hurries, a forced fumble and an interception.
Armstrong, who scored his first collegiate touchdown on offense against Kentucky State, had 48 tackles, including three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, an interception and a forced fumble. And Bongarra, who made a last-second field goal to send Albany State’s game against Clark Atlanta into overtime (the Rams eventually won, 32-29), was 10-of-18 on field-goal attempts.

BAINBRIDGE’S RILEY HONORED:

2009 All-SIAC FOOTBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM

                    

                                Name                    CL              Hometown                Institution

OFFENSE

Quarterback     A. J. McKenna           SR              Scranton, PA            Albany State University 

                                                          

Running Back    Demetric Johnson        SR        Thomson, GA           Albany State University 

                        Quinn Porter            SR        Los Angeles, CA     Stillman College

                                                             

Wide Receiver   An’Thon Harris          JR        Atlanta, GA           Fort Valley State University        

                        Antoine Mitchell        JR        Atlanta, GA           Tuskegee University      

                                                             

Tight End               Robert Smith            SR        St. Louis, MO         Lane College    

                                                             

Offensive

Lineman         Joseph Ephrem   JR        Troy, IL                      Albany State University         

                        Colin Cordell           SR       Douglasville, GA       Fort Valley State University        

                        Ramone Harewood   SR       Christchurch, Barbados  Morehouse College       

                        Robert Dorsey           SR       Los Angeles, CA      Tuskegee University      

                        Christopher Hymel   SR          Gramercy, LA            Stillman College

                                                             

DEFENSE

Defensive

Lineman                 Chris Jinks             JR              Miami, FL                       Benedict College  

                        Tyrell Henderson        SR       Columbus, OH           Kentucky State University          

                        Brandon Anderson        SR       Toxey, AL                Tuskegee University         

                        Junior Galette          SR       Philadelphia, PA       Stillman College

                                                             

Linebackers             Zimier McCloud          SR        Philadelphia, PA      Clark Atlanta University 

                        Michael Thompson        SR        Springfield, OH       Benedict College           

                        Charlie Wilson          SO       Montgomery, AL      Morehouse College       

                                                             

Defensive Back  Mario Fuller            SR        Jesup, GA              Albany State University    

                        Marquez Gibson          JR        Augusta, GA                   Benedict College           

                        Justin Hill                     JR        Phoenix City, AL      Miles College    

                        Justin Hannah           SR        Birmingham, AL        Tuskegee University      

                                                             

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kick Returner    Jamaree Gordon      JR        Atlanta, GA                      Kentucky State University          

Punt Returner    An’Thon Harris         JR        Atlanta, GA           Fort Valley State University        

 

Place Kicker     Ian Mullin                     JR        Long Beach, CA      Morehouse College       

Punter                  Marquette King          SO       Macon, GA             Fort Valley State University         

 

SECOND TEAM

 

OFFENSE

Quarterback     Pat Riley                       JR              Attapulgus, GA          Benedict College

                                               

Running Back    Winston Thompson        JR        Miami, FL                Clark Atlanta University

                        Anthony Boykins         JR        Dallas, TX            Kentucky State University

                                               

Wide Receiver Ronnie Childs     JR        Manchester, GA      Albany State University

                        Achille Hendje          SR       Silver Springs, MD   Morehouse College

                                               

Tight End               Rodriquez Render        JR        LaGrange, GA                  Fort Valley State University

                                               

Offensive

Lineman         Deymound Wright SR        St. Matthews, SC      Benedict College

                        Alphonso Johnson        SR        Montgomery, AL     Clark Atlanta University

                        Jessie Mitchell         SR        East St. Louis, IL    Kentucky State University

                        Tocarius Ray            SR        Birmingham, AL        Miles College University

                        Danny Daniels           SR        Hopkins, SC           Tuskegee University

                                               

DEFENSE

Defensive

Lineman         Joshua Ingram           JR        Milledgeville, GA     Albany State University

                        Marcus Winston          SR        Lansing, MI           Clark Atlanta University

                        Robert Jackson          SR        Jonesboro, GA         Fort Valley State University

                        Danny Anderson          SR        Butler, AL            Tuskegee University

                                               

Linebackers       Jonathan Hall         SR       Mobile, AL             Tuskegee University

                        Trent Newton            SR       Lakeland, FL                   Fort Valley State University

                        William Hollis          JR      Pontiac, MI             Clark Atlanta University

                                               

Defensive

Back                    Jonathan Armstrong  SR  Savannah, GA    Albany State University

                        Dionte’ Dickens         JR        Macon, GA             Fort Valley State University

                        Dejuan Williams         FR        Baxley, GA            Fort Valley State University

                        Jeremy Obie             SR      High Point, NC          Tuskegee University

                                               

SPECIAL TEAMS

Place Kicker    Juan Bongarra           SR       Buenos Aires, Argentina        Albany State University

Kick Returner    Jamar Rodriguez      JR        Houston, TX             Morehouse College

Punt Returner    David Grace            FR        Hawkinsville, GA     Clark Atlanta University

Punter                  Ian Mullin                      JR        Long Beach, CA      Morehouse College

 

SUPERLATIVES

Most Valuable Player: A. J. McKenna, Albany State University

Offensive Player of the Year: A. J. McKenna, Albany State University

 

Co – Defensive Players of the Year: Justin Hannah, Tuskegee University

                                    Zimier McCloud, Clark Atlanta University                          

 Freshman of the Year: Dejuan Williams, Fort Valley State University       

 Coach of the Year: Willie Slater, Tuskegee University

 

Former Bainbridge star Pat Riley, as Benedict’s quarterback, was named to the Second Team at quarterback after rushing for 1,088 yards and 12 touchdowns and passing for 887 more and eight other scores.
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