November 18, 2004
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Ten Bluffton University football players were honored by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for their efforts during the 2004 campaign. Heartland Conference honors were voted on at the end of the year coaches meeting held earlier this week. Bluffton finished the season with a 5-5 overall record and a 3-3 conference record.
Freshman Ryan Christy (Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett) was selected the freshman-of-the-year by the conference. He tallied 57 tackles (18 solo), six pass break ups, two interceptions and one fumble recovery to earn this prestigious award. Christy is the first Beaver to win this award since Bluffton joined the HCAC in 1998.
Four Bluffton players were selected first team All-HCAC, those players were: senior Scott Steiner ( Berne, Ind./South Adams), junior Seth Burkholder (Pandora/Bluffton), junior Rashid Morton (Detroit, Mich./Ypsilanti) and sophomore Jeremy Anderson (South Richwood/Airport). This is the first year that Steiner has been selected first team All-HCAC after being selected second team the past two seasons. For Burkholder, Morton and Anderson, this honor is their first All-HCAC recognition.
In Steiner's final season at Bluffton he led the Beavers and was second in the conference in tackles, recording 122. He also posted 7.5 tackles for a loss, seven pass break ups, four interceptions, and one blocked field goal on the season. Burkholder was 8-for-16 in field goal attempts on the season as well as connecting on 24 extra point attempts and posted 61 punts, averaging 35.1 yards per punt. Anderson was selected first team All-HCAC in his first year with the Beavers after transferring in from Adrian College. He ended the season with 65 tackles, one tackle for a loss, twelve pass break ups, three interceptions, one defensive touchdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. On the season, Morton recorded posted 39 tackles, six tackles for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble.
Three Bluffton players received second team honors including senior Matt Chiles (Sidney/Sidney), senior Andy Tabler (Columbus Grove/Columbus Grove) and junior Ben Dodds (West Liberty/Bellefontaine). Chiles finished his senior season third on the team in tackles with 75, recorded 3 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, three pass break ups and one interception on which he scored a defensive touchdown on. Tabler posted 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception and two pass break ups to help the defensive effort. While leading the Beavers running game, Dodds finished third in the HCAC in rushing this season, totaling 964 yards and nine touchdowns. He also ranked third on the team in pass receptions with 12 catches for 108 yards and one touchdown. He was fifth in the HCAC in all-purpose yards, having averaged 129 yards per game.
Honorable mention selections for All-HCAC included senior Mark Gable (Alvordton/Hilltop), junior Bryan Lloyd (Elida/Bath) and sophomore James Fay (Cairo/Bath). Gable finished his senior campaign with his second consecutive All-HCAC award after receiving second team honors a year ago. He led the Beavers in receptions (31) this season, as well as receiving yards (460) and receiving touchdowns (5). Bryan Lloyd receives his second consecutive honorable mention award for his 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one pass break up. This is Fay's first selection for his outstanding play on the offensive line that produced the third best HCAC rushing attack.