Football 4/2/2007 5:00:00 AM

Safe, Frick Named to College Sports Report.Com All-Football Championship Subdivision Team

North Dakota State offensive tackle Nate Safe and defensive tackle Justin Frick were named to the College Sports Report.Com All-Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) Team. Safe was a first team selection, while Frick was named to the second team. The Bison were selected as the Team of the Year.

Safe and Erickson were the anchors of an offensive line that ranked sixth nationally in scoring offense (34 ppg), ninth in total offense (398.91 ypg), 17th in rushing offense (193.82 ypg) and 34th in passing offense (205.1 ypg). The NDSU offensive line was tied for fifth in tackles for loss allowed (3.73 tflapg) and 33rd in sacks allowed (1.27 sapg).

Safe and Erickson opened the holes for Kyle Steffes who became the first NDSU running back to rush for over 1,000 yards three times in a career. Steffes finished with 1,250 yards (113.6 ypg) and 13 TDs on 237 carries. He caught 23 passes for 160 yards.

The offensive linemen also helped to provide protection for Steve Walker, who completed 185-of-288 passes for 2,220 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions on his way to GWFC Offensive Player of the Year honors this past season.

Frick recorded 39 tackles including 18 solo stops, six tackles for loss and five sacks from his defensive line position. He was credited with one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four pass breakups.

The Bison defense held nine of 11 opponents to 100 yards or less rushing during the season. NDSU was fourth in rushing defense (67.2 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (13.4 ppg), ninth in total defense (253.64 ypg). North Dakota State's defense was also tied for 22nd in sacks (2.45 spg).

North Dakota State completed the 2006 season with a 10-1 record under the direction of Craig Bohl, including an 8-0 record against FCS schools and a 29-24 win over Mid-American Conference member Ball State. The Bison went 4-0 to win the Great West Football Conference championship -- the program's first league title since 1994 when NDSU was a member of the Division II North Central Conference.

North Dakota State was ranked No. 5 in The Sports Network and CSN Coaches final Top 25 polls. The Bison lost 10-9 to bowl-participant Minnesota of the Big Ten at the Metrodome.

The Bison are starting the third week of spring drills. The annual Outback Steakhouse Green & Gold Spring Game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in the Fargodome.

The annual Silent Auction and the locker room sale will begin at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome main lobby area, while the Outback Scholarship Luncheon is slated for 12:30 p.m. in the Fargodome meeting rooms located on the second floor.

2006 All-Division I Football Championship Subdivision Team...

I-AA Team of the Year: North Dakota State
I-AA Offensive Player of the Year: Ed McCarthy, Yale
I-AA Defensive Player of the Year: Chad Nkang, Elon

	First Team Offense		Second Team Offense
QB	Josh Johnson, San Diego	QB	Ricky Santos, New Hampshire
RB	Clifton Dawson, Harvard	RB	Steve Baylark, Massachusetts
RB	Arkee Whitlock, Southern Illinois	RB	Marcus Mason, Youngstown State
OL	Matt Isenhauer, Appalachian State	OL	Jacob Bender, Nicholls State
OL	Ed McCarthy, Yale	OL	Kerry Brown, Appalachian State
OL	Alex Miller, Massachusetts	OL	Brennan Carvalho, Portland State
OL	Tucker Peterson, New Hampshire	OL	Ryan Jewell, Youngstown State
OL	Nate Safe, North Dakota State	OL	Chad Reinhart, Northern Iowa
TE	Ben Patrick, Delaware	TE	Patrick Bugg, Eastern Kentucky
WR	David Ball, New Hampshire	WR	Mike Jefferson, Montana State
WR	Alex Watson, Northern Arizona	WR	Maurice Price, Charleston Southern

	First Team Defense		Second Team Defense
DL	Jacob Ford, Central Arkansas	DL	Mike Berg, Harvard
DL	Matt King, Maine	DL	Kroy Biermann, Montana
DL	Marques Murrell, Appalachian State	DL	Justin Frick, North Dakota State
DL	Kevin Winston, James Madison	DL	Eric Schroeder, South Dakota State
LB	Akeem Jordan, James Madison	LB	Justin Durant, Hampton
LB	Chad Nkang, Elon	LB	Adam Hayward, Portland State
LB	Kyle Shotwell, Cal Poly	LB	Cameron Siskowic, Illinois State
DB	J.J. Artis, Princeton	DB	Jonathan Barsi, UC-Davis
DB	Dre Dokes, Northern Iowa	DB	Tracey Belton, Massachusetts
DB	James Ihedigbo, Massachusetts	DB	Kenny Chicione, Cal Poly
DB	Corey Lynch, Appalachian State	DB	Jason Perry, Youngstown State

	First Team Special Teams		Second Team Special Teams
PK	Blake Bercegeay, McNeese State	PK	Craig Coffin, Southern Illinois
P	David Simonhoff, Southeast Missouri	P	Breck Ackley, Southern
RS	Nate Hughes, Alcorn State	RS	Kevin Teel, Hampton

	Division I FCS "Mid-Major" Awards:
	Team of the Year: San Diego
	Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Johnson, San Diego
	Defensive Player of the Year: Colin Disch, Albany
	Special Teams Player of the Year: Brad Smith, Davidson
	Running back of the Year: Justise Hairston, Central Connecticut
	Receiver of the Year: Bruce Hocker, Duquesne
	Offensive Lineman of the Year: Ryne Nutt, Central Connecticut
	Defensive Lineman of the Year: Ray Gensler, Robert Morris
	Linebacker of the Year: Colin Disch, Albany
	Defensive Back of the Year: Andy Green, Drake

Print Friendly Version