by Public Opinion Online , Public Opinion

LOCK HAVEN -- Shippensburg University head football coach Rocky Rees was named the PSAC Eastern Division Coach of the Year and senior split end Mike Harris was named the PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Player of the Year to highlight nine all-conference selections for the Red Raider football program.

Shippensburg won its first conference championship in 28 years with a 42-35 victory over California (Pa.) on Saturday at Seth Grove Stadium. The Red Raiders (9-2), picked fifth in the preseason coaches poll, are currently ranked No. 17 in Division II, having defeated all three nationally ranked opponents they have faced this season.

Honored with selections to the All-PSAC Eastern Division first team were Harris, freshman fullback Kevin Herod, junior defensive back Travis Proctor, senior defensive lineman Tyton Brunner and senior punter Kyler Ford.

Receiving second-team recognition from the conference was junior defensive lineman Andy Horn, junior linebacker Riley Bowen, junior running back Kevin Marshall (Scotland School) and freshman left guard Bobby Mullen.

Rees led the Red Raiders to the program's first divisional title since 2004 and the team's first outright divisional crown since 1981. It is the fourth time in his career and the first since the '04 season that Rees has been honored by the league. His squad led the PSAC in time of possession by an average of 77 seconds while ranking among the top five teams in 20 statistical categories.

Harris is the first divisional offensive player of the year recipient since current Green Bay Packer John Kuhn was honored as a junior in 2003. It is the third consecutive first-team honor for the Harlon Hill Regional Finalist, who ranks second in the PSAC and 18th in Division II for receiving yards per game (89.4).

Harris has totaled 984 receiving yards in 11 games and leads the team with 10 receiving touchdowns (tied for 2nd in PSAC) while totaling 60 receptions and averaging 16.4 yards per catch.

This season, he established the university record for career receptions (195).

Herod ranked seventh in the PSAC while leading the Red Raiders in rushing yards (654). He scored five touchdowns and only 14 of his 175 rushes have gone for negative yards.

Brunner is tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks while contributing to a defensive unit that has totaled the fourth-most sacks in SU history and the most in 18 years. In addition, Brunner has compiled 22 total tackles (including 15 solo stops) while ranking second on the team with nine tackles for loss.

Proctor was switched from safety to defensive back and has thrived while frequently working against the opposing team's top receiver. SU is first in the PSAC with 13 interceptions this season and Proctor leads the team with four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He has a team-high 37 solo tackles and is tied for second with 54 total tackles.

Ford earns his second first-team selection and the third all-conference recognition of his career. He ranks second in the nation (Division II) with a punting average of 41.9 yards. Ford unleashed a 76-yard punt in the PSAC Championship game against Kutztown and a 74-yarder at C.W. Post; both kicks rank among the top five in SU history. He has booted 11 punts longer than 50 yards, and landed 12 punts (24 percent) inside the 20-yard line.

Bowen earns his second selection to the second team after finishing the regular season ranked second on the squad with 54 tackles and tied for second with 34 solo tackles. He ranks third on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss with two sacks.

Horn matched Brunner's sack total this season (5.5) and has been an integral force along the defensive line. He immediately made his presence felt with three sacks in the season opener against Shepherd and his eight tackles for loss are third on the team.

Marshall has once again served as an integral tailback in the Shippensburg Wing-T offense, averaging 4.5 yards per carry on 99 rushes this season. The junior has totaled 448 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Mullen is another first-year starter who has wasted no time becoming a valuable member of the team's offensive line as the left guard. He has contributed to a line that has allowed just 20 sacks in 11 games while averaging 174.8 yards rushing and 213.4 yards passing per game.

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