ROCK HILL, S.C. - - A trio of Cavaliers earned All-South Atlantic Conference honors when the league announced its postseason football honorees Thursday. Senior defensive lineman Joel Burgess joined sophomore defensive back Robert Carter has first-team selections while senior wide receiver Markel Harrison picked up second-team acclaim.

A 6-foot-1, 285-pounder from Roanoke, Va., Burgess led all UVA Wise defensive lineman with 51 stops this fall. Burgess added 7.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in his final collegiate season. For his career, the lineman registered 146 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Carter earned First-Team All-SAC at two different positions. The Ringold, Va. product made the unit as a return specialist in addition to defensive back. As a returner, Carter ranked sixth in the nation and led the SAC in combined kick return yardage at 742. The sophomore averaged 21.3 yards per kickoff return and added a kickoff return touchdown this fall.

In the defensive secondary, Carter established a new NCAA Division II program-era record with six interceptions. The number led the league and ranks ninth in NCAA Division. Additionally, Carter broke up four more passes, recovered a fumble, made 42 tackles and scored two defensive touchdowns.

Harrison saved his best collegiate season for his last. The 5-foot-10, 165 pound Vienna, Va. native ranked second in the SAC in receptions per game at 4.4. The receiver had at least four catches in seven games, including a nine-catch, 98-yard performance in the team's season-opening win over Ferrum.

A complete list of this year's winners may be found below:

2022 All-SAC Football
FIRST TEAM MOUNTAIN OFFENSE
QB – Tre Simmons, Tusculum
RB – Mekhai Johnson, Tusculum
RB – Jervon Newton, Mars Hill
RB – Grayson Overstreet, Emory & Henry
WR – Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman
WR – Malik Laurent, Mars Hill
WR – Tmahdae Penn, Emory & Henry
OL – Leondre Andreas, Mars Hill
OL – Tommy Mahoney, Tusculum
OL – Justin Bullock, Mars Hill
OL – Ricky Dodson, Emory & Henry
OL – Christian Jones, Carson-Newman
TE – Ty Snelson, Mars Hill
PK – Christian Erwin, Carson-Newman
LS – Andrew Bradshaw, Carson-Newman
RS – Robert Carter, UVA Wise
FIRST TEAM MOUNTAIN DEFENSE
DL – Dajavon White, Tusculum
DL – Donovan Pinnix, Emory & Henry
DL – Joel Burgess, UVA Wise
DL – Frank Lee, Carson-Newman
LB – Landon Honeycutt, Mars Hill
LB – Ivan Phillips, Emory & Henry
LB – Wesley Scott, Tusculum
LB – Alonzo Houston, Carson-Newman
DB – Monroe Sanderson, Mars Hill
DB – Major Williams, Carson-Newman
DB – Robert Carter, UVA Wise
DB – Tristan Rankin, Mars Hill
P – Andrew Cantrell, Tusculum
SECOND TEAM MOUNTAIN OFFENSE
QB – Jimmy Urzua, Mars Hill
RB – TJ King, Carson-Newman
RB – Tyree Nelson, Carson-Newman
RB – Kevon Catoe, Erskine
RB - Justin Hill, Emory & Henry
WR – Tyler Burke, Tusculum
WR – Trevarus Walker, Erskine
WR – Markel Harrison, UVA Wise
OL – Seth Branham, Mars Hill
OL – Preston Robertson, Emory & Henry
OL – Ben Shellenback, Tusculum
OL – Mike Peppin, Carson-Newman
OL – Joe Locke, Tusculum
TE – Bryce Moore, Tusculum
PK – Andre Labat, Mars Hill
LS – Josh Curray, Tusculum
RS – Mekhai Johnson, Tusculum
SECOND TEAM MOUNTAIN DEFENSE
DL – Boris Lewis, Mars Hill
DL – Damipi Lamboni, Mars Hill
DL – Trayzel Jureidini-Wyche, Carson-Newman
DL – Joslyn Mira, Tusculum
LB – Jabril Norman, Mars Hill
LB – Jamari Smith, Erskine
LB – Ryan Dolce, Tusculum
LB – Caleb Goins, Carson-Newman
DB – Jermaine Witherspoon, Tusculum
DB – Nick Jackson, Mars Hill
DB – Addison Knicely, Emory & Henry
DB – Andrae Robinson, Tusculum
P - Michael Harrah, Carson-Newman
Mountain Offensive Freshman of the Year
Justin Hill, Emory & Henry
Mountain Offensive Player of the Year
Ty Snelson, Mars Hill
Mountain Defensive Freshman of the Year
Frank Lee, Carson-Newman
Mountain Defensive Player of the Year
Landon Honeycutt, Mars Hill

FIRST TEAM PIEDMONT OFFENSE
QB – Dre Harris, Newberry
RB – Mario Anderson, Newberry
RB – Jordan Terrell, Barton
RB – Tre Stewart, Limestone
WR – Deshun Kitchings, Newberry
WR – Kelin Parsons, Lenoir-Rhyne
WR – Drew Dixon, Limestone
OL – Evan Surgeon, Wingate
OL – Cameron Thomason, Limestone
OL – Luke Bond, Limestone
OL – Xavier Jennings, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Jordan Campbell, Newberry
TE – Tommy Washington, Newberry
PK – Ethan Evans, Wingate
LS – Blake Arnoult, Newberry
RS – Kujuan Pryor, Catawba
FIRST TEAM PIEDMONT DEFENSE
DL – Devante Gambrell, Newberry
DL – Marquise Fleming, Wingate
DL – DJ Horne, Wingate
DL – Andre Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB – Jaquan Edwards, Wingate
LB – Shane Perry, Barton
LB – Jon Ross Maye, Lenoir-Rhyne
LB – Chandler Matthews, Limestone
DB – Tre Morrison, Wingate
DB – C'Darius Kelley, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB – Ahmond Glass, Limestone
DB – Marcus Morgan, Newberry
P – Ethan Evans, Wingate
SECOND TEAM PIEDMONT OFFENSE
QB – Dustin Noller, Limestone
RB – Dwayne McGee, Lenoir-Rhyne
RB – Alexander Wilson, Wingate
RB – Anthony McAfee, Limestone
WR – Kujuan Pryor, Catawba
WR – Jelani Baker, Limestone
WR – Kameron Johnson, Barton
OL – Blake Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne
OL – Noah Mangum, Newberry
OL – Kody Varn, Newberry
OL – Hunter Jolly, Wingate
OL – Alex Buschow, Barton
TE – Herman McCray, Limestone
PK – Clayton Crile, Catawba
LS – Keaton Chambers, Limestone
RS – Deshun Kitchings, Newberry
SECOND TEAM PIEDMONT DEFENSE
DL – Sirod Cook, Wingate
DL – Joseph Gregory, Limestone
DL – Malik Devine-Brown, Newberry
DL – Juwan Moye, Newberry
LB – Luke Taylor, Newberry
LB – AJ Valentine, Newberry
LB – Davon Gilmore, Wingate
LB – Devin Hibbitt, Lenoir-Rhyne
DB – Quayon Gilbert, Barton
DB – Dequan Mosley, Wingate
DB – Zy Brown, Catawba
DB – Jeremiah Lomax, Limestone
P - Clayton Crile, Catawba
Piedmont Offensive Freshman of the Year
Malik Simmons, Lenoir-Rhyne
Piedmont Offensive Player of the Year
Mario Anderson, Newberry
Piedmont Defensive Freshman of the Year
Jordon Thomas, Wingate
Piedmont Defensive Player of the Year
DJ Horne, Wingate
Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Evan Surgeon, Wingate
Coach of the Year
Todd Knight, Newberry

Statistical Champions
Rushing Yards Per Game: Mario Anderson, Newberry (152.9)
Passing Yards Per Game: Tre Simmons, Tusculum (216.7)
Total Offense Per Game: Tre Simmons, Tusculum (242.6)
Receptions Per Game: Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman (5.0)
Receiving Yards Per Game: Braxton Westfield, Carson-Newman (80.5)
All-Purpose Yards Per Game: Tre Stewart, Limestone (164.7)
Passing Efficiency Rating: Dustin Noeller, Limestone (151.2)
Punt Return Avg.: Ra'Quan Simmons, Wingate (17.9)
Kick Return Avg.: Kujuan Pryor, Catawba (33.6)
Punting Avg.: Ethan Evans, Wingate (46.4)
Scoring Average (TDs): Mario Anderson, Newberry (11.3)
Scoring Average (K): Johnathan Medlin, Lenoir-Rhyne (6.6)
Field Goals Per Game: Kellan Dalton, UVA Wise (0.91)
Field Goal Percentage: Andre Labat, Mars Hill (.778)
Tackles Per Game: Shane Perry, Barton (9.0)
Sacks Per Game: Andre Jefferson, Lenoir-Rhyne (1.18)
Tackles for Loss Per Game: Marquise Fleming, Wingate (2.1)
Interceptions Per Game: Robert Carter, UVA Wise (0.5)
Team Scoring Offense: Limestone (36.2)
Team Scoring Defense: Wingate (10.7)
Team Passing Offense: Limestone (271.2)
Team Passing Defense: Wingate (144.5)
Team Rushing Offense: Barton (213.5)
Team Rushing Defense: Wingate (60.1)
Team Total Offense: Limestone (470.7)
Team Total Defense: Wingate (210.1)