Trella Highlights 16 Tigers on All-SCAC Teams

San Antonio - Trinity's football team had 16 players earn All-SCAC honors this season, led by SCAC Newcomer of the Year Kyle Trella.

Trella, a first-year punter from Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler), was named First Team All-SCAC in addition to being the SCAC Football Newcomer of the Year. The 6-foot, 165-pound Trella led the NCAA Division III in punting average, during the regular season, averaging 44.0 yards per punt. Trella broke a 46-year-old school Trinity record with his 48.8 yards per punt average against Sewanee, and now holds four of the top 10 averages in Tigers' single-game history (minimum of five punts). He landed over 33 percent (16) of his punts inside the 20-yard line.

Garrett Biel, a first-year kicker from Clayton, Calif. (De La Salle), led the nation in field goals made, connecting on 17 of 19. The longest field goal for the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Biel was 48 yards. Biel was elected to the All-SCAC First Team, with three other Tiger players.

Senior running back Chris Baer of Shiner, Texas (Shiner), made the All-SCAC First Team for the second straight year, and was a Second Team honoree in 2007. The 6-foot, 205-pound Baer became the eighth player in Tiger history to score 200 or more points in a career, and he is in the top 10 in every career rushing category at Trinity. This season, Baer had 822 rushing yards on 137 attempts, and seven touchdowns. As a receiver, Baer snagged 21 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with 1,073 all-purpose yards. He has led the team in rushing and in touchdowns scored for three consecutive seasons.

Riley Curry, a senior wide receiver from  Sugar Land, Texas (Clements), is a SCAC First Team honoree for the fourth consecutive season. The 6-foot, 197-pound Curry snagged 52 passes for 575 yards and five touchdowns. Curry is ranked No. 2 in Trinity career receptions. He will play on Team Stars & Stripes in the Tazón de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) Dec. 19, in Monterrey, Mexico. The game pits 50 outstanding players from Division III against the Tec Monterrey All-Stars.

Senior center Josh Hooten of Robinson, Texas (Robinson), made the All-SCAC Team for the second straight year. The 6-foot, 270-pound Hooten, an Honorable Mention Team recipient in 2008, anchored an offensive line which helped produce 3,592 yards of total offense, and 29.6 points per game.

Three players made the All-SCAC First Team Defense, including Trella. Dennis Grebe, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior linebacker from Bay City, Texas (Bay City), was an All-SCAC Second Team selection in 2008. Grebe led the Tigers in tackles with 64 (28 solo), and had four tackles for a loss of 12 yards. He also picked up 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.

Jonathan Osei-Kuffour, a 6-foot, 192-pound cornerback from Houston (Lamar), had 25 tackles (18 solo) to go along with one interception, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups.

Senior wide receiver Caleb Urban of Victoria, Texas (Memorial), was elected to the All-SCAC Second Team Offense. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Urban returned 24 kickoffs for a school-record 630 yards, and one for a touchdown of 87 yards. Urban also broke the Trinity record for career kickoff return yards, and for most returns. He also snagged 34 passes for 538 yards and six touchdowns.

Three Tigers made the All-SCAC Second Team Defense.

Kyle Coats, a 5-foot-8, 185-pound senior linebacker from Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown), was second in tackles, with 41 (19 solo). Coats had three tackles for a loss of 10 yards, one sack, two quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups.

Evan Reville, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior safety from Oklahoma City, Okla. (Casady), was Trinity's third-leading tackler, with 40 (21 solo). Reville registered two interceptions, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.

Jeff Carapetyan, a 6-foot, 235-pound tackle from Mesquite, Texas (Richardson), made 34 tackles (11 solo), 5.5 tackles for a loss of 22 yards, eight QB hurries, two sacks, and one fumble recovery.

Five players were chosen for the All-SCAC Honorable Mention Team: sophomore defensive back Tyler Barrett (5-foot-9, 170; Spring, Texas; Oak Ridge); senior linebacker Jarrod Burns (5-foot-10, 208; Bulverde, Texas; Smithson Valley); sophomore offensive lineman Justin Campbell (6-foot-3, 242 pounds; Victoria, Texas; Memorial); sophomore linebacker Ben Robinson (5-foot-10, 185 pounds; Coppell, Texas; Coppell); and junior defensive lineman Garrett Van Dyke (6-foot, 231 pounds; Houston; Northland Christian).

The Tigers, led by 20th-year head coach Steve Mohr, completed the season with a 7-3 record. Trinity went 4-2 in the SCAC, and tied for third place.