Six Bearcats Named to NWC First Team

Four WU players receive second team honors, seven are named honorable mention.

Willamette University senior offensive tackle Brandon Bennett has been named First Team All-Northwest Conference for the third consecutive season (2005, 2006, 2007). He was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC as a freshman (2004). Photo courtesy: Willamette Athletics

SALEM, Ore. - Six Willamette University football players have been named First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2007 season, as selected by the NWC head coaches. An additional four Bearcats received Second Team All-NWC honors and seven WU players were chosen for Honorable Mention.

Willamette's First Team selections were senior offensive tackle Brandon Bennett (San Marcos, CA/La Costa Canyon HS), senior place-kicker Matt Bicocca (San Andreas, CA/Calaveras HS) and senior punter Clinton Moran (Mission Viejo, CA/Capistrano Valley HS) on offense and senior inside linebacker Taylor Hermes (Keizer, OR/McNary HS/Southern Oregon University), senior defensive tackle Mitchell MacCready (Manteca, CA/Manteca HS) and senior inside linebacker Phil Sweet (Albany, OR/West Albany HS) on defense.

Players from Willamette chosen for the Second Team Offense were sophomore center Scott Hirschberger (Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) and senior running back C.J. Washington (Spokane, WA/Shadle Park HS). Bearcats named to the Second Team Defense were senior free safety Ben Fennimore (Salem, OR/McKay HS) and sophomore defensive end Cory Lowe (Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS).

Honorable Mention selections from Willamette's offense were senior tight end Tony Davis (Boise, ID/Mountain View HS) and sophomore quarterback Ryan Whitcomb (Oak View, CA/Nordhoff HS/College of the Canyons).

Willamette defensive players named to the Honorable Mention list were junior cornerback Ryan Bettencourt (Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS), junior defensive end Marcus Ford (Marina, CA/Seaside HS/Monterey JC), senior rover Tyler Gill (Fresno, CA/Herbert Hoover HS), senior defensive tackle Matt Gomez (Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) and senior defensive tackle Chris Mulitalo (San Leandro, CA/Arroyo HS).

The 2007 All-NWC Football Team featured 18 players on the First Team Offense and 19 players on the First Team Defense.

In addition, 29 athletes were selected for Second Team recognition and 41 athletes were named to the Honorable Mention list.

Whitworth University head coach John Tully was chosen NWC Coach of the Year. Whitworth sophomore running back Adam Anderson was named NWC Offensive Player of the Year.

Pacific Lutheran University senior defensive end Andrew Eisentrout and Whitworth senior strong safety Jay Tully shared NWC Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Source: Willamette Athletics

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