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Donaldson and Ruffin highlight Missouri Valley All-Conference Teams

Mon 1st, December 2008

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The league's all-time leading rusher and the top defensive player on a league co-champion highlight this year's specialty awards as RB Herb Donaldson of Western Illinois and DL James Ruffin of Northern Iowa have earned this year's Missouri Valley Football Conference top player honors. Saluki head coach Dale Lennon, meanwhile, earns Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year award honors, becoming just the third coach in league history to win the award in his first year in the conference.

Donaldson led all of Division I in both rushing (162.2 ypg) and scoring (12.0 ppg) and holds the conference record for career rushing yards and career 100- yard games. His 1,784 rushing yards and 21 TDs are fifth in the league's single-season record book. Donaldson is also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the nation's top offensive player in FCS.

Ruffin leads the Panthers with 15 TFLs and nine QB sacks. He is part of a Panther defense that ranks first in the league and No. 6 on the nation in scoring defense.

A finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the nation's top FCS coach, Lennon is this year's Missouri Valley Football Coach of the Year. The Salukis, ranked No. 8 in the FCS made the playoffs for the sixth-straight season in 2008.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE:

QB -- Ryan Berry, South Dakota State; RB -- Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois; RB -- Larry Warner, Southern Illinois; FB -- Dre Gibbs, Western Illinois; WR -- JaRon Harris, South Dakota State; WR -- Eyad Salem, Illinois State; TE -- Clay Harbor, Missouri State; OL -- Zach Harrington, North Dakota State; OL -- Reshad Jones, Western Illinois; OL -- Aaron Lockwood, Southern Illinois; OL -- Brad Samsa, Youngstown State; OL -- Austin Steichen, Northern Iowa; PK -- Taylor Rowan, Western Illinois.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE:

DL -- Danny Batten, South Dakota State; DL -- Josh Galloway, Western Illinois; DL -- Everette Pedescleaux, Northern Iowa; DL -- James Ruffin, Northern Iowa; LB -- Ramon Humber, North Dakota State; LB -- Brandin Jordan, Southern Illinois; LB -- Josh Mahoney, Northern Iowa; LB -- Jason Williams, Western Illinois; DB -- Korey Lindsey, Southern Illinois; DB -- Darrell Lloyd, Northern Iowa; DB -- Nick Schommer, North Dakota State; DB -- Patrick Stoudamire, Western Illinois; P -- Scott Ravanesi, Southern Illinois; RS -- Larry Warner, Southern Illinois.

(Courtesy of Missouri Valley Conference Media Relations)