ARCATA — For the third consecutive year the Humboldt State football program has produced the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, an honor bestowed upon Lumberjack running back Nick Ricciardulli via a vote of league coaches. Running back Lyndon Rowells earned the designation in 2010 and quarterback Mike Proulx was given the nod in 2011.

While Ricciardulli was recognized for his league-leading rushing total, one of the stalwarts blocking for him was also chosen as the best in his position. Humboldt State senior offensive lineman Brett Frydendall has been selected as GNAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.

The pair lead a list of six Lumberjacks chosen for GNAC All-Conference first team honors. Six more were second team honorees.

Ricciardulli completed a standout junior season with a total of 1,579 yards rushing after averaging 143.5 per game. Both of those marks set new Humboldt State records and the former is a new GNAC record, as is his single-game achievement of 45 carries against Azusa Pacific.

From his right tackle position, Frydendall kept opposing defenders from harassing Ricciardulli, opening holes for a running game that totaled a GNAC-best 2,005 yards gained. Humboldt State's quarterbacks also benefited from the senior's efforts, keeping sacks to a miniscule average of less than one per game.

Also earning first team honors on offense was junior center David Kulp, another key component of the HSU front line. Defensive first-teamers include senior defensive tackle Sean McDonald (44 tackles, three sacks), senior linebacker Chris Peterson (66 tackles, 10 for a loss), and strong safety Jerry Maluia, a junior who led the team in tackles with 72, forced three fumbles and made two interceptions.

Second-team choices on offense are wide receiver Victor Spencer, tight end Alex Hiebert, lineman Dillon Reagan and kicker Matt Bruder. On defense, lineman Alex Markarian and punter Chris Campbell were honored.

Central Washington linebacker Stan Langlow, who led the Wildcats in tackles with 81, earned Defensive Player of the Year selection, while Gustave Benthin of Western Oregon shared the top Defensive Linema
 
Also earning special awards were Humboldt State's Brett Frydendahl, Gustave Benthin of Western Oregon, Manako Tuifua of Azusa Pacific, Lemar Durant of Simon Fraser and Central Washington's Cedrique Chaney.
 
Blaine Bennett of Central Washington and Dave Johnson of Simon Fraser tied in the balloting for Coach of the Year each receiving three votes.

2012 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

OFFENSE

 
First Team: Quarterback –  Trey Wheeler, SFU (5-11, 190, So., Seattle, WA).  Running Backs – +Nick Ricciardulli, HSU (5-8, 190, Jr., Poway, CA); Demetrius Sumler, CWU (5-10, 220, Sr., San Diego, CA); Terrell Watson, APU (6-2, 235, So., Oxnard, CA). Receivers – +Lemar Durant, SFU (6-2, 226, So., Coquitlam, BC); Anthony Spain, CWU (6-0, 178, Sr., Grants Pass, OR); Tyrell Williams, WOU (6-3, 195, So., Salem, OR). Tight End – Jamal Kett, SFU (6-5, 234, Fr., Orangeville, ON).  Offensive Line -    +*Brett Frydendahl, HSU, (6-5, 254, Sr., Corona, CA); +*Joey Tivnan, CWU (6-3, 290, Sr., Centralia, WA); **Mike Nelson, CWU (6-4, 312, Jr., Carnation, WA); *Matthias Goossen, SFU (6-4, 292, Jr., Richmond, BC);  David Kulp, HSU (6-2, 295, Jr., Lompac, CA); Robby Palacios, APU (6-5, 320, Sr., Upland, CA).  Kicker  - Kelly Morgan, WOU (5-10, 170, Sr., Sherwood, OR). Kick Returner - *Cache Morgan, DSC (5-11, 190, Sr., West Jordan, UT).  +Unanimous  *Repeater  
 
Second Team: Quarterback – Ryan Robertson, CWU (6-4, 202, Sr., Sammamish, WA). Running Backs – Bo Palmer, SFU (5-9, 209, Sr., North Vancouver, BC).  Wide Receivers – Victor Spencer, HSU (6-0, 202, Sr., Sacramento, CA); Zack Fox, DSC (6-1, 210, Sr., Spanish Fork, UT); Tavoy Moore, CWU (5-6, 196, Sr., Long Beach, CA); Bobby Pospischil, SFU (5-10, 187, So., Coquitlam, BC).  Tight Ends – Alex Hiebert, HSU (6-2, 244, Sr., Redmond, WA); Kevin Schick, APU (6-2, 250, Jr., Aliso Viejo, CA).  Offensive Line – Marcus Cuellar, WOU (6-5, 280, Jr., Independence, OR); Alex Jones, WOU (6-3, 280, Jr., Portland, OR); Tim Taylor, APU (6-2, 275, Sr., Yorba Linda, CA); Nick Garibay, DSC (6-2, 290, Sr., Wilmington, CA); Dillon Reagan, HSU (6-3, 323, Jr., Issaquah, WA).  Kicker – Matt Bruder, HSU (5-8, 164, So., Jamul, CA). Kick Returner – Tavoy Moore, CWU (5-6, 196, Sr., Long Beach, CA); Tyler Thornton, APU (5-8, 178, So., Bakersfield, CA).
 
DEFENSE
 
First Team:  Defensive Line – +Gustave Benthin, WOU (6-2, 285, Jr., Nampa, ID); +Manako Tuifua, APU (5-11, 305, Sr., Kailua, HI); Sean McDonald, HSU (6-3, 292, Sr., Kalama, WA); Donnie Johnson, CWU (6-2, 271, Jr., Olympia, WA). Linebackers - +Stan Langlow, CWU (6-3, 216, Jr., University Place, WA); *Scotland Foss, WOU (6-2, 235, Sr., Albany, OR); **Chris Peterson, HSU (5-10, 210, Sr., San Diego, CA). Defensive Backs - +**Bryce Peila, WOU (6-1, 200, Sr., Central Point, OR);  *Jeremiah Maluia, HSU (5-11, 202, Jr., Compton, CA); Tyler Thornton, APU (5-8, 178, So., Bakersfield, CA); Cedrique Chaney, CWU (6-0, 188, Fr., Kelso, WA). Punter – Alexander Bradt, WOU (6-1, 210, Fr., Salem, OR).  Punt Returner -  Tavoy Moore, CWU (5-6, 196, Sr., Long Beach, CA). +Unanimous  *Repeater  
 
Second Team: Defensive Line -  Alex Markarian, HSU (6-4, 245, So., Chino Hills, CA); Kraig Akins, WOU (6-2, 280, So., Springfield, OR); Gavin Drake, WOU (6-3, 265, Sr., Portland, OR); Andrew Marshall, SFU (6-3, 242, Sr., Nanoose Bay, BC); Sipili Tuigamalala, WOU (6-2, 330, Jr., Hayward, CA). Linebackers – Casey Chin, SFU (5-10, 227, Jr., Port Moody, BC); Sean Barber, APU (6-1, 225, Jr., Edgewood, WA); Riley Wall, CWU (5-9, 212, Jr., Olympia, WA).  Defensive Backs -  Darrell Wilson, APU (6-1, 210, Sr., Ontario, CA); Cache Morgan, DSC (5-11, 190, Sr., West Jordan, UT); Derek Jones, SFU (6-1, 194, Sr., Edmonton, AB); Isaiah Davis, CWU (6-0, 176, Fr., Bremerton, WA).  Punter – Chris Campbell, HSU (5-10, 170, So., Granite Bay, CA); Matt Burke, CWU (6-0, 194, Jr., Laguna Hills, CA). Punt Returner – Tore Corrado, SFU (6-0, 180, Jr., Vancouver, BC).
 
GNAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year – Nick Ricciardulli, HSU (5-8, 190, Jr., Poway, CA). GNAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year -  Stan Langlow, CWU (6-3, 216, Jr., University Place, WA).  GNAC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year -  Brett Frydendahl, HSU, (6-5, 254, Sr., Corona, CA).  GNAC Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year  - Gustave Benthin, WOU (6-2, 285, Jr., Nampa, ID) and Manako Tuifua, APU (5-11, 305, Sr., Kailua, HI). GNAC Newcomer-of-the-Year – Lemar Durant, SFU (6-2, 226, So., Coquitlam, BC).  GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year – Cedrique Chaney, CWU (6-0, 188, Fr., Kelso, WA). GNAC Coach-of-the-Year – Dave Johnson, SFU, and Blaine Bennett, CWU.