A trio of Stetson Hatters were selected to the 2014 Pioneer Football League All-Conference team in voting by the league's 11 head coaches, the PFL announced today.
In addition to the three players named to one of the two teams, five Hatters were placed on a list of 74 honorable mention selections for 2014.
Sophomore defensive back Donald Payne, who on Monday was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2014, was the only Stetson player selected to the first team All-PFL squad. He was one of three players in the league to earn first team honors for a second consecutive year.
In addition to Payne, Stetson sophomore cornerback Chris Atkins and sophomore running back Cole Mazza were named to the All-PFL second team.
The five Hatters who were selected as Honorable Mention All-PFL were sophomore defensive end Davion Belk, sophomore offensive lineman Patrick Fogarty, sophomore receiver Kegan Moore, sophomore defensive back Ryan Powers and freshman offensive lineman Charles Wallace.
Payne led the PFL in tackles for a second consecutive season, setting a new league record with 185 total stops in 2014, an average of 15.4 tackles per game. He was second in the league to Belk in tackles for loss with 19 and also ranked in the top 10 in the league in sacks (5.5), interceptions (4), fumbles forced (2) and fumbles recovered (2).
Nationally, Payne led all players, in all four NCAA divisions, in total tackles. His 185 total stops this year rank third all-time in a single season in NCAA history among FCS players. His 30 tackles at Campbell earlier this year tied the all-time NCAA all-division record for tackles in a game.
Atkins was named to the All-PFL second team for a second straight season. He finished tied for second in the PFL in interceptions with five and was second in the league in total passes defended with 21. In addition, Atkins finished the year with 40 tackles, including one for loss, and had a forced fumble.
Mazza earned his first All-PFL honor in 2014 after leading the Hatters, and finishing fourth in the league, in rushing yards per game with 76.8. He finished the season with 922 yards on the ground and, with 10 total touchdowns, tied for sixth in the league.
Belk was selected as an honorable mention All-PFL player for a second straight year. He finished the season second on the team, and 18th in the league, with 84 tackles, an average of 7.0 per game. That total led all defensive linemen in the PFL. His eight sacks were good for third in the PFL and his 19.5 tackles for loss led the league. In addition to his tackle totals, Belk had 13 QB hurries, forced two fumbles and recovered another.
Moore had a breakout season as a receiver for the Hatters, leading the team with 686 yards receiving on just 26 catches, with six TD receptions. His 26.4 yards per reception led both the PFL and all of FCS among receivers with at least 25 receptions on the year. San Diego's Reggie Bell was second in the league with 19.9 yards per catch while Lamar's Mark Roberts was second nationally at 25.15 yards per reception.
Powers had another all-around solid season to earn his first PFL honor. He finished third on the team, and tied for 18th in the league, with 76 total tackles in 2014. He was credited with 6.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, and tied for fifth in the league with four interceptions. He had a total of 10 pass breakups and recovered a pair of fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also returned an interception on a two-point pass attempt for a defensive conversion.
Fogarty and Wallace both earned their first PFL honorable mention selections for helping the Hatters improve by 50 yards rushing per game over 2013. That improved offensive production resulted in the Hatters scoring 5.5 more points per game in 2014, which produced three more victories in the second season of Stetson football.
The PFL will wrap-up its post-season awards on Wednesday with the announcement of the league Academic All-Conference team as well as the inaugural Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
