Aug. 9, 2007

BEMIDJI, Minn. - For the first time since two-time All-American running back Eddie Acosta earned national accolades leading up to the 2002 season, the Bemidji State University football team has made its presence known in a national preseason publication. Zach Christ (Sr., LB, Buffalo, Minn.), Justin Guy (Sr., OL, Blaine, Minn.), John Keaveny (Sr., OL, St. Cloud, Minn.), Anthony Schreiber (Sr., WR, Berkeley, Ill.) and Zach Stafford (Sr., DT, Fergus Falls, Minn.) have been named to the 2007 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette NCAA Division II Preseason All-America team.

The quintet of Beavers' selections is thought to be the largest preseason contingent from BSU in the history of the program.

Of Bemidji State's five selections, three come from the offensive side of the ball while two return from the heart and soul of the Beavers' defense.

Every offense starts with its line and in 2007 the Beavers return a veteran crew of linemen including a left side featuring Guy and Keaveny. A year ago, this duo led a line that blocked for a BSU offense which led the league and ranked 29th nationally in scoring (29.3) and paced led the NSIC in rushing (153.3 yds/gm), rushing touchdowns (20) and total touchdowns scored (39). BSU was one of three conference teams to pile up more than 200 first downs on the season (203, 3rd), and the team’s 20 sacks allowed were third-fewest in the league.

Both Keaveny and Guy earned First Team All-NSIC Accolades at the conclusion of the 2006 season.

Keaveny, who was an Honorable-Mention All-NSIC pick as a sophomore in 2005, has started 21 consecutive games for BSU at left guard, while Guy started all 11 games for BSU at left tackle in 2006.

Schreiber, who was selected to the All-America team as an all-purpose back, led BSU in scoring (54), touchdowns scored (9), receptions (58) and receiving yards (790) and finished second in receiving touchdowns (6). Of the multi-talented player's nine touchdowns on the season, six came on receptions, two came rushing and one came on a 51-yard punt return. Schreiber finished third in the NSIC in punt return yards (197), eighth on the BSU single-season list. He climbed to third on BSU’s career list for punt returns (39) and is fourth all-time at BSU in punt return yardage (265).

As a receiver, he finished sixth in the NSIC in receiving yards/game (66.2) and eighth in receptions per game (4.82). He tied for seventh in the NSIC in scoring (4.9) and became just the ninth player in BSU history to score 20 touchdowns in a career. He finished fifth in the NSIC in all-purpose running (98.5 yards/gm) and is now ninth all-time at BSU in all-purpose yardage (2,644).

Schreiber, who is currently third on BSU's all-time reception yards list (1,907) and is the fourth-leading target on the career receptions list (140), was a First Team All-NSIC selection in 2006 as a return man while he earned honorable mention recognition as a receiver.

Stafford, who was named 2007 NSIC Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year earlier in the week, headlines the Beavers' preseason defensive selections.

The senior finished fourth on team with 51 tackles and led BSU in 2006 with 14.5 tackles-for-loss (1.32 TFL/gm), third-most in the NSIC and tied for seventh-most in a season at BSU. He finished second on team and third in NSIC with 6.5 sacks (0.59 sacks/gm), tied for 11th on BSU season list. Stafford climbed into a tie for ninth on BSU’s career list for tackles-for-loss (26.0) and ranks ninth all-time at BSU in yardage lost on TFLs (98), and also reached seventh on BSU career list with 13.5 sacks and is ninth on BSU career list for yardage lost from sacks (72).

Stafford, who enters the 2007 season ranked seventh all-time on BSU's quarterback sack list with 13.5 and and is ninth on the Beavers' career list for yardage lost from sacks (72), was named to the All-NSIC First team last fall.

Christ led BSU with 79 total tackles and 20 solo tackles, and added 10 tackles-for-loss. His 6.0 sacks were tied for third on the team an sixth among his NSIC counterparts. He also posted a team-high six passes defensed with an interception and a team-leading five passes broken up.

Christ earned Second Team All-NSIC honors last fall.

Stafford and Christ helped Bemidji State end the 2006 regular season as the nation’s No. 1-ranked defense against the run, allowing 40.6 yards per game. BSU was ranked No. 10 nationally in total defense (243.6 yards/gm). The duo also combined for 12.5 sacks to help BSU lead the NSIC with 40 quarterback sacks, third-most in a season in school history.

The defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion Beavers account for five of the league's 12 selections on the 155-player All-America team.

This season marks the 20th year Football Gazette, a recognized authority on small college football, has selected NCAA Division II All-America and Preseason All-American teams. The entire 155-player Preseason All-America Team is available at http://www.northernsun.org/Sports/Football/Releases/07_08_07_DH_Preseason_AA.pdf

Bemidji State, ranked 13th in Lindy's 2007 National College Football NCAA Division II Preseason Top-25 Poll and picked to finish first in the 2007 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, is set to open practice Saturday (Aug. 11). The Beavers break the seal in their 2007 season Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. with a non-conference contest versus the University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, Minn.

-bsu-