ST. LOUIS, MO. -- Drake senior linebacker James Adams (Kansas City, Mo./Parkhill) has been named the Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, while junior running back Scott Phaydavong earned first-team All-PFL honors for a third straight year. All selections were made by the league's coaches who weren't allowed to vote for their own players.
Adams was the top tackler for Drake which posted a 9-2 record, including a 6-1 second-place finish in the PFL. He finished second in the league in tackles with 93 (8.5 avg. per game), while leading the league with three fumble recoveries and finishing third in fumbles forced at three.
The duo headed a list of seven Drake players who earned first-team All-PFL honors. Junior fullback WIllie Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo./St. Pius X) and junior offensive tackle
Matt Haas (Iowa City, Iowa/West) also earned first team honors on offense.
Joining Adams on the first-team defensive unit were senior end Kevin Jennings (Lockport, Ill.), junior free safety
Jacob Craig (Mount Vernon, Iowa) and sophomore strong safety
Andy Green (Atlantic, Iowa).
Phaydavong led the PFL in rushing for a second straight year, by accumulating a Drake single-season record of 1,613 yards, bettering the previous school mark he set of 1,550 yards last year.
Marx and Haas earned honorable mention All-PFL honors in 2005.
Drake landed eight players on the second-team All-PFL unit.
Senior linebacker
Brian Conway (Waukee, Iowa), junior center Matt Huber (Mount Prospect, Ill.), junior cornerback
Tyler Marley (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill), junior tight end
Daniel Marx (Maple Grove, Minn.), nose guard Jake Ramos (Waterloo, Neb.), senior linebacker Nick Ross (Altantic, Iowa), sophomore kicker
Logan Rees (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) and junior offensive guard
Anthony Swope (Chicago, Ill.), earned second-team All-PFL honors.
