Francis Named Defensive Player of the Year; Ten Named to All-ODAC Football Teams

FOREST, Va. - Senior defensive lineman Joel Francis was named the Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year to lead 10 players who were selected to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) all-conference teams, announced on Tuesday by the league office.

Bridgewater had one offensive selection to the first team, while four players from an Eagles defense that led the league in nearly every category were tabbed to the first team. Bridgewater garnered a pair of second team nods while three players were tabbed to the third team.

Francis turned in a stellar senior season for the Bridgewater Eagles football team cracking the top five in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in sacks and tackles for a loss. Francis ranked in a tie for fifth in the league in sacks among defensive linemen with 4.5 and led the conference in tackles for a loss among defensive linemen with 12.5. For Francis, the honor adds another all-conference selection to his 2010 honorable mention nod.

Overall, the Woodbridge, Va. native finished in a tie for sixth in the league in sacks and was ranked third in tackles for a loss. Francis also forced one fumble on the season and accounted for a score with a safety in Bridgewater's season opening victory at St. Vincent. On the year, Francis amassed 55 tackles which led the league among defensive linemen and ranked him in a tie for 23rd in the league overall.

Bridgewater's lone offensive first teamer was junior tackle Kyle Keister. Keister made 10 consecutive starts and saw time in 673 plays on the year. The Roanoke, Va. native led the offensive line group in knock downs and surrendered just one sack on the year.

Senior defensive tackle Danny Grogg, junior linebacker Andrew Palmer and sophomore defensive back Darrick Gore joined Francis as first teamers on the defensive side of the ball.

Grogg was a disruptive force with Francis in the middle of Bridgewater's four-man front. The Harrisonburg, Va. native posted 43 tackles on the year and also recorded 2.5 sacks, which ranked him 16^th in the league. Grogg started in all 10 games for the Eagles on the year and also posted one fumble recovery to go along with one blocked kick and was named the ODAC Defensive Player of the Week following the Shenandoah game. For Grogg, the honor adds to his second team selection in 2011.

Palmer was Bridgewater's statistical leader in the linebacking corps. The Penn Laird, Va. native ranked eighth in the ODAC in total tackles with 84, while ranking seventh in tackle assists with 48. On the year, Palmer recorded 1.5 sacks and six tackles for a loss. Palmer also intercepted two passes, with one in the season opener at St. Vincent and the other coming in Bridgewater's non-conference finale at the Apprentice School.

Gore was brilliant all season long in Bridgewater's new-look defensive umbrella. The sophomore started in all 10 games and led the secondary in tackles with 50 on the year. Gore broke up three passes on the year and also recorded one interception in Bridgewater's five-interception performance in the season finale at Catholic. The Petersburg, Va. native also posted eight tackles for a loss on the year.

Bridgewater was led on the second team by senior tight end Cord Keating, while linebacker Salem Nganga joined Keating on the conference's second team.

Keating became a primary threat from his tight end position in first year offensive coordinator J.D. Shaw's scheme. The Berryville, Va. native led Bridgewater in receiving yards with 401 in only seven games, with his 401 yards leading the league among tight ends.  Keating averaged 14.3 yards per catch on 28 receptions and scored two touchdowns.

Nganga was second on the team in tackles with 65 stops on the year. The Dumfries, Va. native also posted two sacks, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass in Bridgewater's 42-14 season-ending victory at Catholic.

On the third team, the Eagles had three selections, with sophomore running back Jacob Wright, senior center Shawn Otte and freshman defensive back Daniel Brent rounding out Bridgewater's all-conference selections.

Wright rushed for 701 yards on the season and found the endzone four times to pace the Bridgewater rushing attack. The sophomore's rushing total ranked him eighth in the league.

Otte made 10 consecutive starts and saw time in 679 plays. The senior surrendered one sack and was named to the All-ODAC list for the second season in a row after a third-team selection in 2011. 

Finally, Brent was stellar during his rookie season with the Eagles. After Bridgewater's week one victory at St. Vincent, Brent was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week following his six-tackle effort against the Bearcats. On the year, the Gainesville, Va. native registered 40 tackles, including 20 solos stops. Brent also led the Eagles with three interceptions, including the game-clinching pick in Bridgewater's 31-14 victory over the conference champion Generals of Washington and lee.

Bridgewater finished the 2012 season with a 7-3 record, a one-win improvement from its 6-4 record in 2011. 

2012 ALL-ODAC FOOTBALL TEAMS
J. Stokeley Fulton Offensive Player of the Year: Luke Heinsohn, Sr., RB/K, Washington and Lee
Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year: Joel Francis, Sr., DL, Bridgewater
Coach of the Year: Scott Abell, Washington and Lee
Rookie of the Year: Matt Pawlowski, Fr., QB, Guilford
ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Kyle Boden, Jr., QB, Emory & Henry