North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

     Two North Carolina Central University senior offensive linemen, Robert Duncan and Sam Funches, have been announced as members of the 2006 Associated Press Little All-America Football Team. 
     Duncan, a senior center from Winston-Salem, N.C., earned AP Little All-America First Team honors, while Funches, a senior left tackle from Lawnside, N.J. claimed Second Team recognition.
     "Their contributions to this football program have been huge," said NCCU offensive line coach James Spady. "Their leadership was so valuable - as coaches on the field and mentors to the younger guys behind them. They have been an enormous amount of pleasure to coach."
     Duncan was a repeat selection on the All-CIAA First Team and All-Region First Team, while also picking up Daktronics, Inc. NCAA Division II All-America Second Team honors. He was named CIAA Offensive Lineman of the Week three times and National Offensive Lineman of the Week twice by Don Hansen's Football Gazette during his senior campaign. As the Eagles' starting center and team captain, his average grade was 92.4 percent and averaged four pancake blocks and less than 1 missed assignment per game, while not allowing a sack all season. Duncan was selected to Street & Smith's 2006 Division II Preseason All-America Team, one of only four offensive linemen in the country to earn the honor. He is also a national finalist for the 2006 Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award.
     "Athletically, Duncan can do anything you ask him to do on the field," Spady said. "He can accomplish what you don't think is possible. He is a very physical and smart football player."
     Funches finished his NCCU career by claiming All-CIAA First Team and All-Region First Team recognition. During his senior campaign, he was named CIAA Offensive Lineman of the Week four times and National Offensive Lineman of the Week twice by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. As the squad's starting left tackle, Funches posted and average grade of 91.2 percent and averaged two pancakes per game (25 total) and less than one missed assignment per game, while allowing only one sack and four pressures all season. 
     "Technically, Funches is the most sound lineman we have," Spady said. "It is impossible to have perfect technique, but he is as close to perfect as you can be. He plays hard and with his heart."
     As a team, NCCU ranked 17th in the nation in Pass Sacks Allowed with an average of only 1.17 per game. The Eagles also led the conference in total offense (345.1), scoring offense (30.9) and passing offense (218.3).
     NCCU repeated as CIAA Champions, posted a perfect regular season for the first time in the school's 83-year gridiron history, won 11 games for the first time in school history, earned the No. 1 ranking in the Southeast Region, finished as the No. 4 ranked team in the NCAA Division II (AFCA), and is currently the top-ranked team in black college football.
 

Robert Duncan

Sam Funches

FIRST TEAM 
Offense
Quarterback - Cullen Finnerty, 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, senior, Grand Valley State.

Running backs - Danny Woodhead, 5-9, 200, senior, Chadron State; Germaine Race, 5-11, 225, senior, Pittsburg State.

Wide receivers - Eric Fowler, 6-3, 205, senior, Grand Valley State; Weston Dressler, 5-8, 164, junior, North Dakota.

Tight end - Michael Allen, 6-7, 264, senior, Whitworth.

Offensive linemen - Ben Hochstein, 6-4, 298, junior, Nebraska-Omaha; Robert Duncan, 6-0, 268, senior, North Carolina Central; Alan Barbre, 6-4, 295, senior, Missouri Southern; Robbie Klinetrobe, 6-2, 295, senior, Chadron State; Heath Benedict, 6-6, 320, junior, Newberry.

Kicker - David Chudzinski, 6-0, 187, junior, Wayne State.

All-purpose player - Evan Prall, 6-1, 173, senior, East Stroudsburg.

Defense
Linemen - Alton Pettway, 6-3, 258, senior, Albany State; Mike McFadden, 6-0, 255, senior, Grand Valley State; Trey Lewis, 6-3, 290, senior, Washburn; Alex Hall, 6-4, 250, junior, St. Augustine's.

Linebackers - Ben Stroup, 6-1, 215, senior, Edinboro; Jared Brock, 6-1, 210, sophomore, West Texas A&M; Kevin Jones, 6-1, 210, senior, St. Augustine's.

Defensive backs - Jordan Davis, 6-0, 198, senior, South Dakota; Mario Harris, 5-8, 180, senior, Wesley; Dan Peters, 6-1, 207, senior, Shepherd; Craig Haywood, 5-10, 190, senior, King's (Pa.).

Punter - Curtis Lilly, 6-5, 225, senior, East Central.

Running backs - Stefan Logan, senior, South Dakota; Nate Kmic, sophomore, Mount Union.

Wide receivers - Michael Clark, senior, Wesley; Ashton Gronewold, junior, Missouri-Rolla.

Tight end - Mike Peterson, junior, Northwest Missouri State.

Offensive linemen - Rayshaun Hollings, senior, Southeastern Oklahoma;Tim McCutcheon, junior, California, Pa.; Chris Teeter, senior, Washington & Jefferson; Jason Capizzi, senior, Indiana, Pa.; Sam Funches, senior, North Carolina Central.

Kicker - Jeff Schebler, freshman, Wisconsin-Whitewater

All-purpose player - Chris Sharpe, junior, Springfield.

Defense
Linemen - Andrew Studebaker, junior, Wheaton; Adam Wolff, senior, North Dakota; Andre Bernardi, sophomore, North Greenville; Travis Carpenter, junior, Abilene Christian.

Linebackers - Charleston Hughes, senior, Northwood; Lateef Ferguson, junior, West Chester; Matt Lawless, senior, Mount St. Joseph.

Defensive backs - Robert Towns, senior, Harding; Fletcher Terrell, senior, Washburn; Steve Teeples, senior, Wisconsin-La Crosse; Kendall Ricketts, junior, Central Missouri.

Punter - Kevin Soflkiancs, junior, Baldwin-Wallace.

Running backs - Joique Bell, freshman, Wayne State; Lorenzo Perry, senior, Bryant.

Wide receivers - Joe Cline, junior, Alma; Dusty Hovorka, senior, Sioux Falls.

Tight end - Zac Herold, senior, Nebraska-Omaha.

Offensive linemen - Tony Burson, junior, Midwestern State; Rich Drushal, senior, Wooster; Ryan Pope, junior, Shepherd; Brandon Bennett, junior, Willamette; Brandon Barnes, junior, Grand Valley State.

Kicker - Dustin Strickler, sophomore, Missouri Western State.

All-purpose player - Anthony Merritt, senior, North Alabama.

Defense
Linemen - Ryan Kleppe, senior, Wisconsin-Whitewater; Adam Haas, senior, Cortland State; Maurice Baker, junior, C.W. Post; Ron Ellington, junior, Catawba.

Linebackers - Michael Eubanks, senior, Delta State; Jerrell Freeman, junior, Mary Hardin-Baylor; John Tackmann, senior, Winona State.

Defensive backs - Qunicy Skinner, junior, Arkansas Tech; Byron Westbrook, senior, Salisbury; Sherard Reynolds, sophomore, Valdosta State; Brandon Carr, junior, Grand Valley State.

Punter - Kevin Dodson, senior, Elizabeth City State.