Shawn Bowman

2013 D3football.com All-Region Team

Juniors Shawn Bowman, Sean Hackel, and Brandon James of The College of Wooster were all named to the D3football.com All-North Region Team, the website announced late Monday. Bowman earned a first-team nod for his work on special teams, while Hackel was a second-team running back and James a third-team safety. The three honorees were the most for Wooster since the 2009 season.

Bowman, a starting cornerback in addition to being a special teams' ace, blocked three kicks this fall, the most by a Fighting Scot since lineman Andy Mizak had four in 2004. Bowman produced one of Wooster's season highlights. It actually came on the final play of the season, as he came around the end to block a 47-yard field goal with no time left, securing a 28-27 victory over Ohio Wesleyan University and the largest comeback in school history (the Scots had trailed 27-7 early in the fourth quarter). That was Bowman's second blocked field goal of the game, and his other block was a punt at Allegheny College on Oct. 12. Also on special teams, he contributed seven tackles during kickoff coverage, and as a corner, he made several other splash plays with three interceptions, five pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.

Hackel, without a collegiate carry coming into the 2013 season, played his natural position and broke out with the seventh-best rushing total in school history – 1,097 yards, despite missing one game and one half of another due to injury. He currently ranks 30th in NCAA Div. III at 121.9 rushing yards per game, and with a nose for the end zone, he scored 11 touchdowns (9 rushing, 2 receiving). Hackel returned kickoffs at the start of the year (21.8 average) and was a key part of the passing game throughout (23 catches, 313 yards), which along with his rushing resulted in 1,693 all-purpose yards, a 188.1 average – sixth-highest in Div. III.

James, a team captain, was one of the leaders of a defense that displayed steady progress, culminating in 28 takeaways. He had five himself, all interceptions, as a safety in Wooster's new 4-2-5 alignment and returned one 17 yards for a game-clinching touchdown at Kenyon College Nov. 9. James's 0.5 interceptions per game are tied for 23rd in the Div. III statistics, and he also finished with 87 tackles, 6.0 for losses, and three pass breakups.

Bowman, Hackel, and James were among the top players whom orchestrated a turnaround season for the Scots. Under a new coaching staff, they went 7-3 overall – a five-win improvement (2-8 in 2012) – and took third in the North Coast Athletic Conference (7-2) after tying for eighth-place just last fall.