South Dakota quarterback Wesley Beschorner has been named one of the three top votegetters in the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Player of the Year. As a result, Beschorner has been invited to the Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Dec. 9 in Florence, Ala.

FLORENCE, ALA. -- South Dakota quarterback Wesley Beschorner, who led the nation in passing efficiency in 2005 and directed the Coyotes to its first North Central Conference title since 1978, has been named as one of the three top vote getters for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year, according to an announcement made today by the Harlon Hill Trophy Committee.

Beschorner, a senior from Lohrville, Iowa, along with junior quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger of East Stroudsburg State and sophomore Jamar Brittingham of Bloomsburg University have received invitations to attend the 20th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Dec. 9 in Florence, Ala. The trio emerged as the top three vote-getters from a field of eight national finalists in voting by the sports information directors at the 149 schools that compete in Division II football and the Division II conference sports information directors. The announcement was made by Harlon Hill Trophy Voting Coordinator Dee Corum. The Hill Trophy is sponsored by Coca-Cola, the City of Florence, Ala., Trustmark Construction, TNT Fireworks and the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa. Candidates for the 2005 Hill Trophy were nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates to no more than six per region. The winner of the 2005 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, December 9 in Florence, prior to the NCAA Division II Football Championship Game on Dec. 10. Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight and can be purchased by calling the Shoals Chamber of Commerce at (256) 764-4661.

Other finalists for the 2005 award are quarterback Scott Eyster of Delta State, North Alabama receiver and kick returner Anthony Merritt, linebacker Digger Anderson of North Dakota, quarterback Dalton Bell of West Texas A&M and running back Germaine Race of Pittsburg State.

“It feels really good to be recognized and considered for this award,” said Beschorner, who directed the nation’s most prolific offense. The Coyotes averaged a nation-best 583.3 yards in total offense per game and averaged 49.7 points by scoring a school-record 547 points in 2005. “I didn’t expect this,” he said. “I have to thank everyone around me, including my coaches and teammates. Without them, none of this would have been possible. It has been a special year, especially winning an NCC title,” said Beschorner.

Beschorner, who tied or 29 set school records in 2005, turned in one of best seasons ever by quarterback in South Dakota or North Central Conference history. Beschorner, who was named the North Central Conference Back of the Year for 2005, led the nation in pass efficiency at 215.2, becoming just the second quarterback ever in Division II to record at least a 215 rating or better (Curt Anes, 221.3, 2001, Grand Valley State). He had a 9.75 TD to interception ration (39 TDs to four interceptions).

The senior quarterback has earned national respect for his efforts this season. Bob Eblen of D2football.com said of Beschorner: “Beschorner is the best offensive player in the country this year.”

At the end of the regular season, Beschorner had a nation-best 39 passing TDs and 47 combined TDs for the nationally ranked South Dakota football team that finished 9-2 and has been ranked in the top 25 the entire season (USD was ranked eighth in the D2football.com poll and 11th in the AFCA poll at the end of the regular season). Beschorner, who has led USD to an 18-4 record in the past two seasons, ranks fifth in the nation in total offense (318.2 yards per game) and his per play average of 10.22 yards set a Division II record (Curt Anes, Grand Valley State, 10.1 yards per play, 2001).

Beschorner is the first USD football player to be one of the top-three votegetters for the Harlon Hill Trophy Award. Originally, Beschorner was a wide receiver and punt returner but won the starting quarterback job as a sophomore. He completed 172 of 255 passes for 3,049 yards in 2005. He finished with a completion rate of 67.5 percent and scored at least two TDs (rush or pass) in all 11 games this season. Beschorner, who rushed for 451 yards, had six games with four or more TD passes and three games with five or more TD passes in 2005. He had three games with a combined six TDs and had a game with a school-record seven combined TDs. A big play specialist, he had both a 79-yard run and a 90-yard TD pass. He also owns two 100-yard rush games this season. Beschorner leaves USD as its career total offense leader with 7,476 yards on 967 plays for a 7.3 average, all school records. This season, he had a school-record 3,500 yards on 343 plays in total offense. He also became USD’s all-time passing leader with 6,240 yards. A three-year starter, he accumulated 87 overall TDs, including 64 by passing. He has also directed USD to a 13-game home winning streak, including 6-0 marks at the DakotaDome during each of the last two seasons.

“This is a well-deserved and great honor for Wesley (Beschorner) to be chosen as one of the top three players in the country,” said South Dakota head football coach Ed Meierkort. “I can’t think of a better person to represent the University than Wesley. He has shown great leadership qualities on and off the field plus he is an outstanding football player. He had a great season and helped our program attain a lot of success,” added Meierkort.

Brittingham, a sophomore from Levittown, Pa., was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Player of the Year after rushing for 187.5 yards per game to lead Division II. He has set school and conference records with 2,060 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns and helped lead Bloomsburg to a perfect 11-0 record and into the second round of the playoffs.

Terwilliger, a junior from East Stroudsburg, Penn., has set Division II records for career games with at least 300 yards passing (21) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass (34). He has completed 203 of 327 passes for 3,676 yards and 39 touchdowns - including nine in one game. He has already topped the 10,000 career passing yard plateau as a junior. He has helped lead East Stroudsburg into the semifinals of the Division II playoffs this weekend.

The initial Harlon Hill Trophy was won by North Dakota State quarterback Jeff Bentrim in 1986, followed by Texas A&M-Kingsville running back Johnny Bailey - in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Another North Dakota State quarterback, Chris Simdorn, claimed the 1990 award, followed by Pittsburg State receiver Ronnie West in 1991, Pittsburg State running back Ronald Moore in 1992, New Haven running back Roger Graham in 1993 and Valdosta State University quarterback Chris Hatcher in 1994. North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon became the first defensive player to win the award when he claimed the Hill Trophy in 1995.

Truman State University running back Jarrett Anderson won the 1996 award and Bloomsburg University running back Irvin Sigler claimed the Hill Trophy in 1997 award. Running back Brian Shay of Emporia State won in 1998, followed by Northern Colorado quarterback Corte McGuffey in 1999 and Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner in 2000 and 2001, Grand Valley State quarterback Curt Anes in 2002, North Alabama quarterback Will Hall in 2003 and Colorado School of Mines quarterback Chad Friehauf last season.

PAST HILL WINNERS
1986 Jeff Bentrim SR QB North Dakota State University
1987 Johnny Bailey SO RB Texas A&I University
1988 Johnny Bailey JR RB Texas A&I University
1989 Johnny Bailey SR RB Texas A&I University
1990 Chris Simdorn SR QB North Dakota State University
1991 Ronnie West SR WR Pittsburg State University
1992 Ronald Moore SR RB Pittsburg State University
1993 Roger Graham JR RB University of New Haven
1994 Chris Hatcher SR QB Valdosta State University
1995 Ronald McKinnon SR LB University of North Alabama
1996 Jarrett Anderson SR RB Truman State University
1997 Irvin Sigler SR RB Bloomsburg University
1998 Brian Shay SR RB Emporia State University
1999 Corte McGuffey SR QB University of Northern Colorado
2000 Dusty Bonner JR QB Valdosta State University
2001 Dusty Bonner SR QB Valdosta State University
2002 Curt Anes SR QB Grand Valley State University
2003 Will Hall SR QB University of North Alabama
2004 Chad Friehauf SR QB Colorado School of Mines