By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Brad Roach is the type who lets his play do the talking for him.
His play this season was heard loud and clear all over the country.
Roach, the starting quarterback for the Catawba Indians, is now an All-American. The senior was voted the quarterback on the 2007 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, which was announced Wednesday by the American Football Coaches Association.
Roach said it really hasn’t sunk in that he was voted the best Division II quarterback in the nation.
Roach that when he graduated from Williamston High School, he never dreamed he’d have the success he’s achieved.
Roach, named the All-South Atlantic Conference quarterback earlier this year, put up some big numbers throughout the season. He completed 224 of 376 (59.6 percent) passes for 3,322 yards, throwing 32 touchdowns passes along the way. He also ran for 91 yards and three scores.
The Catawba co-captain led the Indians to an 11-2 record, including a playoff victory.
In his college career, Roach completed 608 of 1,099 passes (55.3 percent) for 7,874 yards. He threw 62 touchdown passes.
The Catawba senior also ran for 138 yards and six scores.
Roach set a handful of records during his career at Catawba. He holds the school record for passing yards in a season (3,322 in 2007), touchdown passes in a season (32 in 2007), touchdown passes in a game (five against Albany State in 2007), completions in a season (224 in 2007), efficiency rating in a season (153.4 in 2007) and passing attempts in a season (384 in 2005).
Roach, who now resides in Washington with his father, retired Martin County sheriff Keith Roach, and mother, Amy Roach, has one more college game to play. Roach will participate in the Valero Cactus Bowl, the postseason all-star game for NCAA Division II football student-athletes.
The game will be held Friday, Jan. 11, at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.
Roach, who will be joined in the bowl game by teammate and former New Bern High School standout Kory Fisher, will look to keep his stock rising in front of the NFL scouts at the game.
Barrett believes his quarterback has a shot to play at the next level.
That team would also land an All-American quarterback.
2007 AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team
Offense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
WR Cedric Jones 6-0 180 So. Valdosta State David Dean Waycross, Ga. (Ware County)
WR Weston Dressler* 5-8 164 Jr. North Dakota Dale Lennon Bismarck, N.D. (Bismarck)
OL Mackenzy Bernadeau 6-4 303 Sr. Bentley Peter Yetten Waltham, Mass. (Waltham)
OL Ben Hochstein 6-4 298 Sr. Nebraska-Omaha Pat Behrns Hartington, Neb. (Cedar Catholic)
OL Tim McCutcheon* 6-4 305 Sr. California (Pa.) John Luckhardt Sewickley, Pa. (Quaker Valley)
OL Christian Morton 6-5 286 Sr. South Dakota Ed Meierkort Norfolk, Neb. (Norfolk)
OL Vince Cashdollar 6-2 297 Sr. Ashland Lee Owens Newark, Ohio (Newark)
QB Brad Roach 6-6 245 Sr. Catawba Chip Hester Williamston, N.C. (Williamston)
RB Jamar Brittingham 6-0 203 Sr. Bloomsburg Danny Hale Levittown, Pa. (Neshaminy)
RB Xavier Omon 5-11 220 Sr. Northwest Missouri St. Mel Tjeerdsma Beatrice, Neb. (Beatrice)
RB Dervon Wallace 5-6 177 Sr. Shepherd Monte Cater Lusby, Md. (Calvert)
Defense
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
DL Brandon Swain 6-4 255 Jr. West Texas A&M Don Carthel Tulsa, Okla. (Washington)
DL Jake Visser 6-2 275 Jr. Ferris State Jeff Pierce Coopersville, Mich. (Coopersville)
DL Kurt Kissner 6-3 245 Sr. Mesa State Joe Ramunno Cedaredge, Colo. (Cedaredge)
LB Michael Eubanks 6-2 225 Sr. Delta State Ron Roberts Cleveland, Miss. (Cleveland)
LB Anthony Adams 6-2 234 Sr. Grand Valley State Chuck Martin Troy, Mich. (Troy)
LB Will Clewis 6-1 240 Sr. Central Oklahoma Chuck Langston Fort Worth, Texas (Eastern Hills)
LB Eric Rice 5-11 205 Sr. Carson-Newman Ken Sparks Thomasville, Ga. (County)
DB Cary Williams 6-2 190 Sr. Washburn Craig Schurig Miami, Fla. (Madonna College Prep)
DB Kendall Ricketts 5-10 190 Sr. Central Missouri Willie Fritz Raytown, Mo. (South)
DB Craig Fox 6-0 185 Sr. North Alabama Mark Hudspeth Kentwood, La. (Jewel M. Summer)
DB Ranardrick Phillips 5-10 202 Sr. Tarleton State Sam McElroy Madison, Fla. (County)
Specialists
Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)
P Michael Podobnik 6-0 230 Jr. Arkansas Tech Steve Mullins Frankfort, Ill. (Lincoln-Way East)
PK Jared Guberman 5-10 190 Jr. West Georgia Mike Ledford Boca Raton, Fla. (Spanish River)
AP De’Audra Dix 5-10 160 Sr. Johnson C. Smith Daryl McNeill Merritt Island, Fla. (Merritt Island)
*-2006 AFCA All-American