Four All-Americans Cap Great Season For ACU Football
Glendale, Ariz.- On Wednesday, the 2020-21 Spring AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America teams were announced, and Arizona Christian was represented with four All-Americans to cap the best season of Firestorm football. Senior Jon Cole topped the ACU honorees with First Team Offense acknowledgement.
Head Coach Jeff Bowen commented, “An amazing TEAM year has garnered some very impressive personal awards. We are excited to add four more All-American players to the previous two First Team honorees.”
Cole, from Dallas, TX, bested the NAIA with 131.9 receiving yards per game as he accounted for 1,319 yards in ten games. Factoring in his punt and kick-off return yards, Cole led the NAIA with 1,634 all-purpose yards. His receiving yards rank third in the NAIA as one of only three pass catchers to surpass 1,000 receiving yards during the season. The wide receiver’s 72 receptions and 7.2 catches per game place him third in the NAIA. The receiving yards and receptions are new ACU single season records while his ten touchdown receptions rank second in a year.
Kel Lee McPeck, out of Mentone Beach, CA, was named Second Team Offense. The offensive tackle has appeared in all 21 games played by ACU the last two years.
Riley Tucker, who calls home Burleson, TX, garnered Second Team Defense honors. The six interceptions for the safety ties him for the NAIA top spot in picks. Tucker found the endzone with a pick six and fumble recovery. Fifty-four of his 59 tackles were unassisted. He was credited with 15 passes defended thanks to his nine pass breakups to go along with his interceptions. The unassisted tackles and passes defended are new ACU single season records while his interceptions tie the season best mark that he set a year ago.
Nestor Higuera, native of Phoenix, AZ, was voted by the coaches to the Second Team Specialists. The kicker nailed seven of his 11 field goals including his season long 46 yard SAC winner against SAGU. Higuera nailed 46 of his 47 point after attempts. His .982 PAT percentage ranks in the top ten of the NAIA with kickers that attempted at least 20 PATs. His PAT attempts also rank in the NAIA Top 10.
Bowen offered these thoughts on the All-Americans individually, “Jon was the leading receiver in the NAIA and was much deserving of his first team honor. Kel had an outstanding year anchoring our offensive line and was well deserving of second team honors. Riley was a leader in the nation in interceptions and a key to our defense and was a great selection for the second team. Nestor was more than just a one kick wonder that help us win the SAC championship and that is why he earned second team honors.”
With the quartet of All-Americans leading the way, Arizona Christian Football finished the extended 2020 season with a 9-2 overall record and 6-0 record to win a Sooner Athletic Conference championship. The nine wins represents a season best mark while the two losses equate to a season low mark. The Firestorm reached the NAIA Championship Series for the first time in program history.
Finally, Bowen said, “The great thing about all four of these young men is they will all be back next season to lead the Firestorm as we work to win back to back SAC Championships and another trip to the NAIA Championship tournament.”
#RollStorm
