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Contributed by Chad Grubbs, HSU Director of Athletic Communications
RICHARDSON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons has been picked to finish second and senior quarterback Ryan Breton has been named the preseason offensive player of the year and senior punter/kicker Nico Francino has been named the preseason special teams player of the year in the preseason poll of American Southwest Conference coaches, sports information directors and media.
The Cowboys, who shared the ASC title with East Texas Baptist and Mary Hardin-Baylor last season, were picked second behind Mary Hardin-Baylor. UMHB received 115 points and 13-first place votes in the poll. HSU had 97 points and two first-place votes. ETBU was third, Louisiana College fourth, McMurry fifth, Sul Ross State sixth and Howard Payne seventh in the poll.
Breton nabbed the top honor after leading the Cowboys to the NCAA playoffs a year ago. He replaced an injured Weston Garner midway through the season and put up great numbers throwing for 1,823 yards and 22 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also ran for three more touchdowns.
Francino is a two-time All-American as a punter. He tore his ACL late in the season a year ago. He was leading the nation in punting when he went down but didn't finish with enough punts to qualify for the NCAA lead. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt and 15 of his 30 punts were downed inside the 20. He also had a league-best 27 touchbacks on kickoffs and hit 44 PATs and two field goals.
The Cowboys are returning 48 lettermen and 12 starters from a team that went 9-2 shared the ASC title and went to the NCAA Playoffs last season.
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RICHARDSON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons has been picked to finish second and senior quarterback Ryan Breton has been named the preseason offensive player of the year and senior punter/kicker Nico Francino has been named the preseason special teams player of the year in the preseason poll of American Southwest Conference coaches, sports information directors and media.
The Cowboys, who shared the ASC title with East Texas Baptist and Mary Hardin-Baylor last season, were picked second behind Mary Hardin-Baylor. UMHB received 115 points and 13-first place votes in the poll. HSU had 97 points and two first-place votes. ETBU was third, Louisiana College fourth, McMurry fifth, Sul Ross State sixth and Howard Payne seventh in the poll.
Breton nabbed the top honor after leading the Cowboys to the NCAA playoffs a year ago. He replaced an injured Weston Garner midway through the season and put up great numbers throwing for 1,823 yards and 22 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also ran for three more touchdowns.
Francino is a two-time All-American as a punter. He tore his ACL late in the season a year ago. He was leading the nation in punting when he went down but didn't finish with enough punts to qualify for the NCAA lead. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt and 15 of his 30 punts were downed inside the 20. He also had a league-best 27 touchbacks on kickoffs and hit 44 PATs and two field goals.
The Cowboys are returning 48 lettermen and 12 starters from a team that went 9-2 shared the ASC title and went to the NCAA Playoffs last season.
More...