Ten Bulldogs earn post-season accolades
LEBANON -- Cumberland’s Lemeco Miller was voted Mid-South Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Year while BJ Stewart, Jesse Hall, Ryan Wood, Jared White, Jarred Williams and Michael Hagewood all earned First Team honors after a vote of league coaches, as announced Thursday by the league office.

Miller ranks seventh nationally in rushing yards (1,242) this season and fourth in the country in scoring with 21 touchdowns. The senior from Huntsville, Ala., recorded seven 100-yard rushing games (after just one in his first three seasons) and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. He accounted for 14 plays of 20-plus yards and set CU single-season records for rushing touchdowns (19) and total touchdowns.

Hall, a senior from Dublin, Ga., and Wood, a senior from Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., the club’s two guards on the offensive line, helped the Bulldogs rank fifth nationally in total rushing offense (2,967) and rushing offense per game (269.7). The offensive line unit gave up just 13 sacks in 11 contests and the offense ranked 19th in the nation in total yards per game (415.9).

Stewart led the receiving corps with 21 receptions for 396 yards and five touchdowns, all team-highs. The senior from Rome, Ga., played defensive end for the Bulldogs the last two seasons before making the switch in the spring. He registered six plays of 20-plus yards this season.

White produced a career-year in 2012, hitting on 10-of-12 field goals and 41-of-44 extra points. The redshirt junior from Hartsville (Trousdale County High), made a career-long 42-yard field goal in the season finale at Lindsey Wilson and made his first seven field goals of the year. He also hit 31 consecutive extra points during the season before a miss at Lindsey Wilson.

Hagewood recorded five of CU’s seven interceptions this season, including a 42-yard return for a touchdown at Lindsey Wilson and two picks in the home finale versus Bluefield College. The senior from Navarre, Fla., ranked second on the club with 77 tackles in 11 contests and also recorded eight pass breakups and one tackle for loss.

Williams led the CU defense with 6.5 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 3.0 sacks to go along with 44 total tackles. The redshirt junior from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., also knocked down four passes, had three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Reed Gurchiek, AJ Harmon and Connor McChurch were all named Honorable Mention All-Mid-South Conference. Gurchiek passed for 1,455 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions while completing 58 percent of his throws. The redshirt sophomore from Mt. Juliet (Mt. Juliet HS) also rushed for 527 yards and seven touchdowns as well but missed all but the first series versus Lindsey Wilson after an injury to his throwing shoulder.

Harmon, a transfer from the University of Georgia, served as the team’s left tackle for all 11 contests, helping the unit rack up 5.4 yards per rush and 43 offensive touchdowns for the season.

McChurch (Mt. Juliet, Wilson Central HS) led the club with 86 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, with three pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, returning one 21 yards at Lindsey Wilson.