Muleriders’ Thornton Honored on All-Region Football Team
Posted by Houston Taylor on November 24, 2009 · Leave a Comment
By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas defensive tackle Cedric Thornton (6-5, 266, Jr., Star City) has been named a first team selection on the 2009 Daktronics All-Super Region 2 football team, as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Thornton, one of three linemen honored on the first team defense, was one of the most dominant front-line players in the Gulf South Conference this season, with his biggest performances coming against the league’s three playoff teams. In the season-opener versus North Alabama the junior recorded a game-high nine tackles with 4.5 for 23 yards in loss, including 2.5 sacks for minus 17 yards, and forced two fumbles and blocked a PAT. Thornton posted a career-high 13 stops in the Muleriders’ five-overtime win over West Alabama, and he had 10 tackles with 3.5 for loss against Arkansas Tech.
Named earlier as a first team All-GSC honoree, Thornton led SAU’s defense this year with 80 tackles, 49 unassisted, with 23 for 84 yards in loss, including 8.5 sacks for minus 48 yards, and two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. He also added two quarterback hurries.
Thornton currently leads all of Division II in tackles for loss at 2.35 per game, and is 13th nationally with 0.90 sacks per game. He posted league single-game highs with the 4.5 tackles for loss against North Alabama and three sacks versus Arkansas-Monticello. Thornton spearheaded the Southern Arkansas defense that currently ranks 10th nationally with 8.5 tackles for loss per game, and is second in the GSC in pass defense, fifth in rushing defense, third in total defense and third in total sacks.
By virtue of being named first team on the all-region squad, Thornton now advances for consideration on the Daktronics All-America team.
The teams are sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. Voting by the sports information directors for the all-region and All-America teams is powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.
