Venable Earns All-America Laurels

Four Panthers Named to All-State Team

 

Ferrum, Va. -- Junior defensive back Darren Venable (Covington, Va./Covington) has been named to the Football Gazette All-America  team for the second consecutive season.  Venable was named to the third team, the same honor he earned a year ago.

     2003 Football Gazette All-America Team

 

Venable was a repeat selection this season as Defensive Player of the Year in the USA South Athletic Conference, formerly the Dixie Conference.  He made 74 tackles this season, including 32 solo and nine for loss for the 6-2 Panthers.  Venable also had six sacks, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble returns, and an interception.  He returned one fumble for a 76-yard score and is a three-time All-Conference selection.

Venable and three other Ferrum players have been named to the 2003 Virginia Sports Information Directors College Division All-State Football Team.  The college division All-State team is comprised of all NCAA Div. II and II and NAIA schools in the state of Virginia.

     2003 VaSID All-State Football Team

 

Senor linebacker Antonio McClenny (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) joined Venable on the All-State first team.  It was Venable's second consecutive season on the first team, while McClenny earns his first-ever All-State honor.  McClenny led the Panthers with 84 tackles this season, including nine for loss and three sacks.

 

Senior defensive lineman Brett Griffin (Jupiter, Fla./Dwyer) and senior fullback Moncrief Holmes (Yorktown, Va./York) were honorable mentions.  For Griffin, it was his third straight honorable mention.  Griffin anchored the Ferrum defensive line, making 44 tackles, including four for loss and four sacks.  

 

Holmes was the USA South Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in rushing with 103.2 yards per game and five touchdowns.  Holmes was selected to play in the 2003 Aztec Bowl, the American Football Coaches Association Division III All-Star game, played Dec. 13 in Cancun, Mexico.

 

Ferrum closed out the 2003 season at 6-2 overall, finishing third in the USA South with a 3-2 league record.  The Panthers are led by 10th year Head Coach Dave Davis.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum College sports information office at (540) 365-4306.

 

 

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