ALL-REGION TEAM

WINONA, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University senior football players Blake Wilson and Bill Noethlich have been named to the 2009 All-Super Region Three team chosen by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

Wilson was named to the second team as a wide receiver, while Noethlich was named third team at offensive tackle.

This marks the eighth year Football Gazette has selected Division II all-region teams.  The national publication, an authority on small college football, has selected Division II All-America Teams since 1998.  First and second team all-region selections now advance to a national ballot from which the 2009 Division II Football Gazette All-America Team will be named.

Wilson, a 5-foot-10, native of Frankfort, S.D., led SMSU in 2009 with 62 receptions for 842 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Wilson's 62 receptions is the second highest by a Mustang wide receiver in a single-season since 1993.  A 2009 team captain, Wilson finished his career ranking fifth in school history in touchdown receptions (23), eighth in touchdowns scored (24) and 10th in receiving yards (1,896).  In 10 NSIC games, he ranked third in the conference in receiving yards per game (81.9), third in receptions per game (6.0) and fourth in scoring (7.8).  For his efforts this past season he was named second team All-NSIC South Division as both a wide receiver and return specialist and was named second team Daktronics All-Region.

Noethlich, a 6-foot-7, 301-pound senior from Doland, S.D., was named second team All-NSIC South Division this season earning postseason honors for the third straight season.  He recently played in the Cactus Bowl, an NCAA Division II all-star game in Kingsville, Texas.  He was named honorable mention All-NSIC South in 2008 and was a second team All-NSIC honoree in 2007.  Noethlich, a 2009 team captain, started 41 of his 44 career games, including 40 consecutive starts from late in the 2006 season through this year.  This season he helped anchor an offense that averaged 36 points per game, the second highest per game average in school history and 396.2 yards per game.  SMSU also scored 30 or more points in eight games, tying a school record for the most 30-point games in a single-season.  The Mustang offense finished the season ranking 13th in the country in both scoring and passing offense this season.

SMSU finished the 2009 season 5-6, 4-6 NSIC.  The five victories for SMSU, along with its six last season, gives SMSU 11 wins in two years, the most combined victories in back-to-back years for the Mustang program since the 1991-92 season.