Berg named to Daktronics All-America Second Team

CHADRON – Chadron State College punter Kevin Berg has claimed another postseason honor, this time being named to the 2010 Daktronics All-America Second Team.

The teams, which are sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., are voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

This is the second All-America honor for Berg, a senior from Longmont, Colo., in as many seasons. He was also a 2009 American Football Coaches All-American at punter. Berg is the ninth CSC football player to earn All-American honors twice and the 48th overall.

Berg, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, set a school record by averaging 43.0 yards per punt this season. Fifteen of his 49 punts landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and 14 of them traveled at least 50 yards. He was also the RMAC all-conference punter in 2009.

Berg was also a starting safety for the Eagles’ nationally ranked defense. He was third on the team in tackles (58) and led the team with four interceptions and seven pass break-ups, despite missing one game.

For his career, Berg averaged 40.8 yards a punt and over 32 percent of his kicks landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Other RMAC players on the Daktronics All-America Teams were Colorado School of Mines defensive lineman Marc Schiechl, a first team selection, and Nebraska-Kearney offensive lineman Orion Matthies, a second team choice.

The Ron Lenz Players of the Year include a pair of record breaking performers.

Central Missouri's Eric Czerniewski topped NCAA Division II with 5,207 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes while leading the Mules to an 11-3 mark and a national quarterfinal appearance to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Valdosta State's Larry Dean led the Blazers to an NCAA Division II postseason appearance tallying 122 tackles in 11 games while becoming the Gulf South Conference's career tackles record holder to garner Defensive Player of the Year recognition.

Chadron State finished the 2010 season with an 8-3 record. Berg was the starting punter on CSC teams that accumulated a 38-10 record during his four seasons, including two NCAA Division II playoff victories.