(December 10, 2008)--The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team placed six players on the D3football.com All-South Region Team. Linebacker Eric Henri was also named South Region Defensive Player of the Year on that team. The Cru had five first-team selections and placed one player on the All-South Region Second Team.

Henri, a senior from Waco University High School, headlined the UMHB selections by winning South Region Defensive Player of the Year honors and being voted to the All-South Region First Team. Henri leads the Cru with 89 total tackles and also has 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He set a new UMHB single-season record with five fumble recoveries and he has returned two of those for touchdowns. Henri was joined on the First Team Defense by free safety Derrick Williams and defensive tackle Mark Balderas. Williams, a senior from Temple High School, is second on the team with 86 total tackles and he also has 3.0 tackles for loss. Williams leads the team with five interceptions and he has broken up six more passes. He has a pair of fumble recoveries and returned one of those for a touchdown. Balderas, a senior from McKinney North High School, has 46 total tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss. He also has 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick on the season.

The Cru also placed a pair of players on the All-South Region First Team Offense. Josh Littlejohn is a senior offensive guard from Clear Creek High School. Littlejohn is the highest-grading offensive lineman for a Cru offense that averages 272 yards rushing per game and has allowed just seven sacks on the season. Alan Munoz is a sophomore placekicker from Ferris High School. Munoz is 13-18 on field goals this season and 66-70 on extra points. He has scored a team-best 105 points on the year.

Defensive tackle James Jenkins is a Second Team All-South Region selection. Jenkins, a senior from San Antonio Madison High School, has 38 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks on the season.

Littlejohn is making his third appearance on the All-South Region Team. Henri and Williams are two-time D3football.com All-South Region selections. This is the first All-Region selection for Balderas, Munoz and Jenkins.

The Cru is currently 12-1 on the season and UMHB has advanced to the NCAA Division III National Semifinals for the second straight season. The Cru will host Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-1) in a 12:00 PM kickoff this Saturday at Tiger Field in Belton with a berth in the Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III National Championship game, on the line.