Mules gridders reap more awards

      Central Missouri State University football standouts Darryl Grace, Kendall Ricketts, and Delanie Walker have added more honors to their growing resumes for their play in 2005.

Grace was a fourth-team pick on the CollegeSportsReport.com All-Division II team, and Ricketts was an honorable mention All-America selection on the D2Football.com squad.

All three were named to Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Southwest Region Team (Grace was first team at offensive tackle, Ricketts was second-team at safety, and Walker was third-team at all-purpose back).

Grace, a 6-foot-2, 308 pounder from Captain Cook, Hawaii was a first-team All-MIAA in 2003 and 2005 and honorable mention All-American in 2003 before missing almost all of the 2004 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury. He came back this year to help CMSU average 189.7 rushing yards, 229.8 passing yards, and 419.5 yards of total offense per game while racking up 40.0 points per game. Three times in 2005 the Mules scored at least 69 points, and twice went for 83. Grace led the Mules with an average high “A” grade of 75 percent in 2005 and totaled eight pancakes and 22 knock-down blocks.

Ricketts, also first-team All-MIAA in 2005, was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a freshman in 2004. He keyed the Mules’ defense which ranked No. 1 in the MIAA in rushing, scoring, and total defense, first in turnover margin, second in pass defense, and third in pass efficiency defense. Individually, the 5-foot-10, 182 pound Raytown, Mo. native led the Mules with 96 total tackles (60 solo) and seven pass break ups. He also had an interception return for a touchdown (giving him a school-record three for his career), two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He finished third in the MIAA (first among defensive backs) in tackles and sixth nationally (tied for first among DBs) in solo stops.

Walker set a Central Missouri State record with 61 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns to earn first-team All-MIAA accolades (he was second-team as both a wide receiver and kick returner in 2004). The 6-foot-2, 240 pound native of Pomona, Calif. ranked among the MIAA leaders in receptions, receiving yards, all-purpose yards, and kickoff returns. He also finished 18th in NCAA Division II in kickoff returns (435 yards on 17 returns with one touchdown and a 25.6 yard average), 27th in receptions. Walker added 16 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown on the year and returned three punts 47 yards for a total of 1,257 all-purpose yards. His all-purpose yardage total was 57^th in Division II.

Walker and Grace both have been selected to play in the Cactus Bowl All-Star Game this Saturday, Dec. 31 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas. Walker will play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.

      The Mules finished the 2005 campaign with a record of 7-3, 5-3 in the MIAA.