BOLIVAR, Mo. -- SBU junior quarterback Steve Gachette was named the D2Football.com All-Independents Offensive Player of the Year and was one of six Bearcats honored by the website.

Gachette, a native of Lehigh Acres, Fla., completed 61.6% of his passes for 3015 yards and a school record 28 touchdowns, while he ran for 975 net yards and 8 touchdowns on the season. This was the second straight season he has earned this honor. His 3990 total offensive yards easily surpassed his previous school record of 3360 yards, set in 2008. Gachette was also named to the All-Independent First Team and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which honors the nation's top Division II football player.

Joining Gachette on the All-Independent First Team were sophomore defensive end Casey Smith and a pair of seniors, linebacker Jarred Schumpert and safety Tyrin Holt. Named to the All-Independents Second Team were senior wide receiver Johnnie King and senior cornerback Lavarus Rue.

Schumpert led the Bearcats in total tackles for the fourth straight season, the only player in SBU history to do so. He finished with 116 stops including 65 solos and 19 tackles for a loss. He also recorded four sacks and two interceptions. Holt was second on the team with 82 tackles (43 solo) and had two picks and eight pass breakups. Smith tallied 5.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. He was sixth on the team with 58 tackles.

King tied for the team lead with 51 catches and eight touchdowns. King racked up 730 receiving yards during his senior season. Rue ranked third on the squad with 70 tackles including 46 solos and led the Bearcats with four interceptions. He also had two sacks on the season.

The Bearcats completed their first winning season since 2001, going 6-5. The Bearcats finished with a flurry after an 0-4 start, winning six of their last seven games, which were the most wins in a seven game stretch in school history. After going 0-11 in 2007, the Bearcats went 5-6 last year and bettered that by one this season. The eleven wins were more than the previous five seasons (2003-07) combined.

D2football.com Season Awards for independent teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Southwest Baptist QB Steve Gachette

Defensive Players of the Year: Urbana LB Travis Brisco

Coach of the Year: David Taynor, Urbana

All-Independent Teams

First team:

QB Steve Gachette, Jr. - Southwest Baptist
RB Darryl Brister, Soph. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
RB Travis Daniels, Soph. - UNC Pembroke
WR Doug Williams, Jr. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
WR Jerred Hill, Soph. - Central State
TE Bryan Crider, Sr. - Missouri S&T
OL Keith Broderick, Soph. - UNC Pembroke
OL Hivera Green, Sr. - UNC Pembroke
OL Dan Hickman, Sr. - Missouri S&T
OL Tim O'Neil, Jr. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
OL Chuck Palonis, Jr. - Kentucky Wesleyan

DL Andre Bernardi, Sr. - North Greenville
DL Will Turnbo, Jr. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
DL Casey Smith, Soph. - Southwest Baptist
DL Shawn Lewis, Sr. - Urbana
LB David James, Jr. - Kentucky Wesleyan
LB Jarred Schumpert, Sr. - Southwest Baptist
LB Darius Wilson, Soph. - Central State
LB Travis Brisco, Jr. - Urbana
DB Chaz Pavliska, Soph. - Incarnate Word
DB O'Hara Fluellen, Fr. - Lincoln
DB Tyrin Holt, Sr. - Southwest Baptist
DB Troy Brookins, Sr. - Urbana

K Taylor Baskett, Soph. - UNC Pembroke
P Justin Hinson, Jr. - UNC Pembroke
RS Jamal Williams, Soph. - UNC Pembroke
RS O'Hara Fluellen, Fr. - Lincoln

Second team:

QB Cory Smith, Jr. - UNC Pembroke
RB Jashon Banks, Jr. - Saint Joseph's
RB Rashon Kennedy, Jr. - UNC Pembroke
WR Ian Iler, Sr. - Urbana
WR Johnnie King, Sr. - Southwest Baptist
TE John Hokavar, Fr. - Lake Erie
OL Wes Schroder, Jr. - Saint Joseph's
OL Mike Gritz, Soph. - Lake Erie
OL Brian Armendariz, Jr. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
OL Blake Yarbrough, Jr. - UNC Pembroke
OL Brandon Holland, Jr. - UNC Pembroke

DL Adam Deese, Jr. - UNC Pembroke
DL Diego McClain, - Incarnate Word
DL Alan Ford, Fr. - Incarnate Word
DL Andrew Walker, Jr. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
LB Jose Huerta, Jr. - Oklahoma Panhandle State
LB Dakota Mawyer, Fr. - Incarnate Word
LB Chad Kinkead, Sr. - Urbana
LB Bill Perry, Sr. - Saint Joseph's
DB Lavarus Rue, Sr. - Southwest Baptist
DB Deshon McClendon, Jr. - Saint Joseph's
DB Aaron Hernandez, Soph. - Incarnate Word
DB Caylon Hann, Jr. - UNC Pembroke

K Joe Drahos, Jr. - Missouri S&T
P Justin Jones, Sr. - North Greenville
RS Mack Ogletree, Jr. - Saint Joseph's
RS Isaiah Johnson, Fr. - North Greenville