JACKSON - Senior DE
David Dale of Millsaps College was one of 10 players recognized on Monday night at River Hills Country Club at the annual Jackson Touchdown Club Top Senior Banquet, a fitting end to a solid four-year career with the Purple and White.
Dale and one player from each of the state's 10 four-year colleges and universities were recognized along with their head coach and presented a plaque to honor on the field accomplishments. On the same night, senior teammate and quarterback
Chris Graves was one of 10 finalists for the Cellular South Conerly Trophy at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, presented to the top player in the state.
The Amory, Miss., native led the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in both sacks (9.0) -- 27th nationally -- and tackles-for-loss (13.0) as part of a breakout season with a career-high 61 tackles (8th in the SCAC). He had just 75 total entering this season, and was the anchor of a strong defensive line that saw both he and teammate
Mason Burrell gain All-SCAC First Team honors.
Dale's best performance of the year came in Week 3 when he was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Week and to the D3football.com Team of the Week for his monster game against cross-street rival Belhaven College. He turned in eight tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in a 27-10 win.
The senior finished his career with 136 tackles, 22.5 tackles-for-loss, 13.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and eight quarterback hurries.
Millsaps finished the 2009 season 7-3 overall with a share of a fourth-straight SCAC Title. They open the 2010 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 4 vs Mississippi College.