NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -  The 2019 Virginia Sports Information Directors' (VaSID) College Division All-State football team was released Friday, and four members of the Christopher Newport University squad received honors. Senior defensive lineman Ben James led the way as a first team selection. Senior offensive lineman Matt Rittenhouse, senior kicker Dylan Curran, and junior defensive back Jake Herzog were all named second team All-State.

James, from Virginia Beach, has received numerous honors since completing his career as a Captain. He was last week named to the 2019 Academic All-America® Division III football team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). James is a Psychology major at Christopher Newport with a 3.82 GPA, and was named second team Academic All-America. The Captains standout also was named first team All-Region in the East, and was previously selected first team All-Conference in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

James has received two additional accolades for his prowess on the field following the 2019 season. He was selected the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and last Sunday was presented his second straight Defensive Lineman of the Year honor from the Touchdown Club of Richmond. The Kellam High School graduate posted 59 tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks for the Captains this fall. He also made 35 solo stops and registered 14.5 tackles for lost yardage during an outstanding senior season. He concluded his career with 15 sacks.

Rittenhouse, a product of Broadway, Va., was a first team selection in the New Jersey Athletic Conference...his third straight conference honor. Rittenhouse was a first team pick last year and a second team member in 2017 and has anchored the offensive line for Christopher Newport during his outstanding career.

Curran, from Virginia Beach, was also selected first team All-Conference this year in the NJAC. He made 13 of 19 field goal attempts this fall and also was 13 for 13 on extra points. He matched his career-long field goal by booting a 48-yarder, and concluded his career with the Captains scoring 102 total points.

Herzog, a junior who played for the Captains for the first time in 2019, was an honorable mention All-Conference selection in the NJAC. The Springfield native led the squad this year with six interceptions.

VaSID names 37 all-state teams in 22 sports each year, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.  
 
2019 VaSID All-State Football College Team:
Offensive Player of the Year: Jay Scroggins, Bridgewater College
Defensive Player of the Year: Re'Shaun Myers, Bridgewater College
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Viante Tucker, Bridgewater College
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Johnathan Terrell, Averett University
Coach of the Year: Michael Clark, Bridgewater College

First Team
QB: Jay Scroggins, Bridgewater College
RB: Tre Frederick, Randolph-Macon College
RB: Akiva Wedge, Southern Virginia University
WR: Major Morgan, Hampden-Sydney College
WR: Derrick Yates, Emory & Henry College
TE: Conner Kleffman, Bridgewater College
OL: Sean Clark, Washington and Lee University
OL: Cole Cooksey, Bridgewater College
OL: Will Hoffman, Bridgewater College
OL: Jordan Patti, Ferrum College
OL: Tyler Weterrings, Emory & Henry College

DL: Josh Fleenor, Emory & Henry College
DL: Ben James, Christopher Newport University
DL: Da'von Keith, Emory & Henry College
DL: Joseph Ledbetter, Averett University
LB: Re'Shaun Myers, Bridgewater College
LB: Gary Ramey Jr., Bridgewater College
LB: DaMarcus Wimbush, Bluefield College
CB: De'Angelo Barr, Randolph-Macon College
CB: Chase Rosenthal, Bridgewater College
S: Neil Davis, Southern Virginia University
S: Nate Hill, Shenandoah University

PK: Rhett Andersen, Hampden-Sydney College
P: Cole Westberry, Averett University
RS: Joshua Tapscott, Averett University

Second Team
QB: Jacob Wright, Averett University
RB: Demetreus Jalepes, Bridgewater College
RB: Joshua Tapscott, Averett University
WR: Montgomery Owen, Washington and Lee University
WR: Casey Stewart, Shenandoah University
TE: Sam Tanner, Randolph-Macon College
OL: Michael Head, Averett University
OL: Will Jackson, Randolph-Macon College
OL: Matt Rittenhouse, Christopher Newport University
OL: Daniel Small, Shenandoah University
OL: A.C. Woolard, Averett University

DL: Andrew Frailer, Washington and Lee University
DL: Steve McNair, Randolph-Macon College
DL: Phil Pullen, Hampden-Sydney College
DL: Jordan Rice, Shenandoah University
LB: Will Corry, Washington and Lee University
LB: Ivan Phillips, Emory & Henry College
LB: Conner Showalter, Averett University
CB: Jake Herzog, Christopher Newport University
CB: Jaylyn Kreimes, Emory & Henry College
S: Calvin Whitehead, Randolph-Macon College
S: Matt Dang, Bridgewater College

PK: Dylan Curran, Christopher Newport University
P: Grayson Harvey, Ferrum College
RS: Jordan Foster, Randolph-Macon College