Six Red Devils Receive 2023 All-NACC Football Honors
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Six Eureka football players have been named to the All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Team, the league announced on Monday.
A trio of Red Devils received All-NACC First Team honors: senior running back Ben Bernabei (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy), senior offensive lineman Hugo Garza (Arcola, Ill./Arcola) and junior wide receiver Sebastian Hill (Pekin, Ill./Pekin).
Senior safety Jack Arnett (Princeville, Ill./Princeville) and senior linebacker Brendan Durr (Washington, Ill./Washington) were named to the All-NACC Second Team, while senior linebacker Austin Hopkins (Arcola, Ill./Arcola) received All-NACC Third Team honors.
Hill is First Team honoree for the second straight year after receiving All-NACC Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2021. After becoming the Red Devils' top receiver last season, Hill continued to improve in his third campaign in maroon and gold. He tallied a career-high 795 receiving yards and scored a career-high nine touchdown receptions while bringing in 47 receptions. He notched over 100 receiving yards three times for the second straight season and notched seven or more catches in three of his last four games of the year.
At season's end, he was second in the NACC in receiving yards and yards per game, tied for third in touchdowns and was fourth in receptions. He tied with EC coach Kurt Barth (1996), Shoan Thomas (1991) and Pierce Bradford (2021) for the ninth-most touchdown receptions in a single season in program history, and he is tied for third in program history with Bradford in career touchdown receptions (21).
Bernabei ends his career as a first-time All-NACC First Team Honoree after receiving Second Team honors last season and Honorable Mention in 2021. The Red Devils' primary ball carrier posted a career-high 844 rushing yards on 182 carries and scored a career-high 11 rushing touchdowns. Known for his toughness and hard running, Bernabei tallied over 100 yards in a game four times and reached the end zone in six games, scoring more than once four times. He also contributed five receptions for 27 yards and a receiving touchdown.
He was second in the NACC in rushing yards per game (84.4) and total rushing yards (844) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (11). His 11 rushing touchdowns this season rank tied for eighth in a single season in program history with Andy Swenson (2004) and Brett Dyche (1985). He finishes his career ranked third in program history in rushing touchdowns (21), seventh in rushing yards (1,718), eighth in rushing attempts (381) and tied for 10th in rushing average (4.5 yards per carry).
Garza continued to burnish his reputation as one of the most skilled and effective offensive linemen in the league. After getting seriously injured as a freshman and being sidelined for much of his sophomore season, the 6-foot-2, 305-pound Garza emerged as key leader on the offensive line last year, and he was stronger and able to move even more fluidly this fall.
Durr returned to the All-NACC Second Team after another prolific season in the Red Devils' linebacker corps. He led Eureka in tackling for the second straight year, setting a new career high in total tackles (84), solo tackles (40) and assisted tackles (44). He notched a career high eight tackles for loss, a career high 3 1/2 sacks and a career-high three forced fumbles, along with a pass breakup. He contributed five or more tackles in every game and posted double-digit tackles three times. On Sept. 9, Durr amassed a career-high 13 total tackles and delivered a late strip-sack that sealed a 23-14 win at Greenville and was subsequently selected NACC Defensive Player of The Week.
This season, he was fourth in the NACC in assisted tackles (43), fifth in sacks (3 1/2), seventh in tackles per game (8.4) and eighth in total tackles (84). Durr finishes his career tied for first in program history in solo tackles with Matt Knake (2006-09) with 147, ranked sixth in program history with 273 total tackles, and eighth in program history in assisted tackles with 126.
Arnett is a first-time All-NACC honoree after a standout season as a playmaking safety in the Red Devils' secondary and a team leader on the defensive side of the ball. He led the team with eight pass breakups and recorded a career-high 61 total tackles, contributing 31 assisted tackles and 30 solo efforts while averaging a career-best 6.1 tackles per game.
Arnett also posted a career-high 4 1/2 tackles for loss and delivered a game-saving interception in the end zone in Eureka's 35-28 come-from-behind victory over Rockford on Sept. 16. He finished the Rockford win with a career-high 13 total tackles, two pass breakups and an interception and was subsequently selected NACC Player of the Week for the first time in his career. With nine passes defended on the season, only four players in the NACC had more than Arnett. He was fourth in the league with eight pass breakups.
Hopkins is another first-time All-NACC honoree. One of the most versatile and consistent Red Devils, Hopkins took over the middle linebacker spot this season and averaged 5.4 tackles per game in nine games. He finished the season with 49 total tackles, including a career-high 29 assisted tackles and 20 solo efforts. He also had an interception in Eureka's dramatic win over Rockford and memorably hurried the quarterback in the defensive stand that clinched Eureka's 21-17 win over St. Norbert on Sept. 23. Hopkins also had 5 1/2 tackles for loss on the season, including a crucial sack in the fourth quarter against the Regents.