Watch Ray's "Cutback Runback," a D3Football.com Play of the Week
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College senior safety Ray Bierbach (Hunlock Creek, Pa./Northwest) has earned First Team NCAA Division III All-American honors from two preseason football publications, Lindy's National College Football and Sporting News College Football.
In addition to Bierbach's accolades, Lycoming was mentioned in Other Teams to Watch in Sporting News' Division III write-up, thanks to the team's 16 returning starters, including 10 on the defensive end.
Both publications will be on newsstands until late August.
Bierbach earned Honorable Mention D3Football.com All-American, Second Team All-Middle Atlantic Conference and First Team D3Football.com All-East Region honors as a junior while also earning the team's highest honor, the David G. Busey Award. The playmaking safety finished third on the team with 61 tackles. Bierbach's specialty was in pass coverage, though, where he led the MAC in passes defended with 14 and in interceptions with six, which also ranked 20th in the nation.
Bierbach earned two mentions on the D3Football.com Team of the Week, specifically because of his ability as a playmaker. He was named to the team on Oct. 13, after the 5-11 defensive back posted an interception and a forced and recovered fumble against Albright.
He followed that with six tackles, four solo, and capped off Lycoming's 31-7 win over Widener on Oct. 17 by running back an interception a school-record 84 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left. That play earned him the D3Football.com Play of the Week for what the website termed the "Cutback Runback" and earned him his second Team of the Week honors.
Bierbach is the first Warrior since 2009 to earn Preseason All-American honors since Ted Geurds earned second team honors from D3Football.com.
The Warriors finished 2010 with a 6-4 record under third-year head coach Mike Clark. It was their second winning record in his tenure and the team also posted its second win over a top 25 team, beating No. 13 Ithaca, 26-24.