Missouri Western's offense dominated most of the season, and much of the credit for that had to go to the Griffons' offensive line.

And the MIAA coaches noticed.

Senior center Nathan Martin, who played nearly every position on Western's offensive line during his four years, was one of the Griffons' two first-team selections. He helped the Griffon offense average 37.9 points per game.

Western senior offensive lineman Todd Shelton earned second-team status on the All-MIAA team.

"We had a good (offensive) line, and I think that's what people felt," said Western coach Jerry Partridge, whose team finished the regular season 8-3 and second in the MIAA. "When (coaches) were voting, that was our strength."

Partridge said he thought Martin was the best center in the league this season.

"Nathan has been a valuable player," Partridge said. "I'd put him up against any other o-lineman in the league."

In all, Western placed two players on the first team, three on the second team and eight others received honorable mention.

Western's other first-team honor featured senior Cedric Houston, who made the first team as a wide receiver and the second team as a return specialist. Houston finished the regular season tied for the school record in touchdown receptions in a season with 14. He twice had three touchdowns in a single game, tying a Western record.

"This has been (Houston's) best year as a Griffon," Partridge said. "He had a lot of big touchdown plays and proved to be very effective at getting behind the defense and making big catches."

Houston finished the regular season tied for the Griffons' career lead in touchdown receptions in a season with 14. Terren Adams caught 14 touchdown passes in 1992. Houston had three touchdown receptions in a game twice, which ties the Western single-game record.

Houston also had a career-best 229 yards receiving on six catches and three touchdowns on Sept. 5 against Mesa State. Houston also leads the team and is second in the MIAA with 139.9 all-purpose yards per game and 16.8 yards per punt return.

Junior linebacker Sean Whiters also earned second-team status. Whiters leads the Griffons with 68 total stops, including 4 1/2 tackles for a loss.

"I feel like Sean was deserving of first team," Partridge said. "We were the second best-defense in the league, and he was probably the best defensive player on our team. But that's just the way it is."

Another disappointment, Partridge said, was that quarterback Drew Newhart earned only honorable mention.

"That disappointed me," Partridge said.

Newhart completed better than 64 percent of his passes, threw for 28 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions, and totaled 2,821 yards passing. He averaged 256.5 passing yards a game and directed the second-best scoring offense in the MIAA.

"I think Drew Newhart had the second best performance of the quarterbacks in the league," Partridge said. "It's not that the other two quarterbacks aren't deserving; it's just that I think Drew had a really great year."

Western's other honorable mention selections were junior running back Thomas Hodges, senior wide receiver Ferrell McGhee, junior offensive lineman Steven Jones, senior defensive end Brad Davidson, junior linebacker Matt Glades, junior cornerback Ian Thompson and junior place kicker Brad Beckwith.