RUSTON - Running back Joe Smith, offensive lineman Damian Lavergne and defensive lineman Quincy Myles all earned first team honors on the 2002 All-Louisiana Sports Writers Association Football Team released Saturday.

Tight end Major Richmond and linebacker Curtis Randall earned second team honors while quarterback Luke McCown and offensive lineman Aaron Lips were honorable mention selections.

Smith, who also earned first team All-Western Athletic Conference honors this year, became the first Bulldog running back since 1994 to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season, recording 1,216 yards and 16 touchdowns. The rushing scores were the second most in the program's history, falling just one shy of tying the 26-year-old record of 17 by Arry Moody in 1976.

The Cleveland, Texas, native also caught 47 passes for 352 yards on the season, while registering six 100-yard plus rushing performances on the year. Smith's 79-yard touchdown scamper against UTEP Nov. 23 - one of his four rushing touchdowns in the game - was the second longest in school history. Smith finished third in the voting for state offensive player of the year.

Lavergne earned first team honors for the second straight year after anchoring a Tech offensive line that paved the way for Smith's accomplishments. The Baton Rouge, La., native, who also earned first team All-WAC honors this season, started 36 straight games for the Bulldogs during his career.

Behind Lavergne and company, the Bulldogs improved their average yards per carry in 2002 by a full yard over the previous year while also allowing Tech signal callers to pass for over 3,500 yards for the seventh straight season.

Tech's only first teamer on defense was Myles, who quietly had one of the best seasons in over a decade at the defensive tackle position for the Bulldogs. The Shreveport, La., product recorded 65 tackles during the year, including 36 solo stops and 29 assisted tackles.

Myles also registered 16.0 tackles for loss for Tech, the most by any Bulldog player in a single season since former Tech linebacker Glenell Sanders recorded 17.0 in 1988. Myles also recorded 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and one blocked kick.

Grambling State quarterback Bruce Eugene earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, LSU linebacker Bradie James earned Defensive Player of the Year accolades and McNeese State head coach Tommy Tate earned the state's Coach of the Year award.

The team was chosen by a voting panel of LSWA members following nominations by sports information directors of the football playing colleges and universities in the state.