PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The postseason honors continue to roll in for the leading rusher from the Plymouth State University football team, as senior Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) was named D3football.com All-Region 1, the organization announced on Wednesday.
 
Already named All-New England by the New England Football Writers Association and a dual All-MASCAC First Teamer at running back and return specialist, Lombard was named D3football.com All-Region 1 Second Team Offense at running back. He earned the same honor from the organization a year ago as a return specialist.
 
The teams, selected in balloting by Region 1 sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 232 nominations by full Division III member schools. A total of 76 players were chosen. Players nominated for All-Region are eligible to be considered for D3football.com All-America honors, which will be announced in January.
 
Lombard had a historical season for Plymouth State, becoming the first Panther to run for more than 1,000 yards in a season since Hall of Famer Jeff Mack set the single season program record of 1,779 rushing yards in 2008. He finished with 1,179 yards in just nine games, ranking second in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (207.6), sixth in rushing yards per game (131.0) and ninth in scoring per game (11.3). Lombard also ranked among the best in the country in yards per carry (6.27), rushing touchdowns (16), rushing yards (1,179) and total touchdowns (17).
 
Lombard topped the century mark in seven of nine games and put up gaudy numbers down the stretch. He set a career high for rushing yards twice in his final three games, going for 231 yards and four touchdowns and 104 yards before capping his career with 252 yards and three touchdowns in the season finale.
 
Led by 22-year head coach Paul Castonia, Plymouth State went 5-4 to finish the year .500 or better in league play for the eighth straight year. PSU rebounded from a 1-3 start to win four straight games and nearly spoiled MASCAC champion UMass Dartmouth's perfect season, falling 47-42 in the regular season finale. The Corsairs had entered the game with an average margin of victory of more than 42 points. PSU finished tied for third in the final MASCAC standings.