Occidental Linebacker Hodges Named Top SCIAC Defensive Player

David Hodges, a senior linebacker who helped lead Occidental College to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship, was named SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Hodges (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) was one of six Occidental players selected to the all-conference first team.

Hodges had 55 tackles, three sacks and an interception for the Tigers, who finished 7-2.

Freshman running back Gary Little and senior linemen Roger Laubengayer and Pete Tucker were among 13 players selected to the first-team offense.

Hodges, junior defensive lineman Brady Dargan and junior linebacker Larry Schatz were first-team defense.

Six Occidental players were second-team selections.

Senior quarterback Tony Werbelow, junior wide receiver Rob Leinbach and senior lineman Sean O’Brien were named on offense, and senior lineman Tony Ferguson, sophomore defensive back Mike Bonetto and freshman defensive back Rick Mock were named on defense.