Farrell to play in Cactus Bowl

ACU senior becomes fifth Wildcat selected for all-star game

KINGSVILLE -- ACU senior defensive end Clayton Farrell has been selected to play in the 2006 Cactus Bowl, an all-star game featuring the best players in NCAA Division II football.

The game will be played Jan. 6, 2006, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Javelina Stadium on the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus.  The game will be televised live by Fox Sports Southwest.

Farrell is the fifth former Wildcat to be selected for the game, joining punter Brad Raphelt (2002), offensive lineman Britt Lively (2003), quarterback Colby Freeman (2003) and defensive back Dawon Gentry (2004) on the list of ACU participants.  Farrell is also one of 14 players from the Lone Star Conference who will play for the West squad in the game.

Farrell -- the top vote-getter among defensive lineman on last week's Daktronics NCAA Division II all-Southwest Region team -- is one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is presented to the top lineman (offense or defense) in the nation.  That award will be presented during festivities surrounding the Cactus Bowl.

A 6-4, 275-pounder from Hallsville, Farrell is a candidate for Daktronics all-America honors after earning first team all-region honors from the organization.  Last month he was named first team all-LSC South Division for the second straight season, and he also was voted the division's Defensive Lineman of the Year for the second straight year.

Farrell finished the season with 76 tackles (44 solo), including an LSC-best 22.5 tackles for loss.  He also led the LSC with 10.5 sacks, the most by an ACU player since 1997 when James Henderson recorded 15 quarterback sacks.

Farrell finished his career with 28.0 career sacks, the third-best career total in NCAA Division II history.  He is seventh all-time in sacks per game (0.72), third all-time in tackles for loss (61.0), and third all-time in tackles for loss per game (1.56).  Farrell, who was a 2004 all-America selection, was a 2005pre-season all-America pick by three different media outlets.