DES MOINES,  IOWA --  Fifth-year senior linebacker Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) was named the recipient of the Torch Bearer Award as the best leader on the team during the 112th annual Channing Smith Awards footbal banquet Sunday at All-Play in downtown Des Moines.

For the second straight year Hunt, a two-time co-captain, also received the Committed to Excellence Award. He led Drake with 86 tackles, including 55 solo stops, along with two quarterback sacks for nine yards in losses and one pass interception.

Senior J-Back Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.), a two-time first-team All-Pioneer Football League selection, was named the most valuable player.
 
Platek, a co-captain, led Drake with a team-high nine touchdowns. He caught a team-best 49 passes for 553 yards, including three touchdowns. He also rushed 30 times for 147 yards, including a team-high six touchdowns.

Second-year Drake head coach Chris Creighton lauded the 17 senior players who are graduating for being instrumental behind the Bulldogs' 8-3 record.

"We're here to celebrate all that has gone into this past season," said Creighton. "It is also a double-edged sword because we are saying good bye to 17 players who have meant so much to this program.

"The depth of their intensity and passion to be successful was unmatched with any team I've ever coached. We'll miss all these seniors who contributed to an incredible foundation."

Fifth-year senior J-Back Mason Bucklin (Solon, Iowa) was named the Team Player of the Year for putting team above self.

Fifth-year senior receiver Spencer Cady (Fort Dodge, Iowa) was named recipient of the Gene Schultz Award, which annually honors an upperclassman who displays the highest standards of leadership, citizenship and personal conduct on the field, and in his academic and campus activities. Cady, an honorable mention All-PFL choice, caught 28 passes for 298 yards including two touchdowns this past fall.
 
Fifth-year senior tight end Frank Pucher (Skokie, Ill.) was named recipient of the "Swagger Back" award which was the theme for the football team this season. Pucher earned first-team all-league honors this past season and caught 15 passes for 157 yards including two touchdowns.
 
Sophomore defensive tackle Zach Lozier (Farmington, Ill.) was named the defensive scout team player of the year, while freshman quarterback Cody Seeger (Barrington, Ill.) was named the offensive scout team player of the year. Freshman Tyler Mosier (Lewis, Iowa) was named the special teams scout player of the year.
 
Senior safety Skye Buckner-Petty (Florissant, Mo.) won the hammer award for having the hardest hits on defense during the season. Senior linebacker Stoy Hall (Omaha, Neb.) was named recipient of the hammer award for special teams, while junior fullback Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.)  earned the hammer award on offense for most outstanding blocks.

Ten players were honored for posting the highest grade-point averages on the team during the 2009 spring semester.
Cady, Hunt, fifth-year senior receiver Travis Bogaard (Pella, Iowa),  sophomore defensive back Lyndon Crawford (Flossmoor, Ill.),  and junior Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa)  posted perfect 4.0 GPAs.  Other players named to the Academic  Top 10 were senior receiver Aaron Wies (Waukee, Iowa), sophomore lineman Andrew Keller Clarion, Iowa), senior tight end Travis Klatt (Albert Lea, Minn.) and sophomore tackle  Zach Lozier (Farmington, Ill.) and sophomore defensive back Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa).

Bucklin, Cady, Hall and senior linebackers John Meehan (St. Louis, Mo.), and Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) were cited as community service captains for the spring semester.

Gerry Hingst, who is retiring after serving 22 years as the football secretary, also was publicly recognized.