University of Minnesota Duluth seniors Geoff Fischer (Lakeville, Minn.), Russ Rabe (Lake Holcombe, Wis.) and Luke Jipson (South Range, Wis.) each earned accolades from D2football.com recently. The website, considered to be the preeminent NCAA Division II football news source, selected Fischer, a defensive lineman, to its All-Northwest Region First Team, Rabe, an outside linebacker, to its All-Northwest Region Second Team, and Jipson, a cornerback, to its All-Northwest Region Honorable Mention contingent.

All three players also earned All-North Central Conference accolades earlier this month, with Fischer and Rabe being selected to the conference’s First Team and Jipson earning Second Team honors.

Fischer recorded an NCC-leading 10.5 quarterback sacks in 2004. The figure ranked seventh overall in NCAA Division II. His 56 total tackles, including 27 solo stops, ranked third on the team at UMD. He also broke up one pass and recovered a fumble as well. He was part of a pass-rushing defense that registered the second-most sacks in the NCC.

Rabe, who has garnered serious interest from several NFL teams, racked up a team-leading 82 tackles, 45 of which were solo, and eight quarterback sacks, a figure which ranked third in the NCC. He also recorded 17 tackles for a loss, a total that led the NCC and ranked among the nation’s leaders as well. In addition, he collected an interception and a pair of pass breakups. His eight sacks extended his school-record career total to 29 quarterback sacks. Rabe was a 2004 preseason All-America pick by Lindy’s, Street and Smith’s, Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and D2Football.com

Jipson was the anchor of the Bulldogs’ defensive backfield in 2004, registering five interceptions for 126 yards and 54 total tackles, 30 of which were solo. He also shined brightly as a kick and punt returner, ranking among the nation’s leaders in both categories.

Media members with questions should contact Jayson Hron, UMD’s Assistant Director of Sports Information, at (218) 726-8937 or by e-mail at jhron@d.umn.edu.