Despite a season that led to Monday’s firing of coach Ray Woodard, Lamar enjoyed a small postseason victory of sorts Tuesday with the placement of five players on the All-Southland Conference first teams.

Senior cornerback Brendan Langley was rewarded for his six interceptions this season with a first-team selection, the only Cardinal given that honor this season. Classmate and fellow cornerback Xavier Bethany named to the second team, and seniors Kade Harrington and Koby Couron and junior DeAndre Jennings were named honorable mention.

Langley’s six picks led the Southland, and he held onto the lead without making another swipe in the final five games. More importantly, the second-year Cardinal who transferred from Georgia keyed a pass defense that allowed only 190 yards per game under first-year coordinator Trey Haverty.

Three of Langley’s steals came in a win over Southeastern Louisiana, tying a Lamar single-game record shared by Donald Rawls (1983) and Pat Gibbs (1971).

Bethany closed his four-year Lamar career finishing third in the Southland this season in tackles with 103. He had four picks this year.

Harrington’s honorable mention selection may have been a surprise even though he was the Southland Player of the Year last season and had his career come to a close in the sixth game of 2016 against Northwestern State (foot injury). He still had 636 yards and four touchdowns rushing and 120 yards on nine receptions in six games, breaking the 100-yard rushing mark in three games. His season high was 207 yards against Coastal Carolina in the opener.

Couron, of Nederland, started all 11 games at defensive end and recorded 25 tackles, two of them for losses. Jennings, a two-year starting tight end, pulled down 22 passes for 217 yards.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews