NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Two more post-season football honors were announced Tuesday as Christopher Newport defensive lineman Ben James was named first team All-Region in the East, and punter Ben Garbarini was chosen third team. The announcement was made Tuesday morning by D3football.com. 

James, a first team All-Conference selection in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, was also selected the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the league this season. The Virginia Beach native posted 59 tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks for the Captains. He also made 35 solo stops and registered 14.5 tackles for lost yardage during an outstanding senior season. He concluded his career with 15 sacks.

This is the first all-region award for James. This season marked the second straight year he has been a first team All-Conference selection. This Sunday, James will receive his second straight Defensive Lineman of the Year honor from the Touchdown Club of Richmond. 

James this season became just the second conference Defensive Player of the Year in program history (Rob Rodriguez received the honor in 2005 in the USA South Athletic Conference). He also was just the second Captain to receive a major conference award since Christopher Newport joined the NJAC in 2016 (Taylor Loudan was selected the Offensive Player of the Year in 2016).

Garbarini, a junior from Bedford, Va., was a second team All-Conference selection in the NJAC this year, his first career conference honor. Garbarini punted 54 times this fall for the Captains and averaged 42 yards per punt, booting nine for 50 or more yards. He also put 15 of his efforts inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and recorded a season-long 57-yard punt.

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