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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - West Liberty University senior standout Ben Staggs has been selected as a national finalist for the sixth annual Gene Upshaw Award as the NCAA Division II Lineman of the Year.

Staggs, a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the No. 9-ranked Hilltoppers, advanced to the national ballot after running away from the regional field in the Super Region One balloting.

Two players from each of the four Super Regions in NCAA Division II are selected as national finalists in voting by the sports information directors of all football-playing schools in their region.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound veteran from Wooster, Ohio, was the overwhelming favorite out of 13 regional nominees in Super Region One as he received 16 first-place votes, three second-place votes and a pair of fourth-place votes to finish with 96 points.

The other national finalist from Super Region One is California (Pa.) defensive tackle Willie Walker, a 6-3, 275-pound senior from Aliquippa, Pa. A repeat Upshaw Award finalist, Walker was a distant second in the regional balloting with three first-place votes and five second-place votes. He was named on 17 of the 22 ballots and finished with 56 points.

Staggs and Walker will meet on the Russek Field MondoTurf on Saturday afternoon when the Hilltoppers and Vulcans battle for Super Region One supremacy and a berth in the national semifinals. Kickoff is set for noon.

Slippery Rock center Brandon Fusco was third in the voting with 31 points.

''Ben has been a rock on our offensive line for the last four seasons,'' West Liberty coach Roger Waialae said. ''He's helped clear the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of those seasons and has protected our quarterback's blind side as our starting left tackle for the past three seasons.

''Ben has had his best season as a senior and that's the way every coach wants to see his players go out.''

Staggs is a team captain and the leader of a dominating offensive line for a West Liberty team that leads the nation in total offense (549.7 ypg.), scoring (48.3 ppg.) and touchdowns (80). It is the only offensive line in NCAA Division II history to produce a 4,000-yard passer, three 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher.

Walker has been disruptive force on the California (Pa.) defensive line throughout his Vulcan career. The senior star has been charted with 34 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss and three quarterback sacks this season.

The Upshaw Award is sponsored by the Manheim (Pa.) Touchdown Club in honor of the late Pro Football Hall of Famer Gene Upshaw. A former standout at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) who starred in the NFL as an offensive lineman with the Oakland Raiders and went on to become executive director of the NFL Players Association.

The 2009 Gene Upshaw Award will be presented in early January after the conclusion of the season.