Champion Northwestern leads 2016 UMAC All-Conference football awards
ST. PAUL, Minn.---After winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season football title and earning its first-ever berth to the NCAA tournament, the University of Northwestern headlined the 2016 UMAC football awards with 11 all-conference selections between both teams and Kirk Talley was selected by his peers as UMAC Coach of the Year announced Wednesday.
The other top awards went to four players from four different teams. Sophomore running back Chazz Middlebrook of MacMurray College was name the Most Valuable Offensive Player, while senior safety Nicholas Morrow of Greenville College was named the Most Offensive Defensive Player. Sophomore kicker John Hoff of the University of Minnesota Morris took the Most Valuable Special Teams Player award. Senior defensive lineman Ayo Oyesanya of Westminster College rounded out the honors picking up the Most Valuable Lineman award.
Under Talley's leadership, the Eagles completed an 8-1 conference season and march into the NCAA playoffs with a 9-1 overall mark and the No. 9 ranking in the West Region. The Eagles have been ranked in each of the three regional NCAA releases this season.
The Eagles started off the season strong shutting out their opponents in each of their first three games before defeating reigning champion College of St. Scholastica mid-season and ending Eureka College's season with a road victory Satuday, Nov. 5 to lock up the title. The lone loss of the season for Talley's squad came against MacMurray College on Oct. 8 by a 38-14 decision.
The calling card for the Eagles all season was tremendous defense. In league games, the Eagles held opponents to a conference-low 13.1 points per game (ppg) and held opponents to fewer than 20 points in seven UMAC games. The Eagle defense gave up just seven total touchdowns all season and was nearly impossible to crack with the run game allowing the second-fewest yards rushing per game (128.9).
The defensive stats only get better from there – Talley's team was second in overall sacks (23) but recorded sacks for the most yards (154). The same was true for interceptions as the Eagles tallied second-most with 15 but went for the most yards at 274.
Thanks to solid defense, the Eagles didn't rely as heavily on offense ranking just fifth in scoring offense (23.9 ppg). However, the Eagles' offensive line allowed the team to find success in the pass game – ranking fifth in yards per game (204.7) and fourth in efficiency (120.6) – allowing just 11 sacks all season which was second-best in the UMAC. Offensively, the Eagles wore down opponent defenses finishing second in time of possession at 32:29.
The Most Valuable Offensive Player award went to running back Middlebrook who led MacMurray to a 7-2 record and tie for second place in the conference standings. The second-year back posted a league-best 167.0 yards per game on the ground for 16 touch downs – also the most by any UMAC rusher in conference games. Middlebrook rushed more than any back in the league with 223 attempts for a conference-best 1,503 yards – he was the lone UMAC rusher to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in conference play. His overall 1,699 yards also are the most by any Division III rusher this season.
Middlebrook averaged 6.7 yards per carry and included a long run of 81 yards. He recorded more than 200 yards in three conference matchups to help MacMurray finish league play with the top offensive production at 461.2 total yards per game. With Middlebrook ranked second overall in league scoring with 10.7 ppg, the Highlanders also finished second in team scoring (34.1 ppg). Middlebrook earned UMAC Offensive Player of the Week three times this fall.
Greenville's Morrow took the top defensive honor after serving as the team's top cover threat from the safety position. Morrow averaged 7.0 tackles per game (63 total) to rank 13th overall among all defensive players in conference play. The senior defensive back also tallied 11 tackles for a loss to help the Greenville defense to some of the top numbers as a team. Morrow helped the Panthers post the top mark in 3rd-down conversion percentage allowed (22.8). The Panther defense also was fifth in opponent first downs per game (18.3) and fifth in pass defense (178.4 yards per game).
Minnesota Morris' Hoff had a breakout season as the team's kicker to capture Most Valuable Special Teams player. He ran away with almost every kicking statistical ranking this season leading the league with 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) conversion on field goals. He was the lone UMAC player to record double digits in field goals made for a 1.1 average per conference game. The sophomore recorded a long make of 46 yards and made three from 40 yards or more and eight in the range of 30-39 yards. He also avearged 59.2 yards per kick off with 12 touchbacks.
The final top honor went to Oyesanya of Westminster who led Westminster to impressive numbers defensively. The senior lineman helped the Blue Jays rank third in the UMAC for scoring defense (18.0 ppg allowed) and third in both pass (176.1 yards per game) and rush defense (141.4 yards per game). Individually, Oyesanya ranked fifth in sacks (5.5) and led the league in tackles for a loss (15.5). His 12 solo tackles for a loss were also a league best. He tallied 51 total tackles and forced two fumbles in league games.
Morrow and Oyesanya are among five UMAC players who earned back-to-back All-UMAC First Team honors which also included Coy Dorothy (QB, MacMurray), Andre Flores (OL, Greenville) and Nick Swore (DB, Northwestern). Mike Washington of Westminster is the only UMAC player to have been named to either team in each of his four seasons, while Jalen Phoenix (DL, Crown College) and Austin Stubbs (DB, Northwestern) have each earned either honor three times.
Matt Quarles of Westminster was recognized with First Team honors for both kick and punt returning and was among seven players who have earned one each of All-UMAC First Team and Second Team in each of the last two seasons including Latif Adams (RB, Westminster), Ben Greener (LB, Northwestern), Leanthony Reasnover (RB, Eureka), Hunter Thompson (WR, St. Scholastica), Danny Williams (LB, MacMurray) and Trever Ziebert (DL, Eureka). Kenneth Jinkins (DB, St. Scholastica), Lincoln Johnson (DL, Greenville) and Bret Roberston (LB, Westminster) each earned either honor for the second time of their career.
Five players earned back-to-back All-UMAC Second Team honors including Josh Edlund (RB, Crown), Colin Everson (DL, Minnesota Morris), Ricky Martinez (DB, Eureka), Jayson Rothmeier (OL, Crown) and Jake Zoellick (DL, St. Scholastica).
Northwestern won the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season. Each team also had one representative named to the individual sportsmanship award list.
*Most Valuable Offensive Player: Chazz Middlebrook, So., MacMurray
#Most Valuable Defensive Player: Nicholas Morrow, Sr., Greenville
^Most Valuable Special Teams Player: John Hoff, So., Minnesota Morris
%Most Valuable Lineman: Ayo Oyesanya, Sr., Westminster
Coach of the Year: Kirk Talley, Northwestern
2016 UMAC All-Conference First Team Offense
| Position |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| QB |
Coy Dorothy |
MacMurray |
Sr. |
Hamilton, Ill. |
| QB |
Kyle Stepka |
St. Scholastica |
Sr. |
New Prague, Minn. |
| *RB |
Chazz Middlebrook |
MacMurray |
So. |
Jacksonville, Ill. |
| RB |
Leanthony Reasnover |
Eureka |
So. |
Momence, Ill. |
| WR |
Cody Carlson |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Dallas Center, Iowa |
| WR |
Jeremy Gomez |
Iowa Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Dinuba, Calif. |
| WR |
Evan Guffey |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Nicollet, Minn. |
| WR |
Aaron Olson |
St. Scholastica |
So. |
Esko, Minn. |
| TE |
Brandon Staves |
MacMurray |
Sr. |
Collinsville, Ill. |
| OL |
Ryan Barth |
Eureka |
So. |
Minonk, Ill. |
| OL |
Andres Flores |
Greenville |
Sr. |
Stockton, Calif. |
| OL |
Harry Griffin |
St. Scholastica |
Sr. |
Elba, Ala. |
| OL |
DeAndre Harris |
MacMurray |
Sr. |
Springfield, Ill. |
| OL |
Weston Smith |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
Backus, Minn. |
2016 UMAC All-Conference First Team Defense
| Position |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| DL |
Javon Muhammad |
MacMurray |
So. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| %DL |
Ayo Oyesanya |
Westminster |
Sr. |
Norman. Okla. |
| DL |
Jalen Phoenix |
Crown |
Sr. |
Cincinatti, Ohio |
| DL |
Beau Walter |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
Conway, Ark. |
| DL |
Trever Zeibert |
Eureka |
Jr. |
Monee, Ill. |
| LB |
Gideon Burnham |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
Alexandria, Minn. |
| LB |
Bret Robertson |
Westminster |
Sr. |
California, Mo. |
| LB |
Jonathan Senger |
St. Scholastica |
So. |
Buffalo, Minn. |
| LB |
Danny Williams |
MacMurray |
Sr. |
Carrollton, Ill. |
| DB |
Kenneth Jinkins |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Eagan, Minn. |
| DB |
Trevon Moore |
Eureka |
Fy. |
Aurora, Ill. |
| #DB |
Nicholas Morrow |
Greenville |
Sr. |
Hunstville, Ala. |
| DB |
Austin Stubbs |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Pleasant Hill, Iowa |
| DB |
Nick Swore |
Northwestern |
So. |
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
2016 UMAC All-Conference First Team Special Teams
| Position |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| ^K |
John Hoff |
Minnesota Morris |
So. |
Falls Church, Va. |
| KR |
Matt Quarles |
Westminster |
So. |
Detroit, Mich. |
| P |
Nathan MacGilfrey |
Crown |
Sr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| PR |
Matt Quarles |
Westminster |
So. |
Detroit, Mich. |
2016 UMAC All-Conference Second Team Offense
| Position |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| QB |
Raul Alvarez |
Iowa Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Vaisalia, Calif. |
| QB |
Trent White |
Westminster |
Jr. |
Punta Gorda, Fla. |
| RB |
Latif Adams |
Westminster |
Jr. |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| RB |
Josh Edlund |
Crown |
Sr. |
Crookston, Minn. |
| RB |
BJ Foster |
Northwestern |
So. |
Charles City, Iowa |
| WR |
John Dudley |
Greenville |
Sr. |
Ballwin, Mo. |
| WR |
Zach Duerwachter |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
La Crescent, Minn. |
| WR |
Davonta Preston |
MacMurray |
So. |
Bay Minette, Ala. |
| WR |
Hunter Thompson |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Buffalo, Minn. |
| TE |
Mike Washington |
Westminster |
Sr. |
Jefferson City, Mo. |
| OL |
Alec Bergmann |
Martin Luther |
Sr. |
Slinger, Wis. |
| OL |
Jake Linderman |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Altoona, Wis. |
| OL |
Jayson Rothmeier |
Crown |
Sr. |
Olivia, Minn. |
| OL |
Laren Sanford |
MacMurray |
Sr. |
Greencastle, Ind. |
| OL |
Michael Slingsby |
Eureka |
Jr. |
Granville, Ill. |
2016 UMAC All-Conference Second Team Defense
| Position |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| DL |
Colin Everson |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Grand Marais, Minn. |
| DL |
Benjamin Johnson |
Northwestern |
So. |
Camarillo, Calif. |
| DL |
Lincoln Johnson |
Greenville |
Sr. |
Nikiski, Alaska |
| DL |
Ray Vogel |
Eureka |
Jr. |
Bartonville, Ill. |
| DL |
Jake Zoellick |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Sarona, Wis. |
| LB |
Clayton Douvier |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Sauk Rapids, Minn. |
| LB |
Ben Greener |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Foley, Minn. |
| LB |
Dakota Padilla |
Eureka |
Sr. |
Sandwich, Ill. |
| LB |
Andrew Terrell-Rodriguez |
Iowa Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Jonesboro, Ga. |
| LB |
Elliot Wiens |
Crown |
Sr. |
Windom, Minn. |
| DB |
Chandler Erickson |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Chokio, Minn. |
| DB |
Cory Farneti |
MacMurray |
Jr. |
Carlinville, Ill. |
| DB |
Ricky Martinez |
Eureka |
Sr. |
Yorba Linda, Calif. |
| DB |
Jack Peru |
St. Scholastica |
Jr. |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| DB |
Darryl Smith |
Iowa Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Florrisant, Mo. |
| DB |
Anthony Washington |
Westminster |
So. |
Webster Groves, Mo. |
2016 UMAC All-Conference Second Team Special Teams
| Position |
Name |
Team |
Year |
Hometown |
| K |
Grant Cooper |
MacMurray |
Jr. |
Lincoln, Ill. |
| KR |
Kyle Anenson |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Chanhassen, Minn. |
| KR |
Terrell Thomas |
Crown |
Sr. |
Charleston, S.C. |
| P |
Josh VonDeylen |
Martin Luther |
Jr. |
Friendswood, Texas |
| PR |
Chandler Erickson |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Chokio, Minn. |
2016 UMAC Football All-Sportsmanship Awards
Team Award – Northwestern
Crown – Matt Michaud, Sr., Woodbury, Minn.
Eureka – Nate Atkins, Sr., Bloomington, Ill.
Greenville – Lincoln Johnson, Sr., Nikiski, Alaska
Iowa Wesleyan – Christian Henriksen, Jr., Donnellson, Iowa
MacMurray – David Powell, Sr., Springfield, Ill.
Martin Luther – Dan Schmidt, Sr., Ixonia, Wis.
Minnesota Morris – Kyle Petermeier, Sr., Browerville, Minn.
Northwestern – Andy Waller, Sr., Park Rapids, Minn.
St. Scholastica – Dakota Paulson, Sr., Menomonie, Wis.
Westminster – Trent White, Jr., Punta Gorda, Fla.