St. Scholastica edges Northwestern in 2017 UMAC Football Coaches' Poll

8/22/2017 1:28:46 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn.---After a surprising fall from the top of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) last season, the College of St. Scholastica football program looks to take back the conference crown from the University of Northwestern in 2017 as the Saints edged out the Eagles by one point in the UMAC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Tuesday.

| Poll | Matchups | Team Previews |

The Saints topped the coaches' picks with 73 points and just three first-place nods, while the reigning champion Eagles tallied 72 points and five first-place selections. MacMurray College was dubbed as another contender for the title in third with 61 points, but Eureka College wasn't picked to finish far behind in fourth with 54 points and two first-place votes.

A year ago, all four teams had a chance at the title with Northwestern taking the regular season championship with a 37-15 defeat of Eureka in the final weekend to end with a conference-best 8-1 record. The Eagles lost to just MacMurray and beat St. Scholastica 14-7 in a defensive battle to make it nearly impossible for the Saints to hold on to their reign atop the UMAC. Eureka, MacMurray and St. Scholastica all finished 7-2 for a three-way tie for second place, making 2016 one of the most competitive seasons in UMAC football history.

With the Saints taking the top spot in the 2017 poll, last season may have been anomaly for a squad that – until last season – hadn't lost multiple games in a season since 2010 or more than two games since it's inaugural season in 2008. With a plethora of returning talent, the Saints could be the "team to beat" this fall.

The Saints welcome back a solid core on defense with First Team defensive backs in Kenneth Jinkins and Jonathan Senger who each tallied nearly 70 or more tackles and combined for six interceptions. Back-to-back All-UMAC Second Team pick Jake Zoellick will anchor the Saints' line after recording 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss.

Offensively, the Saints' suffered several injuries last season and it is yet to be seen who will take the reigns of the offense as the play caller, but Aaron Olson should be the top receiving threat in the league after leading the nation in receiving touchdowns with 18 last season.

Under new Head Coach Matt Moore, Northwestern will look to repeat as league champs following a season in which the Eagles ranked in the NCAA West Region – a first for any UMAC football program. However, if the Eagles want to defeat rival Saints and hold off the rest of the conference pack, they will need to do so we a young offense that lost two All-UMAC receivers and its starting quarterback to graduation.

Defense was the calling card of the Eagles last season and should keep them in the hunt this fall with the return of three All-UMAC First Team picks in Nick Swore, Gideon Burnham and Beau Walter. All three players recorded at least 50 tackles with Burnham collecting 74 tackles, 15 for a loss and six sacks. Long time Northwestern coach Jimmy Miller also returns to fill Moore's spot as the defensive coordinator.

MacMurray returns the nation's leading rusher and UMAC Offensive Player of the Year in Chazz Middlebrook after he rushed for 1,699 yards last season averaging nearly 170 yards per game and nearly 7 yards per carry. Eureka will also rely heavily on the run game as two-time All-UMAC rusher Leanthony Reasnover returns follwing a season in which he averaged nearly 110 yards per game.

Westminster College came in fifth in the poll with 49 points – just five behind Eureka – and they will look to pull of some upsets with the help of another talented UMAC running back in Latif Adams who returns for his final season after being named Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Greenville University was slated sixth in the poll with 41 points and will need a core of defensive players to step up to replace NFL signee and back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Nicholas Morrow. The Panthers should be one of the top offenses again this season finishing second in total offense in 2016.

Crown College tallied 35 points for seventh in the poll and will look for improved production on offense, while the University of Minnesota Morris will look to be another surprise – despite being picked eighth with 30 points – after defeating St. Scholastica last season and going 5-0 at home last year to finish fifth at 5-4.

Iowa Wesleyan University showed dramatic improvement with three wins last season, but they were selected ninth this year with 21 points. Martin Luther College rounded out the poll with 14 points.

Intriguing Matchups
The Division III football season kicks off for the UMAC a few days early as Greenville will play at Millikin on Thursday, Aug. 31, while the most intriguing matchup of the non-conference week will see St. Scholastica take on nationally-ranked No. 10 Saint John's University on Saturday, Sept. 2 on the road in Collegeville, Minnesota.

UMAC conference play kicks off the following week with a rematch of last season's championship finale between Eureka and Northwestern with the Eagles playing host. Week four of season will see St. Scholastica host a Minnesota Morris squad that was a spolier a year ago before the Saints hit the road to face the Eagles Saturday, Sept. 30 in the league's biggest rivalry game of the year.

Northwestern will look to avenge its only loss last season – this time on the road – against MacMurray on Oct. 7. The next set of matchups will see Greenvillle travel to Eureka in a game that could have impact on the top half of the standings. As the season winds down, MacMurray hosts Eureka in a must-win game on Oct. 21, before St. Scholastica travels to take on the Red Devils Oct. 28. In order to lock up the title, the Saints will need to find a win against MacMurray in the final weekend of the season.

Complete UMAC Schedule

2017 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. St. Scholastica – 73 points ( 3 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern – 72 points ( 5 First Place Votes)
3. MacMurray – 61 points
4. Eureka – 54 points (2 First Place Votes)
5. Westminster – 49 points
6. Greenville – 41 points
7. Crown – 35 points
8. Minnesota Morris – 30 points
9. Iowa Wesleyan – 21 points
10. Martin Luther – 14 points

EurekaCollege
Kurt Barth | 9th Season |

2016 Season
7-2 UMAC, 8-2 | T-2nd |

Top Returners Offense
- LeAnthony Reasnover, Jr., RB | Two-time All-UMAC, Three-time UMAC Player of the Week | 1,974 career rushing yards, 24 career rushing TD, 4.7 career yards per carry |
- Ryan Barth, Jr., OL | 2016 All-UMAC First Team |
- Michael Slingsby, Sr., OL | 2016 All-UMAC Second Team |

Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
- Trever Zeibert, Sr., DL | Two-time All-UMAC, Two-time UMAC Player of the Week | 2016 D3football.com All-Region | 51 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 14.0 TFL in 2016 |
- Trevon Moore, So., DB | 2016 All-UMAC First Team | 16 tackles, 1.5 TFL, INT, 15 breakups in 2016 |
- Ray Vogel, Sr., DL | 2016 All-UMAC Second Team | 43 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 16.0 TFL in 2016 |

Need to Know
The 2017 season will be Eureka’s first with an artificial surface and full lighting system at McKinzie Field … Preseason roster of 90 student-athletes is largest of Kurt Barth era … Eureka ranked 17th in Division III in total defense in 2016 and limited opponents to 17.4 points per game, lowest for EC opponents since 1991.

Greenville University
Robbie Schomaker | 5th Season |

2016 Season
2-7 UMAC, 2-8 | T-8th |

Top Returners Offense
- George Harris, So., QB | 1902 passing yards, 22 TDs, 139.3 QBR
- Jonny Pruiett, Sr., RB | 477 rushing yards, 4 TD,|
- Derek Greifzu, Sr., RB/WR | 259 rushing yards, 513 receiving yards, 9 TD’s

Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
- Colton Faure, Sr., DL | 39 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 12.5 tackles for a loss
- Kaitroy Hubbard, Jr., DB | Missed majority of 2016 due to injury, 2015 – 29 tackles, 3 breakups
- Bradley Stubbs, Jr., K | 33-35 PAT’s

Need to Know
Greenville’s offense ranked third in UMAC scoring last year with an average of 29.1 points per game, but the defense allowed 34.9 points per game. The Panthers were second in the conference with 3850 yards of total offense.

Iowa Wesleyan University
Michael Richtman | 2nd Season |

2016 Season
3-6 UMAC, 3-7 | 7th |

Top Returners Offense
- Jaquez Hall, So., RB | AVG/G Rushing 53.5, 70.5 All-Purpose Yards/G, 4 TD |
- Rudy Amezcua, Sr., WR | 2nd Team WR USCAA All-Football Team | 36.2 AVG/G Receiving, 10.6 AVG/C Receiving, 362 Total Receiving Yards |
- Tyree Thomas, So., WR | 31.5 AVG/G Receiving, 12.0 AVG/C Receiving, 252 Total Receiving Yards |

Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
- Christian Henriksen, Sr., DL | 50 Total Tackles, 1.5 sacks per game, 4.0 TFL/17 yards |
- Joseph Mosley, So., DB | 35 Total tackles (21 solo), 10 Pass breakups, 1.5 TFL/5 yards |
- Julian Carabajal, Sr., LB | 11 assisted tackles, 5 solo tackles |

Need to Know
Iowa Wesleyan led the UMAC with a 52.6 4th-down conversion rate.

Martin Luther College
Mark Stein | 3rd Season |

2016 Season
0-9 UMAC, 0-10 | 10th |

Top Returners Offense
- Ian Paulsen, So., QB/WR | Team-best 27 receptions; started at both QB and WR as a FR; rushed for 2 TD and threw for 1 TD |
- Josh Arndt, Jr., WR | Team-best 355 receiving yards; 4 receiving TDs in 2016; 10 receiving TDs in 16 career games |
- Josh Frailing, Jr., OL | Started 17 games last two seasons; helped Knights to 2^nd ranked rush offense each of last two seasons |

Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
- Josh VonDeylen, Sr., DB | 2nd Team All-UMAC punter in 2016 | Averaged 38.5 yards per punt; team-best 4 INTs; 41 tackles |
- Keith Brassow, So., DL | Led MLC with 10.0 TFL in 2016; 27 total tackles |
- Jacob Schlomer, Sr., DL | Started 19 games at DT last two seasons; 18 tackles in 2016; 3.0 career TFL |

Need to Know
MLC has finished among the top five in the UMAC in rushing yards per game in each of the last nine seasons. Last season, the Knights finished second with 190.4 rushing yards per game.

Schedule

Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

Conference Members

Conference Members

St. Scholastica edges Northwestern in 2017 UMAC Football Coaches' Poll