UMAC PREVIEW: Football

UMAC PREVIEW: Football

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ST. PAUL, MN - With the 2022 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) football season kicking off this Saturday, it's time to take a look at the UMAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll.

Greenville has been picked to repeat as UMAC champions for the 2022 season by the coaches. The Panthers had a season to remember last fall, going a perfect 6-0 in UMAC play en route to the conference title and a birth in the NCAA Tournament. Greenville returns UMAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Preseason Fourth Team All-American by D3football.com, Paul Garrett. Garrett averaged 152 yards per game a year ago and looks to leave off where he did a year ago, leading the Panthers to the top scoring offense in the UMAC at thirty-eight points per game. On defense they return UMAC Defensive Player of the Year Turjon McLaurin, McLaurin finished last season with 10.5 sacks and fifty-one total tackles. Also on the defensive side of the ball are two First Team All-Conference linebacker selections in Lakari Benjamin and Dewayne Garrett. The linebacker duo combined for sixty-two solo tackles.

Martin Luther comes in second in the preseason rankings after finishing 5-1 in UMAC play a year ago and 5-4 overall. First year head coach Paul Huebner takes over a Knights program that had won the UMAC championship in 2018 and 2019 and looks to return them back to the top of the conference in 2022. Returning for the Knights on the offensive side of the ball is junior running back Carson Oestreich who finished last season with over 1,000 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Adam Arrowsmith was a First Team All-UMAC selection, Arrowsmith finished with seventeen solo tackles and a forced fumble.

The Cougars of Minnesota Morris are the 3rd team in this year's UMAC Preseason Poll. Morris finished last season 4-2 overall in conference play, and an even 5-5 overall. The Cougars return 2nd Team All-UMAC quarterback Marcus Reeb who threw for 18 touchdowns in 2021 while adding 6 more with his legs. The Cougars also return Second Team All-UMAC selection from a year ago in Blake Johnson. The senior running back averaged over five yards a carry and was fourth in the UMAC in rushing. On the defensive side of the ball, Morris returns playmakers at all three levels of the defense in Carter Maurice on the defensive line, Alex Emmrich at linebacker, and Hunter Infanger at defensive back. All three were All-UMAC performers a year ago, combining for 109 solo tackles on the year.

The Northwestern Eagles are the next team up as they are picked to finish fourth in the UMAC this season. The Eagles finished an even 3-3 in the UMAC last season and 3-7 overall. Do it all tight end Damon Clapper returns for the Eagles here in 2022. Clapper was an All-UMAC First Team performer a year ago where he scored nine total touchdowns in a variety of ways. Clapper had six receiving touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, and a return touchdown on a blocked punt. On the defensive side of the ball the Eagles return a trio of Second Team All-UMAC players from a year ago in Luke Malamisuro (DB), Nic Schultz (LB), and Brad Kulinski (LB).

Coming in fifth in this season's poll is the Westminster Bluejays. Westminster finished 2021 2-4 in UMAC play and 3-5 overall. Head Coach John Welty returns for his 24th season in charge of the Bluejays. On offense senior running back Taylor Dobbins returns, Dobbins rushed for over 1,000 yards a year ago and finished the year on the All-UMAC First Team Offense. On defense Dawson Brandt returns for the Bluejays after a fantastic 2021 campaign. Brandt finished the year with 56 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.

The Crown Polars were the team picked to finish 6th in this seasons poll. The Polars were 1-5 in UMAC play a year ago and 1-9 overall. All-conference receiver Terry Warner is back after an electric sophomore season where he had forty-one receptions for 555 yards and four touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball Quis Icon returns for the Polars after finishing last season with seventy-four tackles, four sacks, and six fumble recoveries.

Last but not least is the Finlandia Lions. The Lions went 0-5 in UMAC play and 0-9 overall a season ago. On defense Jesse Hill returns as the reigning UMAC tackles per game leader with over nine per game. Defensive lineman Cole Stuber also returns for the Lions after leading the conference in tackles for loss with eleven.
 

Crown College
Anthony Franz |2nd Season |
 
2021 Season
  • 1-5 UMAC, 1-9 | 5th |
 Top Returners Offense
  • Josh Wallace, SR, RB | 299 yards rushing |
  • Terry Warner, JR , WR | 2021 2nd team UMAC | 41 receptions, 555 yards, 4 touchdowns |
  • Eli Green, JR, OL | Started every game, played all 5 positions, only 1 sack on 541 attempts |
 Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
  • Quis Icon, SR, DL | 2021 1st team UMAC | 74 tackles, 4 sacks, 6 fumbles Rec |
  • Rudy Criner, JR, DB | 2021 2nd team UMAC | 67 tackles, 3 int, 2 forced fumbles |
  • Gabe Banks, SO, LB | 78 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries |
 

Finlandia University
Head Coach
Mike DuFrane | 2nd |
 
2021 Season
  • 0-5 UMAC record, 0-9 Overall record | 7th |
Top Returners Offense
  • Raiden Toldness, SO, WR | | 9 receptions, 47 yards, 1 touchdown |
 Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
  • Jesse Hill, SO, LB | 87 tackles, led the UMAC in tackles per game (9.78), 2nd in assist tackles (47) |
  • Cole Stuber, SO, DL | 43 tackles, 11 for a loss (1st in UMAC at 1.38 per game), 5.5 sacks (2 in UMAC 0.63) |
 

Greenville University
Head Coach
Robbie Schomaker | 10th Season |
 
2021 Season
  • UMAC record, 6-0 Overall record 8-2 | Finish 1st |
  • Postseason: Lost to Wisconsin Whitewater in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs
 Top Returners Offense
  • Paul Garrett, SR, RB | UMAC Offensive Player of the Year | d3football.com All 4th Team All American |1678 rushing yards, 152.5 yards per game, 21 touchdowns |
  • Seth Logan, SR, TE | 2nd Team All-Conference | 358 receiving yards, 51.1 yards receiving per game, 6 touchdowns |
  • Derek Martinez, SR, OL | 1st Team All-Conference  | 
 Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
  • Turjon McLaurin, SR, DL | UMAC Defensive Player of the Year | 2nd Team All Region | 10.5 sacks | 51 total tackles |
  • Lakari Benjamin, SR, LB | 1st Team All-Conference | 2nd Team All-NCCAA | 32 solo tackles, 57 assist tackles |
  • Dewayne Garrett, JR, LB | 1st Team All-Conference | 30 solo tackles, 22 assist tackles |
 Need to Know
Number one scoring team in conference averaging 38 points per game.
 

Martin Luther College
Paul Huebner | 1st season at MLC |
 
2021 Season
  • 5-1 UMAC, 5-4 | 2nd|
 Top Returners Offense
  • Carson Oestreich, Jr., RB | 2021 All-UMAC First Team| 1113 yards., 4.8 yards per carry, 9 touchdowns |
  • Mason Cox, Jr., WR | 2021 All-UMAC Second Team | 19 receptions., 297 yards, 1 touchdown |
  • Cole Broekhuizen, Jr., OL | 2021 All-UMAC Second Team |
 Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
  • Adam Arrowsmith, Sr., DE | 2021 All-UMAC First Team | 17 solo tackles, 18 assists, 1 forced fumble |
  • Nathan Golisch, Sr., DB | 29 solo tackles, 7 assists |
  • David Hirsch, Sr., DT | 5 solo tackles, 7 assists, 1.5 tackles for loss |
 

University of Northwestern - St. Paul
Head Coach
Matt Moore | 6th Season |
 
2021 Season
  • 3-3 UMAC, 3-7 Overall | 4th |
 Top Returners Offense
  • Damon Clapper, Gr., TE | UMAC First Team All-Conference, UMAC Offensive Player of the Week | Nine total touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing, one punt return).
  • Beau Burk, So., WR | UMAC First Team All-Conference, UMAC Special Teams Player of the Week | Hauled in three touchdowns with 437 yards receiving; Averaged 13.64 yards per reception; Returned 29 kicks for 627 yards, averaging 21.62 yards per return |
  • Nick Drinken, Jr., QB | UMAC All-Academic | Threw for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games as starter; Threw for a season high 205 yards and three touchdowns with a 72.0 completion percentage against Westminster; Threw for three touchdowns on the road against Minnesota Morris |
 Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
  • Luke Malamisuro, Jr., DB | UMAC Second Team All-Conference | Led the Eagles with 84 tackles on the year; Recorded 52 solo tackles along with 32 assisted; picked off two passes and broke up a team-high eight |
  • Nic Schultz, Sr., LB | UMAC Second Team All-Conference | Recorded 63 tackles, getting 30 solo and assisting with 33; Had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries; Added 4.0 tackles for loss |
  • Brad Kulinski, Sr., LB | UMAC Second Team All-Conference | Second most tackles on the team with 65.0; Recorded 4.5 tackles for loss; seven quarterback hits 
Need to Know
Led the UMAC in kickoff return average at 20.4 yards per return. Recorded two punt return touchdowns; the only UMAC team with any punt return touchdowns. One of two UMAC teams with a kickoff return touchdown.
 
 
University of Minnesota Morris
Head Coach
Marty Hoffmann | 5th season|
 
2021 Season
  • UMAC record 4-2, Overall record 5-5 | 3rd  |
 Top Returners Offense
  • Marcus Reeb, Sr, QB | 2nd Team All-UMAC | 134.78 quarterback rating, 18 passing touchdowns, 6 rushing touchdowns, 55.88 completion rate |
  • Blake Johnson, Sr, RB | 2nd Team All-UMAC | Academic All-UMAC | 5.1 yards per rush, 4 touchdowns, 4th in UMAC in rushing |
  • Christian Diederich, JR, OT| 1st Team All-UMAC | Academic All-UMAC |
 Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
  • Hunter Infanger, Jr, DB | 1st Team All UMAC | Academic All-UMAC | 33 solo tackles, 79 total tackles , 3 pass break ups |
  • Alex Emmrich, So, LB | 2nd Team All-UMAC | Academic All-UMAC | 34 solo tackles, 63 tackles, 2 interceptionss |
  • Carter Maurice, So, DL | 2nd Team All-UMAC | Academic All-UMAC | 42 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3.5 Sacks |
 
Need to Know
The Cougars return 18 starters on offense and defense
 

Westminster College
Head Coach John Welty| 24th season at institution |
 
2021 Season
2-4, 3-5| 5th in UMAC
 
Top Returners Offense
Taylor Dobbins, Sr., RB | UMAC all conference 1st team offense | Other Honors | 1049 yrds, 11 TDs, 184 |
Peyton James, Jr, WR, 12 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TD
Ben Wallace Jr. RB , 195 yards, 46 carries, 1 TD 
 
Top Returners Defense/Special Teams
Dawson Brandt, Jr, LB, UMAC all conference 1st team defense, 56 tackles, 2 FF and 1 FR 
Justin Scales, Sr., DL, UMAC all conference 2nd team defense, 27 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 1 FF
Garrett Burger, So., LB, 44 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 FF
 
Need to Know
Blue Jays led the UMAC in rushing last season in yards per game