2017 MSFA In Review

NAIA Champions

University of Saint Francis, Ind., 2nd straight title … 3rd consecutive championship by MSFA schools and 6th title in 7 seasons (USF has now won 23 straight games, is 19-1 as No.1-ranked team and has gone 8-0 in the NAIA FSC over the past two seasons). USF is the first back-to-back NAIA Champion from the MSFA and became just the third MSFA team to complete an undefeated season joining 14-0 Findlay (1997) and Grand View (2013).

2017 — Saint Francis, Ind. 24, Reinhardt, Ga. 13

2016 — Saint Francis, Ind. 38, Baker, Kan. 17

2015 — Marian 31, Southern Oregon 14

2013 — Grand View 35, Cumberland, Ky. 23

2012 — Marian 30, Morningside, Iowa, 27, OT

2011 — Saint Xavier, Ill. 24, Carroll, Mont. 20

1997 — Findlay, Ohio 14, Williamette, Ore. 7

1995 — Findlay, Ohio 21, Central Washington 21 (tie)

1994 — Westminster, Pa. 27, Pacific Lutheran, Wash. 7

Post-Season

FIRST ROUND: USF, Ind. 26, Benedictine, Kan. 21; Reinhardt, Ga. 39, Concordia 10; Saint Xavier 39, Grand View, Iowa 23

QUARTERFINALS: USF, Ind. 30, Northwestern, Iowa 3; Morningside, Iowa 52, Saint Xavier 7

SEMIFINALS: USF, Ind. 43, Morningside, Iowa 36

CHAMPIONSHIP: USF, Ind. 24, Reinhardt, Ga. 13

NAIA Player of the Year

Nick Ferrer (Westfield, Ind.), Saint Francis, Ind., 6-4, 230, Sr.

AFCA All-Americans

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

LINEMAN: Chris Overton (Springfield, Ill.), St. Ambrose, 6-1, 230, Sr.

DEFENSIVE BACK: Darius Price (Saginaw, Mich.), Siena Heights, 6-2, 215, Sr.

FIRST TEAM SPECIALIST

ATHLETE: Justin Green (Griffith, Ind.), Saint Francis, Ind., 5-10, 196, Jr.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Nick Ferrer (Westfield, Ind.), Saint Francis, Ind., 6-4, 230, Sr.

WIDE RECEIVER: Lexus Jackson (University Park, Ill.), St. Francis, Ill., 6-0, 175, Sr.

LINEMAN: Justin Hunter (Crest Hill, Ill.), Saint Xavier, 6-2, 305, Sr.

CENTER: Darrion McAlister (Kokomo, Ind.), Marian, 6-2, 250, Sr.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

LINEBACKER: Piercen Harnish (Ossian, Ind.), Saint Francis, Ind., 6-0, 224, Jr.

DEFENSIVE BACK: Tionte McDaniel (Markham, Ill.), Saint Xavier, 5-9, 170, Soph.

Cliff Harris Award

NAIA Winner — Darius Price, Siena Heights, defensive back

2017 Finalists — King Arthur, St. Francis (Ill.), DB; Piercen Harnish, Saint Francis, Ind., LB; Tionte McDaniel, Saint Xavier, DB; Andrew O'Hara, Concordia, LB; Chris Overton, St. Ambrose, DL; Darius Price, Siena Heights, DB

(NOTE: Award is named in honor of former Dallas Cowboys safety Cliff Harris and is designed to showcase the top small-college defensive players)

NAIA Rimington Award

2017 — ????

(NOTE: Awarded to best center in the country)

2017 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

RB — Mike Ivlow (Channahon, Ill.), Saint Xavier, St., 3.70, Education

WR — Grant Hohlbein (Adrian, Mich.), Taylor, Sr., 3.97, Political Science/Philosophy/Economics

OL — Connor Holcomb (Kendalville, Ind.), Saint Francis, Ind., Sr., 4.00, Pre-Med

ST — Connor Steinmetz (Algonquin, Ill.), Robert Morris, Sr., 3.91, Exercise & Sports Studies

DL — Anthony Kowalczyk (Chicago, Ill.), Saint Xavier, Sr., 3.50, Business

LB — Piercen Harnish (Ossian, Ind.), Saint Francis, Ind., Jr., 3.95, Business Administration

DB — Phillip Hassell (Champaign, Ill.), Robert Morris, Sr., 4.00, Business Management

DB — **Josh Woodard (Zionsville, Ind.), St. Francis, Ill., Jr., Management, 3.89

** — 2016 selection

2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District

OL Darricle Jones, Concordia, Sr. 3.68 Mass Communications

DL Shawn Kelley, Concordia, Sr. 3.34 Secondary Education

DL Kaleb Pohlman, Concordia, Sr. 3.36 Sport & Entertain. Business

LB Jay Koski, Concordia, Jr. 3.97 Finance

DB Timothy Koehler, Concordia, Jr. 3.72 Athletic Training

DB Zachary Flack, Siena Heights, Sr. 3.43 Spanish / Bus. Administration

RB Mike Ivlow, Saint Xavier, Sr. 3.70 Education

WR Daniel Boy, Taylor, Jr. 3.96 Exercise Science

WR Grant Hohlbein, Taylor, Sr. 3.97 Pol. Sci., Philosophy, Econ.

OL Connor Holcomb, Saint Francis (Ind.), Sr. 4.00 Pre-Med

ST Connor Steinmetz, Robert Morris, Sr. 3.91 Exercise & Sports Studies

DL Anthony Kowalczyk, Saint Xavier, Sr. 3.50 Business

DL Ben Rupert, Taylor, Sr. 3.47 Finance

DL Alex Zlomie, St. Francis (Ill.), Jr. 3.36 Finance

LB Caleb Coe, Olivet Nazarene, Jr. 3.82 Exercise Science

LB Piercen Harnish, Saint Francis (Ind.), Jr. 3.95 Business Administration

DB Tyler Gerig, Taylor, Jr. 3.72 Management

DB Philip Hassell, Robert Morris, Sr. 4.00 Business Management

DB Derek Wanner, Taylor, Jr. 3.90 Management

DB Josh Woodard, St. Francis (Ill.), Sr. 3.92 Management

P Joe Bailey, Saint Xavier, Sr. 3.40 Mathematics

DB Jacob Platt, St. Ambrose, Sr. 3.84 Biology

NOTE: 67 MSFA student-athletes, including 17 from Taylor, were named as NAIA Scholar Athletes; the MSFA academic all-conference list includes 179 student-athletes

AFCA Regional II Coach of Year

Kevin Donley, Saint Francis, Ind. (3rd straight season)

AFCA National Coach of Year

2016 – Kevin Donley, Saint Francis, Ind. (Note: 2017 winner announced at convention)

MSFA Players of the Year

Mideast League:

Offensive: Nick Ferrer, Saint Francis, Ind., 6-4, 230, Sr., QB

Defensive: Takari Johnson, Concordia, 6-2, 225, Sr., LB

Midwest League:

Offensive: Lexus Jackson, St. Francis, Ill., 6-0, 175, Sr., WR

Defensive: Tionte McDaniel, Saint Xavier, 5-9, 170, Soph., DB

MSFA Coaches of the Year

Mideast League: Joshua Schumacher, Concordia (1st time)

Midwest League: Mike Feminis, Saint Xavier (2nd MWL; 3 MEL)

MSFA League Champions

Mideast League: Saint Francis, Ind. 6-0 (13th time)

Midwest League: Saint Xavier 5-0 (4th time; 3 MEL titles, too)

NOTE: Saint Francis, Ind., & Saint Xavier earned automatic post-season bids

NAIA Statistical Leaders

Team

Kickoff Returns/Game:

Saint Francis, Ind. 14 Games 29 Returns 880 Yards 3 TDs 30.3 Avg.

4TH Down Conversions

Marian 10 Games 8 Conv. 11 Att. 72.70 Pct.

Team Game Highs

Punts

12 Lindenwood-Belleville vs. Saint Xavier, Sept. 16

Punt Returns

8 Siena Heights vs. Northwood, Sept. 2

Kickoff Return TDs

2 Robert Morris vs. St. Ambrose, Oct. 28

Longest Interception Return

100 Saint Francis, Ind. vs. Lindenwood-Belleville, Oct. 18

Turnovers

7 Lyon, Ark. Vs. Missouri Baptist, Aug. 26

Individual

All-Purpose Yards Per Game

193.4 Justin Green, Saint Francis, Ind.

All-Purpose Yards

2,700 Justin Green, Saint Francis, Ind.

Scoring/Game (TDs)

14.1 Justin Green, Saint Francis, Ind.

Scoring (TDs)

198 Justin Green, Saint Francis, Ind. (33 TDs)

Scoring/Game

14.1 Justin Green, Saint Francis, Ind.

Sacks/Game

1.5 Chris Overton, St. Ambrose

Sacks

14.5 Chris Overton, St. Ambrose

Individual Game Highs

Kickoff Return TDs

2 Dallis Flowers, Robert Morris vs. St. Ambrose, Oct. 28

Longest Interception Return

100 Spencer Cowherd, Saint Francis, Ind. vs. Lindenwood-Belleville, Oct. 28

Tackles for Loss

6 Chris Overton, St. Ambrose vs. St. Francis, Ill., Sept. 30

NAIA National Players of Week

Gavin Gardner, Saint Francis, Ind.

Eric Dunten, Saint Francis, Ind.

Nick Ferrer, Saint Francis, Ind.

Chris Overton, Saint Ambrose

NAIA Final Rankings

Dropped from the Top 25: None

Others Receiving Votes: Montana Tech 9; College of Idaho 6; Cumberland (Tenn.) 4.

MSFA Top Performances

Interception Returns (16 total)

100 Yards Spencer Cowherd, Saint Francis vs. Lindenwood-Belleville, Oct. 28

Interception Returns for TDs

3 Arthur King, St. Francis, Ill.; returns of 97, 55 & 39 to tie MSFA record

Fumble Returns for TDs (6)

92 Yards Josh Woodard, St. Francis, Ill. vs. Olivet Nazarene, Oct. 21

Rushing +100 Yards (59)

242 Yards Jake Osterberger, St. Ambrose vs. Robert Morris, Oct. 28

Receiving +100 Yards (52)

197 Yards Johnny William, Marian vs. Robert Morris, Ill., Sept. 9

Passing Yards +200 Yards (66; 2-500, 3-400, 11-300)

520 Yards Don Butkus, St. Francis, Ill. vs. Morningside, Iowa, Aug. 26

Total Offense +300 Yards (16)

507 Yards Don Butkus, St. Francis, Ill. vs. Morningside, Iowa, Aug. 26

All-Purpose +200 Yards (26)

333 Yards Justin Green, Saint Francis, Ind. vs. Morningside, Iowa, Dec. 2

Scoring Run +50 Yards (10)

98 Yards Mike Ivlow, Saint Xavier vs. Lindenwood-Belleville, Sept. 16

Scoring Pass +50 Yards (35)

80 Yards Gunnar Griffin to Devin Michael-Griffin, Missouri Baptist vs. Lyon, Ark., Aug. 27

Field Goals +40 Yards (10)

53 Yards Abdul Mahdi, Saint Xavier vs. Marian, Aug. 31

53 Yards Kenny Rowe, St. Ambrose vs. Marian, Oc.t 7

Special Team Returns for TDs

98 Yards Blocked FG Return Darius Price, Siena Heights vs. St. Francis, Ill., Sept. 23

98 Yards Kickoff Return Dallis Flowers, Robert Morris vs. St. Ambrose, Oct. 28

78 Yards Punt Return Jabial White, Trinity International vs. Wis. Lutheran, Sept. 2

11 Yards Blocked Punt Return Rio Strama, St. Francis, Ill. vs. Trinity International, Nov. 11