Missouri Western placed four players on the Beyond Sports College Network All-America teams as released by the committee this afternoon and highlighted by first-teamers Greg Zuerlein and David Bass.
Western finished the season 9-3 and recorded its third trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Griffons have won a school record nine games in six of the last nine years. They have also played in a post season game in seven straight years (3 playoff appearances, 4 Mineral Water Bowl games).
Zuerlein, a first team AFCA All-America, Dakrtonics All-America and AP “Little” All-America selection from Lincoln, Neb., led the nation in field goals per game (2.30) and broke a NCAA and MIAA record with 21 consecutive field goals made. He set an MWSU record, with 23 field goals in a regular season and broke a school record, with a 58-yard field goal against Northwest Missouri State twice. He was also first team All-MIAA and Daktronics Super Region Four selections.
He led the conference with an average of 10.7 points per game which is sixth in the nation. He leads the nation with a .952 field goal percentage for any kicker with at least 12 attempts.
Zuerlein became Western’s first MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year and is just the third Western kicker named first team All-MIAA. He was named the D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Griffons 31-28 victory over Northwest Missouri State on November 5. With his 21 consecutive field goals nine of them were from 50 or more yards.
A three-time MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honoree – the most by any player in that category – Zuerlein is the first Griffon kicker to be selected to the first team. The last Griffon to earn AP “Little” All-America first team honors was offensive lineman Roger Allen back in 2008.
2011 Greg Zuerlein Award List
• BSN First Team All-American
• All-MIAA First Team Selection
• America Football Coaches Association All-American
• Daktronics All-American
• AP “Little” All-American First Team
• Daktronics First Team All-Region
• MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year
• First Team All-MIAA Kicker
• 3-time MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week
• Once named D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week
• Don Hanson First Team All-Super Region Four
David Bass was a first team Daktronics All-American and AP “Little” All-American selection for the first time in his career. The junior defensive end broke a school record with 20 tackles for loss. His 14.5 sacks led the conference and left him one-half sack short of the single season school record. He is 1.5 sacks short of the career record with 28.5. His two, four sack performances each tied a school record for most in a game.
Bass earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors twice and was the D2Football.com Player of the Week once. He was fourth in the nation in sacks per game at 1.21 and 18th in the nation in tackles for a loss with 1.67 per game. He also received first team-All-MIAA for the first time in his career.
2011 David Bass Award List
• BSN First Team All-American
• All-MIAA First Team Selection
• Daktronics All-American
• AP Little All-American Second Team
• Daktronics First Team All-Region
• First Team All-MIAA defensive end
• 2-time MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week
• Once named D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week
• Don Hanson First Team All-Super Region Four
Missouri Western running back Michael Hill and punter Scott Groner were named to the Honorable Mention squad for their performances last season.
Hill earned honors at running back after rushing for over 1,000 yards and leading the MIAA with 108.75 yards per game. Hill rushed for 1,305 yards and eight touchdowns. Allan started all 12 games and has started all 36 games in his career. He helped the Griffons average 5.4 yards per carry. Western finished 11th in the nation averaging 240.58 yards rushing per game.
Groner finished the season fourth in the nation averaging 43.86 yards per punt, which is the new single season record at Western. He broke the record of 43.58 which was set by Jaime Hanson in 2008. Groner’s punted 50 times with 17 landing inside the 20 yard line. He also had a long of 80 yards, just four yard shy of the MWSU record.
— MWSU Sports Information —