The All-MIAA football team was released Tuesday morning, with Missouri Western receiving 19 awards, including MIAA Coach of the Year for the first time. Jerry Partridge received the award after coaching his way through one of the best years in Missouri Western history. MWSU’s senior running back Michael Hill won the Offensive Player of the Year award for his outstanding play in 2012. Hill is the second winner in school history, first since 2001 when Jerris Evans won it. Freshman cornerback Mike Jordan won Freshman of the Year which is the third time that a Griffon has won this honor as Drew Newhart received it in 2007 and Roger Allen won it in 2005. The Griffons had five players named to the All-MIAA First Team who included; RB-Michael Hill, QB-Travis Partridge, OL-Macon Allan, DE-Ben Pister and DE-David Bass.
Senior running back Michael Hill earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA for his impressive play this season. Hill has rushed for a single season record 1,809 yards averaging 7.4 yards per carry which is also the best rushing average in a season. Hill has found the endzone 14 times on the ground this season and has also added 14 receptions with three touchdowns. Hill is the MWSU all-time leader in rushing yards in a career with 4,610 yards on an MWSU record 862 carries. Hill is also on the verge of setting records for most points scored in a season and career, most touchdowns scored in a season and career, most rushing attempts in a season and most rushing touchdowns in a season and career. His 164.5 yards per game is the best by a Griffon in a single season and he has tied the record for most 100-yards rushing games in a career with 18. He has rushed for over 100 yards 10 times this season. Hill’s best game of 2012 occurred against Washburn on Nov. 3, 2012, when the senior had 259 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns and sat out for most of the fourth quarter. Hill leads the MIAA in rushing, scoring, touchdowns scored and is second in all-purpose yards.
Freshman cornerback Mike Jordan earned MIAA Freshman of the Year as well as Honorable Mention All-MIAA for his performance this season. Jordan started nine of the Griffons 11 games in is redshirt freshman campaign. He had 47 tackles and led the Griffons in interceptions with three. He took two of his INTs back for scores. He also had four pass breakups throughout the year, and had two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Jordan helped the Griffon defense give up just 19.8 points per game which was second in the MIAA.
Head Coach Jerry Partridge earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career. Partridge who is in his 16th season guided the Griffons to its first outright MIAA Championship outright, and their second title overall (2003). Partridge won 10 games for the first time in school history, and moved his team up the AFCA Coaches’ Poll to its highest ranking on Oct. 8, 2012, when the Griffons sat at No. 4 in the country. Partridge opened the season 6-0 for the first time in his career, and carried his team’s momentum all the way through the season to a 10-1 regular season record. Partridge holds a 122-63 overall record and is 93-49 in MIAA games.
FIRST TEAM
Junior quarterback Travis Partridge had his best season as a Griffon. The junior completed 159 of 249 attempts, and won three road games against ranked opponents, including last week’s victory against No. 4 Northwest Missouri State in which Partridge scored the game-winning touchdown. During the year, Partridge threw a league-leading 25 touchdowns and rushed for 11 more. He was the best quarterback in terms of passing efficiency at 158.8 and also completed a remarkable 64-percent completion rate. This marked the first time in his career that he was named to the All-MIAA First Team. He was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA a season ago.
For the second time in his career senior offensive lineman Mancon Allan has been named to the All-MIAA First Team. He continued to be arguably being one of the best offensive linemen to wear a Griffon uniform. The senior has started every game this year, adding to his streak of 47 consecutive starts for Missouri Western, Allan solidified the right tackle position for both Hill and Partridge to become the best rushing attack in the MIAA, securing 3,161 yards and 34 TDs. Allan has helped the Griffons rush for an average of 287.4 yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry which are both team records in a season.
The Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (470), Highest Scoring Average (42.7), Most Touchdown Scored (63), Most First Downs (259), Most Yards Gained (5,196), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (472.4), Most Yards Gained Rushing (3,377), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,161), Most Rushing Yards Gained Per Game (287.4), Highest Average Rushing Yards Per Carry in a Game (9.7 vs. William Jewell), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.6) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (64-percent).
For the second time in his career senior defensive end David Bass has been named to the All-MIAA First Team. Bass set the record for career sacks at Missouri Western in week two against William Jewell, and has since added onto it, recording 9.5 sacks this year. He has 38.5 sacks in his career. Bass set the record for most tackles for a loss in a career. He has 11.0 on the season and 51 in his career. The senior has recorded 39 tackles, and has two interceptions – one for a touchdown – and a forced fumble as well as a fumble recovery. Bass had a solid day against Pittsburg State down in the Jungle on Oct. 20, 2012, as he recorded five tackles, 2 ½ sacks and scored a touchdown that helped set the tone in the Griffons dominating performance to end the regular season.
Senior defensive end Ben Pister earned First Team All-MIAA for the first time in his career. He was a second team selection a year ago. Pister had his best season as a Griffon in 2012. Pister had 48 tackles on the season, with 19 ½ going for a loss. He is just ½ tackle for a loss from tying the record of 20 which was set by his counterpart, Bass a season ago. He added eight sacks and nine quarterback hurries throughout the season. He was also very crafty on the D-Line when he didn’t go after the quarterback, as he garnered four pass breakups this season.
SECOND TEAM
Griffon senior offensive tackle Colt Schulte started all 11 games this year for the Griffons. The left tackle covered Partridge throughout the season, and secured the left side. He has played in 45 games in his career for the Griffons. Schulte helped the Griffons give up just 15 sacks on the season and helped the Griffon offense break numerous records. He was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection a season ago.
Sophomore kicker Taylor Anderson had an outstanding season making 10 of 16 field goals which included a 53-yard field goal against Missouri Southern, a game in which he went 3-for-3. Anderson has made 66 straight extra points in his career which is a school record. He has also made 60 PATs this year which is a single season record. He has set the record for most points scored by a kicker in a season with 102.
Senior safety Shane Simpson had another solid season starting nine games. He recorded 37 tackles and had two interceptions. He missed two games with an ankle injury during the regular season, but hadn’t missed a step since his return. In 2011 Simpson was an All-MIAA First Team selection.
The Griffons had eight players earn Honorable Mention All-MIAA. Those players include Kyle Knox, Tyron Crockom, Reggie Jordan, Brian Chiles, Michael Yardley, Stephen Juergens, Ben Jackson and Mike Jordan.
The Griffons earned the #3 seed in Super Region 3 and will host #6 Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the DII National Playoffs on Saturday, November 17th. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm in Spratt Stadium.
— MWSU Sports Information —