KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eleven Griffon football student-athletes received a total of 12 All-MIAA honors as announced by the conference office Tuesday morning.
Cody Lindsay was named first team linebacker. The three-time honorable mention All-MIAA selection led all MIAA linebackers with 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Lindsay, a senior, led Missouri Western with a career-high 97 total tackles while also returning his lone interception for a touchdown, breaking up four passes, recording seven quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.
Hayden Eatinger (OL), Max Oeser (OL), Tyler Basch (K), Darrian Bass (DL) and Jonathan Owens (DB) were named second team. Starting every game the last two seasons at right guard, Eatinger helped the Griffons rank second in the MIAA in rushing yards. The sophomore was an honorable mention selection one season ago. Oeser picked up his second-straight second team nod after starting every game the last three seasons at center. Basch made more field goals than any other MIAA kicker in his first season as the Griffons’ full-time field goal kicker. The senior was 17-of-20, making his last 10 field goal attempts of the season. Bass recoded his best season as a senior, finishing second among MIAA defensive linemen with 7.5 sacks. Owens finished second on the team with 95 total tackles and added two interceptions. The senior safety was a three-year starter for the Griffons.
Brandin Dandridge picked up third team honors after leading Missouri Western with four interceptions and finishing second in the MIAA in both interceptions and passes defended. Dandridge added 41 total tackles and a fumble recovery from his cornerback position.
Five Griffons picked up their first-ever All-MIAA honors with honorable mention distinction, while Owens added a second 2017 honor. Shawn Rouse (OL) completed his second season in a row of starting all 11 games at left tackle for the Griffons. Returning to the field for the first time since 2014, Austin Burau was named honorable mention tight end, catching six passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Ian McIntosh went from walk-on to honorable mention fullback. The senior rushed 22 times for 72 yards and a touchdown, but was also a special teams ace, recording eight tackles and two fumble recoveries as a special teamer. Nate Iloilo made his presence felt in his first season as a Griffon. The defensive tackle finished third on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks while blocking four field goal attempts. Shamar Griffith finished second in the MIAA with 22.7 yards per kick return as a true freshman and was named honorable mention for his efforts. Owens led the MIAA with a 12.5-yard per punt return average to earn honorable mention distinction as a return man.
MIAA Offensive Player of the Year – JT Luper, WR, Central Oklahoma
MIAA Defensive Player of the Year – Nathan Shepherd, DL, Fort Hays State
MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year – Brandon Brown, K, Fort Hays State
MIAA Freshmen of the Year – Devante Turner, RB, Central Missouri
MIAA Coach of the Year – Chris Brown, Fort Hays State
First Team (Offense)
QB – Brook Bolles, Central Missouri
RB – Kenneth Iheme, Fort Hays State**
RB – Devante Turner, Central Missouri
WR – Justin Brown, Emporia State
WR – Monterio Burchfield, Fort Hays State
WR – JT Luper, Central Oklahoma**
TE/FB – Seth Hebert, Central Missouri
OL – Kane Barker, Central Missouri
OL – Codey Funk, Pittsburg State
OL – Bob Marco, Washburn
OL – Sam Noble, Central Oklahoma
OL – Travis Talley, Fort Hays State
K – Brandon Brown, Fort Hays State
PR/PR – Corey Ballentine, Washburn
**=Unanimous selection
First Team (Defense)
DL – Austen Eskew, Northwest Missouri
DL – Jonathan Harris, Lindenwood
DL – Simanu’a Thomas, Pittsburg State
DL – Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State**
LB – Ben Althoff, Northwest Missouri
LB – Gabe Cleveland, Emporia State
LB – Jose Delgado, Fort Hays State
LB – Cody Lindsay, Missouri Western
DB – Kamon Clayton, Fort Hays State
DB – Doyin Jibowu, Fort Hays State
DB – Marcus Jones, Northwest Missouri**
DB – Monteze Latimore, Central Missouri
DB – D.J. Olmstead, Washburn
P – Justin Marcha, Emporia State
**=Unanimous selection
Team Reflects Tie in the Voting
Second Team (Offense)
QB – Jacob Mezera, Fort Hays State
RB – Landon Nault, Emporia State
RB – Michael Rose, Pittsburg State
RB – Koby Wilkerson, Central Missouri
WR – Shawn Bane, Jr., Northwest Missouri
WR – Gary McKnight, Jr., Northeastern State
WR – Jaylen Zachery, Central Missouri
TE/FB – Matthew Wendelberger, Fort Hays State
OL – Hayden Eatinger, Missouri Western
OL – Zach Flott, Northwest Missouri
OL – Chris Gomez, Central Missouri
OL – Max Oeser, Missouri Western
OL – Thomas O’Grady, Emporia State
K – Tyler Basch, Missouri Western
PR/PR – Kendell Sparks, Lindenwood
Team Reflects Tie in the Voting
Second Team (Defense)
DL – Tre Vaughn Ammons, Emporia State
DL – Darrian Bass, Missouri Western
DL – Caleb Mather, Northwest Missouri
DL – Wyatt Parker, Fort Hays State
DL – Trey Parker, Washburn
LB – Alex Figueroa, Central Oklahoma
LB – Derrick McGreevy, Washburn
LB – Austin Miller, Central Missouri
LB – La’More Wise, Northeastern State
DB – Corey Ballentine, Washburn
DB – Marcus Brantley, Pittsburg State
DB – Anthony Lane, Northwest Missouri
DB – Jonathan Owens, Missouri Western
DB – Bakari Triggs, Lindenwood
P – Zach Davidson, Central Missouri
Team Reflects Tie in the Voting
Third Team (Offense)
QB – Chas Stallard, Central Oklahoma
RB – Calen Campbell, Lindenwood
RB – Mickeel Stewart, Washburn
RB – Charles Tigner, Fort Hays State
WR – Josh Crockett, Central Oklahoma
WR – Austin Panko, Pittsburg State
WR – Kyrion Parker, Central Missouri
WR – Deantrell Prince, Lindenwood
TE/FB – Jordan Grove, Northwest Missouri
OL – Donald Blackmon, Fort Hays State
OL – Pat Kelly, Fort Hays State
OL – Akil Williams, Lindenwood
OL – Bo Farrow, Pittsburg State
OL – Kyle Hinton, Washburn
K – Alex Langer, Central Missouri
PR/PR – Austin Panko, Pittsburg State
Team Reflects Tie in the Voting
Third Team (Defense)
DL – Carson Smith, Central Oklahoma
DL – Hinwa Allieu, Nebraska-Kearney
DL – Bobby Gruenloh, Northwest Missouri
DL – Ben Spaeth, Northwest Missouri
LB – Colton Lindsey, Central Oklahoma
LB – Nick Hess, Northwest Missouri
LB – Ethan Fugitt, Pittsburg State
DB – George Brown, Nebraska-Kearney
DB – Omari Cole, Central Oklahoma
DB – Brandin Dandridge, Missouri Western
DB – Diaron Rhodes, Central Missouri
DB – Darrius Williams, Lindenwood
P – Dante Brown, Fort Hays State
Honorable Mention
Central Missouri: Jake Heckler, OL; Connor Flagel, DL; Triphinue Taylor, DL; Garrett Cline, Long Snapper; Wes Thomas, WR; Alex Lackey LB
Central Oklahoma: Caleb Moss, TE; Noah Hammons, OL; Aaron Williams, OL; Riley Galyon, DB; Stephan Robinson, DB; Alex Quevedo, K
Emporia State: Braxton Marstall, QB; Louis Dailey, WR; Gary Woods II, DB; A.J. West, DB; Jake Warehime, OL; Estevan Arana, OL
Fort Hays State: Tyler Bacon, WR; Harley Hazlett, WR; Tanner Hoekman, DB; Luke Wright, DL; Kolt Trachsel, LB; Connor Shedeed, DB
Lindenwood: Evan Pumphrey, OL; Ace Rogers, DB; Michael Crowder, P; Lucas Beddow, OL; Antonio Davis, DL; Najee Jackson, QB
Missouri Southern: Aaron Leo, OL; Chris Williams, DE; Alex Wade, S; Carter Rees, S; Mike Dzierzega, OL; Roc Robbins, LB
Missouri Western: Shawn Rouse, OL; Austin Burau, TE; Ian McIntosh, FB; Nate Iloilo, DL; Shamar Griffith, KR/PR; Jonathan Owens, KR/PR
Nebraska-Kearney: Josh Stoltenberg, OL; Tye Spies; DL; Sal Silvio, LB; Dallas Vaughn, DB; Malik Webb, DB
Northeastern State: Brian West, OL; Zac King, WR; Caleb Hash, OL; Michael Davis, FB; T’nheous Smith, DL; La’Vonte White, DB
Northwest Missouri: Zach Martin, QB; Shane Williams, WR; Clayton Wilson, TE; Ryan Huff, OL; Tanner Owen; OL; Samuel Roberts, DL
Pittsburg State: Jovon Wilson, TE; Zach Thomas, OL; Bradley Payne, DL; Morgan Selemaea, LB; Darian Taylor, LB; Juante Baldwin, DB; Josh Hornback, DB; Carnell Lewis, DB; Jared Vincent, K
Washburn: James Brania-Hopp, WR; Peter Pfannensteil, DB; Carey Woods, WR; Cedric Gonzalez, LB; Jalen Durham, DL; Perry Schmiedeler, K/P
— MWSU Athletics —