Northwest Missouri State quarterback Braden Wright is the MIAA Freshman of Year and the Bearcat football is represented by 17 players on the all-MIAA squads released today.

Wright (Elkhorn, Nebraska) has passed for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 496 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 11 rushing touchdowns are the most by a freshman quarterback in Division II football. He is also one of eight Division II quarterbacks to pass for 2,000 yards with 20 touchdowns and five or fewer interceptions.

Northwest’s first-team all-MIAA selections went to senior defensive end Austen Eskew (Lawson, Missouri), senior offensive tackle Zach Flott (Ralston, Nebraska), senior safety Anthony Lane (Riviera Beach, Florida), sophomore offensive tackle Tanner Owen (Kearney, Missouri) and sophomore defensive tackle Sam Roberts (Waynesville, Missouri).

The Bearcats’s second-team all-MIAA picks were wide receiver/returner Shawn Bane Jr. (Sarasota, Florida), senior linebacker Nick Hess (Liberty, Missouri), senior safety Jack Richards (Lee’s Summit, Missouri) and redshirt freshman quarterback Braden Wright (Elkhorn, Nebraska).

Northwest landed a pair of third-team all-MIAA honorees in junior cornerback Chama Pierre (Lake Worth, Florida) and junior offensive guard Ryan Spelhaug (Bettendorf, Iowa).

The Bearcats had six players tabbed to the all-MIAA honorable mention list in senior linebacker Ben Althoff (Palmyra, Missouri), junior tight end Marqus Andrews (Blue Springs, Missouri), senior running back Josh Caldwell (Lee’s Summit, Missouri), junior defensive end Mike Ehlke (Little Chute, Wisconsin), junior defensive tackle Spencer Phillips (Glenwood, Iowa) and junior running back Isaiah Strayhorn (Chula Vista, California).

FIRST TEAM – BEARCAT BIOS
Austen Eskew – leads the MIAA in sacks and tackles-for-loss … started all 11 games at defensive end … part of a Bearcat defense that ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense, sacks, TFLs, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, first downs defense and third-down conversion defense … the Bearcat defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense … first-team all-MIAA in 2017.

Zach Flott – started all 11 games at right tackle … Northwest featured the No. 1 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.5 points per game … protected quarterback Braden Wright, which allowed him to pass for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns … Northwest rushed for 29 touchdowns and averaged 208.0 yards per game on the ground … second-team all-MIAA pick in 2017.

Anthony Lane – led the squad with nine pass breakups … tied for fifth on the squad with 42 total tackles (30 solos) … started first three games at cornerback and moved to safety where he started final seven games … two-time second-team all-MIAA pick in 2016 and 2017.

Tanner Owen – started all 11 games at left tackle for the MIAA champions … Northwest featured the No. 1 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.5 points per game … protected quarterback Braden Wright, which allowed him to pass for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns … Northwest rushed for 29 touchdowns and averaged 208.0 yards per game on the ground.

Sam Roberts – ranks third in MIAA in sacks and TFLs … registered seven tackles and two sacks in a 41-0 win over Emporia State … led the squad with eight quarterback hurries … honorable mention all-MIAA pick in 2017.

SECOND TEAM – BEARCAT BIOS
Shawn Bane Jr. – led Northwest in receptions (41), receiving yards (692) and receiving touchdowns (5) … posted a season-high 102 yards receiving vs. Missouri Western … caught at least two passes in every game … returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown against Missouri Southern … also returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown against Fort Hays State … scored seven total touchdowns … second-team all-MIAA pick in 2016 and 2017 … MIAA freshman of the year in 2015 … first-team all-MIAA kick/punt returner in 2015.

Nick Hess – Started all 11 games at linebacker … tied for fifth on the team with 42 total tackles … has eight TFLs and 2.5 sacks … season-high nine tackles vs. Nebraska-Kearney … part of a Bearcat defense that ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense, sacks, TFLs, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, first downs defense and third-down conversion defense … the Bearcat defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense … third-team all-MIAA in 2017.

Jack Richards – started all 11 games at safety .. led the Bearcats in tackles (80) … ranked second on the team with two interceptions … part of a Bearcat defense that ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense, sacks, TFLs, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, first downs defense and third-down conversion defense … the Bearcat defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense.

Braden Wright – his 11 rushing scores is tied for second in the nation among all quarterbacks … he ranks third in the nation among all freshmen in rushing touchdowns … one of eight quarterbacks with 2,000 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and five or fewer interceptions … ranks third in the nation among freshmen in points responsible for (186).

THIRD TEAM – BEARCAT BIOS
Chama Pierre – appeared in nine games and made seven starts at cornerback … ranks second on the squad with seven pass breakups … credited with 14 tackles (12 solos) … one tackle-for-loss … tallied four pass breakups vs. Nebraska-Kearney … posted a season-high four tackles vs. Fort Hays State.

Ryan Spelhaug – started all 11 games at right guard … Northwest featured the No. 1 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.5 points per game … protected quarterback Braden Wright, which allowed him to pass for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns … Northwest rushed for 29 touchdowns and averaged 208.0 yards per game on the ground.

HONORABLE MENTION – BEARCAT BIOS
Ben Althoff – Started and played in eight games while battling injuries … recorded 28 tackles (13 solos) … two TFLs and a quarterback sack … posted a seaso-high six tackles vs. Fort Hays State … a first-team all-MIAA pick in 2017.

Marqus Andrews – ranked third on the team with three touchdown receptions … ranked fifth on the squad with 16 receptions … caught a season-high four passes, including a touchdown at Central Missouri … tallied a season-high 46 receiving yards, including a 25-yard score at Lindenwood.

Josh Caldwell – second on the squad in rushing yards (659) and rushing touchdowns (9) … caught 12 passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns … ranks No. 7 among active Div. II running backs with 3,281 rushing yards … has rushed for 33 career touchdowns … posted 16 career 100-yard games (15 for Missouri Western and 1 for Northwest) … named the MIAA co-offensive player of the week after he rushed for a season-high 182 and three rushing scores, plus two receptions for 24 yards and a receiving touchdown at Central Missouri.

Mike Ehlke – started all 11 games at defensive end … tallied 25 total tackles (14 solos) … credited with seven tackles-for-loss and four quarterback sacks … posted a season-high seven tackles vs. Nebraska-Kearney.

Spencer Phillips – started all 11 games at nose guard … tied for third on the team in total tackles (44) … 21 solo stops … ranked third on the squad with 8.0 tackles-for-loss … registered 2.5 sacks … forced a fumble … credited with five quarterback hurries … had a season-high seven tackles at Pittsburg State.

Isaiah Strayhorn – leads Northwest in rushing yards (688) … named the MIAA player of the week after rushing for 147 yards on only 11 carries in a 31-7 win at Pittsburg State … rushed for two scores in a 38-17 victory at Lindenwood … scored five rushing touchdowns in 2018.

— Northwest Athletics —