The Missouri Western football team placed six players on the Daktronics Super Region Four teams which was released Wednesday morning by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America. Senior running back Michael Hill was a First Team selection as well as the Offensive Player of the Year while senior offensive lineman Macon Allan and Colt Schulte were also first team selections. On the defensive side of the ball David Bass was a first team selection for the second time in his career. Junior quarterback Travis Partridge and senior defensive end Ben Pister were second team selections.

Hill has started all 13 games for the Griffons rushing for over 100 yards in 12 of the 13 games which includes rushing for over 150 yards eight time and 200 twice this season. He was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA. He was an Daktronics All-Region second team selection in 2011. He rushed for a career high 259 yards and three  touchdowns in a victory over Washburn earlier this season and has helped the Griffons win six straight games over top-25 opponents which includes four in the  top 10. He helped the Griffons open up the season 6-0 for the first time ever under Head Coach Jerry Partridge and the first time since 1981. He helped the  Griffons win four road games against teams that were ranked in the top-25 which included against #7 Pittsburg STate (63-14), #15 Emporia State (57-28), #4 NW Missouri State (21-20) and #6 Henderson State (45-21). The Griffons have won nine or more games in a season for the seventh time in 10 years. Hill rushed for a career long 92 yard touchdown against William Jewell College and has had a rush of over 20 yards or more in 11 of the Griffons 13 gamess. Against ESU he had  183 yards in the first half and has rushed for over 180 yards six times and and has had over 200 all-purpose yards five times. He has helped lead the Griffons  to a school-record 12 wins picking up their first playoff win in school history in a 57-55 win over Minnesota-Duluth in Spratt Stadium on Nov. 17. Hill has rushed for a school record 2,118 yards this season and is only the 7th player in MIAA History to go over 2,000 yardsin a season.

For his career, Hill has played in 49 games with 29 starts at running back for the Griffons and holds career records for rushing yards (4,919), all-purpose yards (5,783), most carries (913), most rushing touchdowns (35) and most 100-yard rushing games (20). He holds the Griffons single season record for most points scored (114), most touchdowns scored (19), tied for the most rushing attempts (296), most yards gained rushing (2,118), highest average per carry (7.2), highest rushing average per game (162.3), most 100-yard rushing games (12) and most all-purpose yards (2,320). He is close to breaking the career mark for most points in a career (278 – he has 264) and career touchdowns scored (46 – he has 44). He is close to breaking the single season mark for rushing touchdowns in a season (17 – he has 16). Currently Hill is 6th all-time in career rushing in the MIAA (4,919) and 6th in MIAA single season rushing with (2,118).

For the first time in his career senior offensive lineman Macon Allan has been named to the first team. Allan was an  All-MIAA First Team selection for the second time in his career this season. He continues 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 49 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 3,619 yards and 43 TDs. Allan has helped the Griffons rush for an average of 278.4 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry which are both team records in a season.

Griffon senior offensive tackle Colt Schulte has started all 13 games this year for the Griffons. The left tackle covered Partridge throughout the season, and secured the left side. He has played in 47 games in his career for the Griffons. Schulte helped the Griffons give up just 21 sacks on the season and helped the Griffon offense break numerous records. He was an Second Team All-MIAA selection this season and Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection in 2011.

The Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (572), Highest Scoring Average (44.0), Most Touchdown Scored (77), Most First Downs (305), Most Yards Gained (6,177), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (475.2), Most Yards Gained Rushing (3,911), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,619), Most Rushing Yards Gained Per Game (278.4), Highest Average Rushing Yards Per Carry in a Game (9.7 vs. William Jewell), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.3) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (66-percent).

For the second time in his career senior defensive end David Bass has been named to the Daktronics All-Region First Team. He was also selected to the All-MIAA First Team for the second time in his career. Bass set the record for career sacks at Missouri Western, and has since added onto it, recording 10.5 sacks this year. He has 39.5 sacks in his career. Bass set the record for most tackles for a loss in a career. He has 12.5 on the season and 52.5 in his career. The senior has recorded 53 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. In the Griffons opening round playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth Bass tied his career high with 11 tackles. He also had a sack and a quarterback hurry.

Senior defensive end Ben Pister earned Daktronics Super Region 3 Second Team for the first time in his career. He was selected to the First Team All-MIAA for the first time in his career. He was a Second Team All-MIAA selection a season ago. Pister has had his best season as a Griffon in 2012 starting all 13 games. Pister has 56 tackles on the season which includes a single season record 22.5 tackles for a loss. He broke the record of 20 which was set by his counterpart, Bass a season ago. He has eight sacks and 10 quarterback hurries this year. He was also very crafty on the D-Line when he didn’t go after the quarterback, as he garnered five pass breakups this season.

Junior quarterback Travis Partridge has had his best season as a Griffon. He was named to the All-MIAA First Team for the first time in his career. He was an Honorable Mention selection in 2011. This is his first time earning All-Region honors. Partridge has completed an astonishing 66-percent (205-311) of his passing attempts. He has also helped the Griffons win six straight games against ranked opponents which included four road games. He also guided the Griffons to their first ever outright MIAA Regular season title and to the Griffons first ever playoff victory. During the year, Partridge threw a league-leading 30 touchdowns which is two shy of the MWSU single season record and has rushed for 17 touchdowns which ties the MWSU single season record. He has an outstanding passing efficiency at 160.7.  For his efforts against Northwest Missouri State he was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, November 12.

The Griffons will play in the Super Region 3 Final on Saturday, December 1 in Mankato, Minn. against the Minnesota-State University Mavericks. Game time is set for 12:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —