Jackrabbits, Coyotes dominate Missouri Valley Football All-Conference team
Nov. 27—The South Dakota schools dominated the Missouri Valley Football Conference this year, so it comes as no surprise that the Jackrabbits and Coyotes dominated the league's postseason awards, announced Monday by the conference office.
SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski and running back Isaiah Davis share the Valley's offensive player of the year, while USD linebacker Brock Mogensen was named the defensive player of the year and Bob Nielson coach of the year.
The Jacks landed nine players on the Valley all-conference first team and another nine on the second team, while USD put three on the first team and four on the second team.
Gronowski earned his second career offensive player of the year award. He leads the Valley with 23 touchdown passes to go with seven rushing touchdowns and has been intercepted just three times. Davis leads the conference with 1,075 rushing yards.
Nielson led the Coyotes on a major turnaround, going from 3-8 last year to 9-2 and the No. 3 ranking in the FCS this season, to earn the Valley's top coach honor for the second time. He also won it in 2015 after taking Western Illinois to the playoffs.
Mogensen leads the Valley with 103 tackles to become the first Coyote since Tyler Starr in 2013 to win the conference defensive player of the year award.
Illinois State garnered the other two individual awards, with linebacker Tye Niekamp earning freshman of the year and running back Mason Blakemore newcomer of the year.
Earning first team all-conference honors for SDSU were Gronowski, Davis, wide receiver Jadon Janke, guard Mason McCormick, tackle Garret Greenfield, defensive end Cade Terveer, linebacker Jason Freeman, safety Tucker Large and all-purpose selection Amar Johnson.
Fullback Mike Morgan, tight end Zach Heins, center Gus Miller, defensive tackle Ryan Van Marel, linebacker Isaiah Stalbird, cornerback DyShawn Gales, punter Hunter Dustman, long snapper Kaydon Olivia and Large as a return specialist went to the second team. Guard Evan Beerntsen, cornerback Dalys Beanum and wideout Jaxon Janke picked up honorable mention.
For USD, Mogensen was joined on the first team by edge Brendan Webb and cornerback Myles Harden, while the second team included fullback Travis Theis, center Joey Lombard, kicker Will Leyland and all-purpose Carter Bell. Safety Dennis Shorter, linebacker Stephen Hillis, defensive tackle Nick Gaes, guard Isaac Erbes, Bell as a wide receiver and tight end JJ Galbreath earned honorable mention.
ALL MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
FIRST TEAM
QB — Mark Gronowski, SDSU
RB — Mason Blakemore, Ill State
RB — Isaiah Davis, SDSU
FB — Hunter Brozio, NDSU
WR — Jadon Janke, SDSU
WR — Sam Schnee, UNI
WR — Raylen Sharpe, MO State
TE — Cam Grandy, Ill State
OL — Garret Greenfield, SDSU
OL — Jake Kubas, NDSU
OL — Mason McCormick, SDSU
OL — Jared Penning, UNI
OL — Jalen Sundell, NDSU
DL — Khristian Boyd, UNI
DL — Dylan Hendricks, NDSU
DL — Cade Terveer, SDSU
DL — Brendan Webb, USD
LB — Amir Abdullah, Ill State
LB — Jason Freeman, SDSU
LB — Logan Kopp, NDSU
LB — Brock Mogensen, USD
DB — Woo Governor, UNI
DB — PJ Jules, SIU
DB — Myles Harden, USD
DB — Tucker Large, SDSU
DB — Cole Wisniewski, NDSU
K — Matthew Cook, UNI
P — Grant Burkett, Mo State
LS — Hunter Brzio, NDSU
RS — Luke Skokna, UND
AP — Amar Johnson, SDSU
SECOND TEAM
QB — Cam Miller, NDSU
RB — Tyshon King, YSU
RB — Jacardia Wright, Mo State
FB — Mike Morgan, SDSU
FB — Travis Theis, USD
WR — Bo Belquist, UND
WR — Bryce Oliver, YSU
WR — Daniel Sobkowicz, Ill State
TE — Zach Heins, SDSU
OL — Joey Lombard, USD
OL — Gus Miller, SDSU
OL — Donny Ventrelli, UND
OL — Hunter Zambrano, Ill State
OL — Jaison Williams, YSU
DL — Josh Dinga, Ill State
DL — Eli Mostaert, NDSU
DL — Ryan Van Marel, SDSU
DL — Dylan Wudke, YSU
LB — Branson Combs, SIU
LB — Garrett Ollendieck, Ind State
LB — Wyatt Pedigo, UND
LB — Isaiah Stalbird, SDSU
DB — Maddix Blackwell, Ind State
DB — DyShawn Gales, SDSU
DB — Troy Jakubec, YSU
DB — Todric McGee, Mo State
DB — CJ Siegel, UND
K — Will Leyland, USD
P — Hunter Dustman, SDSU
LS — Kaydon Olivia, SDSU
RS — Tucker Large, SDSU
AP — Carter Bell, USD
Honorable Mention
Illinois State: QB Zack Annexstad; LB Tye Niekamp; DB Keondre Jackson.
Indiana State: WR Harry Van Dyne; OL Jose Vazquez IV; DL Lucas Hunter.
Missouri State: LS Caden Bolz; DL Devin Goree; OL Hutson Lillibridge.
Murray State: P Orion Phillips; OL Jacob Frye; TE Cole Rusk. North Dakota: OL Easton Kilty; LB Ted Mullin; AP Luke Skokna.
North Dakota State: TE Joe Stoffel; PK Griffin Crosa; RS Jayden Price; AP Raja Nelson.
Northern Iowa: TE Layne Pryor; DL Cordarrius Bailey; P Noah Pettinger.
South Dakota: RB Travis Theis; TE J.J. Galbreath; WR Carter Bell; OL Isaac Erbes; DL Nick Gaes; LB Stephen Hillis; DB Dennis Shorter.
South Dakota State: WR Jaxon Janke; OL Evan Beerntsen; DB Dalys Beanum.
Southern Illinois: DL Kam Bowdry; DB Mark Davis; DB DJ Johnson; AP Vinson Davis III.
Western Illinois: QB Matt Morrissey; LB Juan Delacruz; RS Jay Parker.
Youngstown State: QB Mitch Davidson; FB Jake Benio; OL Ryan Johnson; LB Alex Howard; LS Sam Merryman.
