MIAA Media Relations

Kansas City, Mo. – MIAA co-champions Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State each placed eight members of the All-MIAA first team as the squads were released today.

The first team is led by MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Year Pittsburg State quarterback Anthony Abenoja. He will line-up behind an offensive line with unanimous selections Cole Manhart of Nebraska-Kearney, Tyler Smith of Pittsburg State and C.J. Keeney of Northwest Missouri. Also along the front line are Missouri Western’s Travis Anderson, Central Missouri’s Brian Berzanski and Northwest Missouri’s Shane Smith.

In the back field are first team running backs LaVance Taylor of Central Missouri and Raphael Spencer of Missouri Western. They are joined by Northwest Missouri tight end/fullback Marcus Wright.

Three receivers will split out wide on the first team in Pittsburg State’s Marquise Cushon and Gavin Lutman as well as Fort Hays State’s Ed Williams. Handling the kicking duties will be MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year Connor Frazell. Returning the kicks is Vershon Moore of Washburn.

The MIAA Freshman of the Year also comes from the offensive side of the ball as Central Oklahoma’s Chas Stallard earns the honor.

The defense will be led by MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Matt Longacre for the second straight season after he won the award last year. Joining him on the line is teammate Brandon Yost, Central Missouri’s Ramond Hunter and Pittsburg State’s Heath Wilson.

At linebacker the defense features Northwest Missouri’s Eric Reimer and D.J. Gnader as well as Lindenwood’s Connor Harris. The defense is deep in the backfield as Fort Hays State’s Micheal Jordan and Missouri Western’s Michael Jordan’s both anchor the back. They are joined by Jared Fox of Northwest Missouri and De’Vante Bausby and Keeston Terry of Pittsburg State.

Doing the punting on the first team will be Missouri Western’s Scott Groner.

Pittsburg State’s Tim Beck was named the Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 10-1 finish and an MIAA Championship.

MIAA Offensive Player of the Year – Anthony Abenoja, QB, Pittsburg State
MIAA Defensive Player of the Year – Matt Longacre, DL, Northwest Missouri
MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year – Connor Frazell, K, Pittsburg State
MIAA Freshmen of the Year – Chas Stallard, QB, Central Oklahoma^
MIAA Coach of the Year – Tim Beck, Pittsburg State
First Team (Offense)
QB – Anthony Abenoja, Pittsburg State
RB – LaVance Taylor, Central Missouri
RB – Raphael Spencer, Missouri Western
WR – Marquise Cushon, Pittsburg State
WR – Ed Williams, Fort Hays State  
WR – Gavin Lutman, Pittsburg State
TE/FB – Marcus Wright, Northwest Missouri
OL – Brian Berzanski, Central Missouri
OL – Travis Anderson, Missouri Western
OL – Cole Manhart, Nebraska-Kearney^
OL – C.J. Keeney, Northwest Missouri^
OL – Shane Smith, Northwest Missouri
OL – Tyler Smith, Pittsburg State^
K – Connor Frazell, Pittsburg State
KR/PR –Vershon Moore, Washburn

First Team (Defense)
DL – Ramond Hunter, Central Missouri
DL – Matt Longacre, Northwest Missouri^
DL – Brandon Yost, Northwest Missouri
DL – Heath Wilson, Pittsburg State
LB – Eric Reimer, Northwest Missouri
LB – Connor Harris, Lindenwood
LB – D.J. Gnader, Northwest Missouri
DB – Micheal Jordan, Fort Hays State
DB – Michael Jordan, Missouri Western
DB – Jared Fox, Northwest Missouri
DB – De’Vante Bausby, Pittsburg State
DB – Keeston Terry, Pittsburg State
P – Scott Groner, Missouri Western
^=Unanimous selection

Second Team (Offense)
QB – Brady Bolles, Northwest Missouri
RB – Vershon Moore, Washburn
RB – Jake Gandara, Central Oklahoma
WR – Austin Willis, Emporia State
WR – Kavaski Ervin, Emporia State
TE/FB – Cullen Rosine, Central Missouri
OL – Matt Erbert, Fort Hays State
OL – Pete Trausch, Nebraska-Kearney
OL – Cole Chevalier, Northwest Missouri
OL – Ollie Venegas, Pittsburg State
OL – Michael Miller, Washburn
K – John Schmiemeier, Missouri Western
KR/PR – TyQuan Hayes, Missouri Southern

Second Team (Defense)
DL – Kenny Allen, Central Oklahoma
DL – Te’I Joita, Fort Hays State
DL – Arbanas Elliot, Missouri Western
DL – Deaven Jensen, Pittsburg State
DL – Kevin Arnold, Northwest Missouri
LB – Ricky Spratley, Central Missouri
LB – Stephen Juergens, Missouri Western
LB – Spencer Brown, Pittsburg State
DB – Connor Smith, Central Missouri
DB – Matt Pruitt, Central Oklahoma
DB – Nathan Lindsey, Fort Hays State
DB – Travis Manning, Northwest Missouri
DB – Calvin Kenney, Washburn
P – Kyle Goodburn, Northwest Missouri

Third Team (Offense)
QB – Hayden Hawk, Central Missouri
RB – Romero Cotton, Nebraska-Kearney
RB – Giresse Forchu, Missouri Southern
WR – Marquez Clark, Central Oklahoma
WR – Jaron Alexander, Lindenwood
TE/FB – Kyle Swartz, Pittsburg State
OL – Tycie Linneman, Central Missouri
OL – Brandon Waggoner, Central Oklahoma
OL – Aaron Blount, Emporia State
OL – Jarrett Stastny, Emporia State
OL – Austin Wolfe, Missouri Southern
K – Will Mondragon, Central Missouri
KR/PR – LaVance Taylor, Central Missouri

Third Team (Defense)
DL – Jason Venckus, Central Missouri
DL – Matt Bowman, Nebraska-Kearney
DL – Collin Bevins, Northwest Missouri
DL – Taye Irvin, Pittsburg State
LB – Tyke Kozeal, Nebraska-Kearney
LB – Chass Claspie, Central Oklahoma
LB – Justin McPhail, Fort Hays State
DB – Deveon Dinwiddie, Emporia State
DB – Johnquavious McBride, Missouri Southern
DB – Meshack Kennedy, Missouri Western
DB – Chandler Barr, Northeastern State
DB – Bryce Enyard, Northwest Missouri
DB – Aries Herrion, Pittsburg State
P – Aaron Hummert, Washburn

Honorable Mention
QB – Chas Stallard, Central Oklahoma; Mitch Buhler, Washburn.
RB – Edward Smith, Fort Hays State; Lavorrie Johnson, Lindenwood; Shannon Saunders, Missouri Southern.
WR – Kyle Echols, Central Missouri; Christian Hood, Central Oklahoma; Greg Coble, Lindenwood; Allen Sampson, Nebraska-Kearney; Cougar Williams, Nebraska-Kearney; Garrett Powell, Northeastern State; Jason Jozaites, Northwest Missouri; Korey Jackson, Northwest Missouri; Bryce Young, Northwest Missouri; Austin Daniel, Pittsburg State; DaJuan Beard, Washburn.
TE/FB – Sean Gorman, Central Missouri; Reese Richards, Emporia State; Alek Ferbet, Missouri Western; Kyle Matheson, Northeastern State.
OL – Landon Chappell, Central Oklahoma; Danny Goodman, Emporia State; Jacob Heneisen, Lindenwood; Caleb Benner, Missouri Southern; Leonard Wester, Missouri Western; Christian Orduno, Missouri Western; Jonathan Brown, Northeastern State; Bo Farrow, Pittsburg State; Dylan Ready, Washburn.
DL – Russ Allen, Central Missouri; Deontay Wilson, Central Oklahoma; Tyler Newton, Central Oklahoma; Nick Schutte, Emporia State; Eddie Vinson, Emporia State; Jesse Trent, Fort Hays State; Tomasi Molesi, Fort Hays State; Chaz Fulton, Lindenwood; Skyler Suggs, Lindenwood; Jack Wardyn, Nebraska-Kearney; Kenley Choute, Northeastern State; Cass Weitl, Northwest Missouri; Zach Williams, Northwest Missouri; Avery Adair, Pittsburg State; Tyler Ewy, Washburn; Trey Parker, Washburn.
LB – Alex Perlin, Central Missouri; Lyndel Johnson, Emporia State; Alex Schmidtberger, Fort Hays State; Yomi Alli, Missouri Western; Deshawn Dinwiddie, Emporia State; Malcolm Howard, Central Oklahoma; Jason Tetuan, Emporia State; Brock Long, Fort Hays State; Dalvin Taylor, Missouri Southern; Cody Linday, Missouri Western; Kenneth Davis, Northeastern State; Brock Sherman, Northwest Missouri; Tyler Disney, Pittsburg State; Colby Hall, Pittsburg State.
DB – Zach Leinbaugh, Central Missouri; Diaron Rhodes, Central Missouri; Cody Jones, Central Oklahoma; Levonte Douglas, Central Oklahoma; Daniel Lindsey, Fort Hays State; Roderick Ryles, Lindenwood; Jeremy Morris, Lindenwood; Gaige Washington, Missouri Southern; Sam Brown, Missouri Western; Marc Harrison, Missouri Western; Steffon Herd, Northeastern State; George Brown, Nebraska-Kearney; Shai Harris, Nebraska-Kearney; Famous McKinnon, Nebraska-Kearney; Deron Washington, Pittsburg State; Dwayne Joseph, Washburn.
K – Seth Hiddink, Central Oklahoma; Brock Renken, Missouri Southern.
P – Kyle Jaski, Missouri Southern.
KR/PR – Lyndel Johnson, Emporia State; Lavorrie Johnson, Lindenwood.