For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 15, 2018
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release
NSIC Offensive Player of the Year
#33 Gabriel Watson
(RB, 6-1, 221, Jr., Piedmont, Calif. / Piedmont HS)
University of Sioux Falls
- Led the NSIC and NCAA DII in rushing with school record 1,957 yards
- DII-best 26 TDs and 7.3 yards per carry in regular season
- Set USF record with 11 straight games of 100 yards or more
- Named D2Football.com National Player of the Week after rushing for 320 yards on 19 carries with five scores at MSU Moorhead
- Three time NSIC Player of the Week this season
- Recorded seven games of plus 150 yards with three games of plus 200 yards
- Scored two or more TDs in eight games and has at least three TDs in a game four times
- Ranks first in NCAA DII in five categories (rushing, 1,957; rushing yards per game, 177.8; rushing TDs, 26; total points, 156; total touchdowns, 26 and ranks second in scoring at 14.2 ppg)
- Set five USF records, including game record (320 yards), single season rushing mark (1,957), rushing yards in a half (269), rushing TDs in DII program era (26), total TDs in program DII era (26)
NSIC Defensive Player of the Year
#36 Gunner Olszewski
(DB, 5-10, 180, Sr., Alvin, Texas / Alvin HS)
Bemidji State University
- Finished third on BSU with 63 tackles, seven passes defended and three interceptions
- Second on BSU with 36 solo tackles, accounting for over half of his total tackles
- Tied for 10th in the NSIC in interceptions this season
- Second all-time at BSU with 13 career interceptions
- Holds BSU’s single-game record with three interceptions
- Holds BSU’s all-time record with 183 solo tackles
- Seventh on BSU’s all-time tackles list with 310
NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year
#85 Dakota Larson
(WR, 6-2, 170, Fr., Spring Creek, Nev. / Spring Creek HS)
Northern State University
- Led the Northern State receivers as a true freshman with 881 yards
- Tallied a team best nine total touchdowns
- Averaged 17.3 yards per reception and 80.1 yards per game
- Recorded four games with over 100 receiving yards, including a career high 164 versus Winona State
- Added 17 yards passing, 208 yards rushing, and 67 yards on kick returns
- Ranked in the top-10 in the NSIC in receiving yards per game, average yards per catch, total yards, and touchdowns
NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year
#1 Marcus Haskins
(DB, 6-0, 180, R-Fr., Cottage Grove, Minn. / East Ridge HS)
Concordia University, St. Paul
- National leader with 2.9 passes defended per game
- Leads NSIC and second in DII with nine interceptions
- NSIC leader with 20 pass breakups
- Recorded an interception in each of his first five career games
- Had a pair of 2-INT performances in the season’s final three games
- Tied an NCAA DII single-game high of seven passes defended in a 31-7 win over UIU (6 PBU, 1 INT)
- Ranked sixth on the team with 41 total tackles, adding a pair of forced fumbles
NSIC Coach of the Year
Steve Laqua (8th Season)
Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Guided the Dragons to 8-3 mark, most wins in a season since 1991
- Led MSUM to best finish in NSIC (tied for third) since league expanded to 16 teams in 2012
- Led MSUM to first-ever Mineral Water Bowl berth
- Has led the Dragons to 20 wins over the past three seasons, their best three-year stretch since 1991-93
NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year
John Steger (18th Season)
University of Minnesota Duluth
- Led a Bulldog defense that gave up the fewest overall yards (199.3 per game) and rushing yards (58.8) of any NCAA II school
- UMD led the country in third down conversion defense (a .776 success rate)
- UMD ranked second in the nation in first downs allowed (12.8 per game), third in scoring defense (10.5 points per game), fourth in passing defense (140.5 ypg) and fifth in quarterback sacks (3.64 per game).
- UMD allowed just one rushing touchdown and three first-quarter points during the regular season
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| NSIC North Division All-Conference First Team Offense |
|
| 70 |
Parker Blakeslee |
OL |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Claremont, Calif. |
| 12 |
Landon Jones |
WR |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Auburn, Wash. |
| 33 |
Andrew Lackowski |
RB |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
El Dorado Hills, Calif. |
| 69 |
Nicholas Niemi |
OL |
Jr. |
Bemidji State |
Cloquet, Minn. |
| 67 |
Jason Anderson |
OL |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
| 66 |
Matt Juneau |
OL |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
| 9 |
John Larson |
QB |
So. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Braham, Minn. |
| 69 |
Trapper Ward |
OL |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Rice Lake, Wis. |
| 10 |
Jake Richter |
WR |
So. |
MSU Moorhead |
Detroit Lakes, Minn. |
| 86 |
Sam Hartman |
TE |
Sr. |
St. Cloud State |
West Des Moines, Iowa |
| 3 |
Gregory Lewis |
RB |
Sr. |
St. Cloud State |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
| 9 |
John Solberg |
WR |
Jr. |
St. Cloud State |
Cambridge, Minn. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC North Division All-Conference First Team Defense |
|
| 9 |
Gabe Ames |
LB |
So. |
Bemidji State |
Rosemount, Minn. |
| 36 |
Gunner Olszewski |
DB |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Alvin, Texas |
| 75 |
Joshua Wleh |
DL |
So. |
Bemidji State |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
| 50 |
Alex Helmer |
LB |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Prescott, Wis. |
| 24 |
Tareq Abulebbeh |
DB |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
San Diego, Calif. |
| 98 |
Dre Greer |
DL |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Dolton, Ill. |
| 11 |
Sam Lynch |
DB |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Plymouth, Minn. |
| 51 |
Nate Pearson |
LB |
So. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Lake Nebagamon, Wis. |
| 52 |
Darius Woods-Steichen |
DL |
So. |
MSU Moorhead |
Mahnomen, Minn. |
| 13 |
Kiante Goudeau |
DB |
Sr. |
Minot State |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
| 47 |
Noah MacPherson |
LB |
Sr. |
Northern State |
Menahga, Minn. |
| 66 |
Jake Schley |
DL |
Sr. |
St. Cloud State |
Cudahy, Wis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC North Division All-Conference First Team Special Teams |
|
| 36 |
Gunner Olszewski |
RS |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Alvin, Texas |
| 4 |
JoseLuis Moreno |
P |
Jr. |
Minot State |
San Lorenzo, Calif. |
| 4 |
JoseLuis Moreno |
K |
Jr. |
Minot State |
San Lorenzo, Calif. |
| NSIC South Division All-Conference First Team Offense |
|
| 75 |
Jake Lacina |
OL |
Jr. |
Augustana |
St. Paul, Minn. |
| 9 |
Nickel Meyers |
WR |
Jr |
Augustana |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 23 |
Nate Gunn |
RB |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Minooka, Ill. |
| 69 |
Evan Heim |
OL |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
DePere, Wis. |
| 70 |
Hunter Toppel |
OL |
So. |
Minnesota State |
DeForest, Wis. |
| 84 |
Shane Zylstra |
WR |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Spicer, Minn. |
| 16 |
Clint Sigg |
TE |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Longmont, Colo. |
| 33 |
Gabriel Watson |
RB |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Piedmont, Calif. |
| 78 |
Trey Pipkins |
OL |
Sr. |
Sioux Falls |
Apple Valley, Minn. |
| 3 |
Daniel Davis |
WR |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Tarpon Springs, Fla. |
| 12 |
Brent Lammers |
QB |
Sr. |
Upper Iowa |
Manchester, Iowa |
| 73 |
Carter Berlin |
OL |
So. |
Winona State |
Augusta, Wis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC South Division All-Conference First Team Defense |
|
| 30 |
Kirby Hora |
LB |
Sr. |
Augustana |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 55 |
Joey Newman |
DL |
Sr. |
Augustana |
Crooks, S.D. |
| 52 |
Chris Garrett |
DL |
So. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
| 1 |
Marcus Haskins |
DB |
Fr. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Cottage Grove, Minn. |
| 4 |
Ty’Shonan Brooks |
DB |
So. |
Minnesota State |
Brooklyn Park, Minn. |
| 90 |
Zach Dodge |
DL |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
Salem, Wis. |
| 49 |
Alex Goettl |
LB |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
North Mankato, Minn. |
| 54 |
Jayme LaPlante |
DL |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
Chatfield, Minn. |
| 9 |
Michael Palme |
LB |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
West Des Moines, Iowa |
| 32 |
Hakeem Johnson |
DB |
So. |
Sioux Falls |
Remington, Va. |
| 55 |
Tyler Thomsen |
LB |
Jr. |
Wayne State |
Fremont, Neb. |
| 4 |
Isaiah Hall |
DB |
So. |
Winona State |
Burnsville, Minn. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC South Division All-Conference First Team Special Teams |
|
| 8 |
Jonas Schenderlein |
K |
Sr. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Jena, Germany |
| 15 |
Casey Bednarski |
P |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
Oconomowoc, Wis. |
| 4 |
Isaiah Hall |
RS |
So. |
Winona State |
Burnsville, Minn. |
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| NSIC North Division All-Conference Second Team Offense |
|
| 72 |
Hank Bellefy |
OL |
So. |
Bemidji State |
Bemidji, Minn. |
| 61 |
Noah LeBlanc |
OL |
So. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Hayward, Wis. |
| 5 |
Nate Ricci |
WR |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Stillwater, Minn. |
| 26 |
Wade Sullivan |
RB |
Fr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 74 |
Joe Yernatich |
OL |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Duluth, Minn. |
| 64 |
Nathan Belisle |
OL |
Jr. |
MSU Moorhead |
Athens, Wis. |
| 3 |
Grady Bresnahan |
WR |
So. |
MSU Moorhead |
Casselton, N.D. |
| 66 |
Andrew Erickson |
OL |
Sr. |
MSU Moorhead |
St. Croix Falls, Wis. |
| 9 |
Zach Simons |
RB |
So. |
MSU Moorhead |
Neenah, Wis. |
| 4 |
Hunter Trautman |
QB |
So. |
Northern State |
St. Francis, Minn. |
| 85 |
Dakota Larson |
WR |
Fr. |
Northern State |
Spring Creek, Nev. |
| 81 |
Jacob Streit |
TE |
Fr. |
Northern State |
Watkins, Minn. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC North Division All-Conference Second Team Defense |
|
| 99 |
Alex Hoffman |
DL |
Jr. |
Bemidji State |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 4 |
John Vogeler |
DB |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Alexandria, Minn. |
| 3 |
Bill Atkins |
DB |
Jr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Minnetonka, Minn. |
| 49 |
Isaac Erdmann |
LB |
Jr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Menasha, Wis. |
| 94 |
Tom Johnson |
DL |
Jr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Freedom, Wis. |
| 27 |
Michael Kirkendoll |
DB |
So. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
| 44 |
Gus Wedig |
LB |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Walworth, Wis. |
| 21 |
Aaron Doan |
DB |
Sr. |
MSU Moorhead |
Bismarck, N.D. |
| 14 |
Michael Strand |
LB |
Sr. |
MSU Moorhead |
Barnesville, Minn. |
| 55 |
Jack Horter |
LB |
Sr. |
St. Cloud State |
Sussex, Wis. |
| 97 |
Ferris Ingraham |
DL |
Jr. |
St. Cloud State |
Evanston, Ill. |
| 72 |
Skyler Kurt |
DL |
Jr. |
St. Cloud State |
Lodi, Wis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC North Division All-Conference Second Team Special Teams |
| 28 |
Isaac Aanerud |
K |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Otsego, Minn. |
| 1 |
Rod Stewart |
RS |
Sr. |
Minnesota Crookston |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| 16 |
Jacob Wiedrich |
P |
Sr. |
Northern State |
Moorhead, Minn. |
| NSIC South Division All-Conference Second Team Offense |
|
| 84 |
Chet Peerenboom |
TE |
Sr. |
Augustana |
Little Chute, Wis. |
| 74 |
Cody Rofshus |
OL |
Sr. |
Augustana |
Luverne, Minn. |
| 28 |
Rudolh Sinflorant |
RB |
So. |
Augustana |
Dunnellon, Fla. |
| 70 |
Rich Kelly |
OL |
Jr. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Plainfield, Ill. |
| 66 |
Jared Gossen |
OL |
Fr. |
Minnesota State |
De Pere, Wis. |
| 74 |
Nolan Kern |
OL |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Eau Claire, Wis. |
| 1 |
Michael Maxwell |
WR |
Sr. |
Sioux Falls |
Richmond, Texas |
| 30 |
Colton Myles |
RB |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Richfield, Minn. |
| 69 |
Adam Sheffield |
OL |
Sr. |
Sioux Falls |
San Jose, Calif. |
| 14 |
Blake Gimbel |
QB |
Sr. |
SMSU |
Marshalltown, Iowa |
| 11 |
Nate Rogers |
WR |
Sr. |
Wayne State |
South Sioux City, Neb. |
| 10 |
Isaiah Frandsen |
WR |
Sr. |
Winona State |
Barron, Wis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC South Division All-Conference Second Team Defense |
|
| 5 |
Avram Tynes |
DB |
Sr. |
Augustana |
Omaha, Neb. |
| 98 |
Chance Bowen |
DL |
So. |
Minnesota State |
New Hope, Minn. |
| 20 |
Cole Schroedermeier |
DB |
So. |
Minnesota State |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 96 |
Steven McKee |
DL |
Sr. |
Sioux Falls |
Yankton, S.D. |
| 10 |
Brody Grantham |
LB |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Hayti, S.D. |
| 4 |
Cory Hollowell |
DB |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Corona, Calif. |
| 5 |
Alex Ney |
LB |
Sr. |
SMSU |
Rochester, Minn. |
| 13 |
Jordan Rommes |
DB |
Sr. |
Upper Iowa |
Decorah, Iowa |
| 97 |
Jacob Protzman |
DL |
Jr. |
Wayne State |
Grimes, Iowa |
| 6 |
Michael Ferrante |
DL |
Sr. |
Winona State |
Roselle, Ill. |
| 30 |
Romario Gayle |
DB |
Jr. |
Winona State |
Niles, Ill. |
| 1 |
Devon Moore |
LB |
So. |
Winona State |
Chicago, Ill. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| NSIC South Division All-Conference Second Team Special Teams |
| 15 |
Casey Bednarski |
K |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
Oconomowoc, Wis. |
| 85 |
Nate Johnson |
RS |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Vista, Calif. |
| 40 |
Cody Netusil |
P |
Sr. |
Wayne State |
Carroll, Iowa |
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
| NSIC North Division All-Conference Honorable Mention Team |
|
| 35 |
Grant Bushinski |
LB |
Jr. |
Bemidji State |
Cornelius, N.C. |
| 50 |
Dylan Ellingson |
DL |
Sr. |
Bemidji State |
Anoka, Minn. |
| 48 |
Matt Gross |
FB |
Jr. |
Bemidji State |
Napoleon, N.D. |
| 20 |
Michael Junker |
DB |
Jr. |
Bemidji State |
Hastings, Minn. |
| 8 |
Mannie Kugmeh |
WR |
So. |
Bemidji State |
Hopkins, Minn. |
| 41 |
Grady Blewett |
LB |
Jr. |
UMary |
Bozeman, Mont. |
| 88 |
Luke Little |
WR |
So. |
UMary |
Bismarck, N.D. |
| 25 |
Will Cole |
DB |
Sr. |
Minnesota Crookston |
Compton, Calif. |
| 7 |
Ali Alkhatib |
LB |
Sr. |
Minnesota Crookston |
Rosemount, Minn. |
| 81 |
Tyler Lattery |
TE |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 33 |
Zach Ojile |
TE |
Fr. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Blaine, Minn. |
| 93 |
Emmanuel Tetteh-Jada |
DL |
So. |
Minnesota Duluth |
Rochester, Minn. |
| 44 |
Matthew Domek |
DL |
Jr. |
MSU Moorhead |
Addison, Ill. |
| 8 |
Deiondre Taylor |
DB |
Jr. |
MSU Moorhead |
Crest Hill, Ill. |
| 14 |
Lavante Bushnell |
WR |
Jr. |
Minot State |
Stockton, Calif. |
| 34 |
Kywan Owens |
DB |
Sr. |
Minot State |
Carson, Calif. |
| 83 |
Lane Torgerson |
WR |
Jr. |
Minot State |
Colstrip, Mont. |
| 52 |
Jordan Will |
DL |
So. |
Minot State |
Minot, N.D. |
| 61 |
Drew Fahrman |
OL |
Jr. |
Northern State |
Fargo, N.D. |
| 41 |
Alex Gray |
DB |
Sr. |
Northern State |
Pierre, S.D. |
| 87 |
Anthony Carver |
TE |
Jr. |
St. Cloud State |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
| 2 |
Dwayne Lawhorn |
QB |
Jr. |
St. Cloud State |
Germantown, Wis. |
| 14 |
Jamari Manuel |
DB |
Sr. |
St. Cloud State |
Madison, Wis. |
| 73 |
Robert Kraklow |
OL |
Jr. |
St. Cloud State |
Mukwonago, Wis. |
| 46 |
Adam Stage |
K |
So. |
St. Cloud State |
Appleton, Wis. |
| NSIC South Division All-Conference Honorable Mention Team |
|
| 3 |
Michael Kloza |
DB |
Jr. |
Augustana |
Wylie, Texas |
| 11 |
Kyle Saddler |
QB |
So. |
Augustana |
Frisco, Texas |
| 59 |
Logan Swanson |
DL |
So. |
Augustana |
Mankato, Minn. |
| 47 |
Kyle Theis |
LB |
Jr. |
Augustana |
Germantown, Wis. |
| 53 |
Kelly Pierce |
DL |
Jr. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Gilbert, Iowa |
| 22 |
Lajuan Preston |
RB |
So. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Fort Myers, Fla. |
| 6 |
MJ Williams |
WR |
Jr. |
Concordia-St. Paul |
Orange, Calif. |
| 27 |
Justin Arnold |
WR |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Chaska, Minn. |
| 88 |
Trevor Nissen |
TE |
Sr. |
Minnesota State |
Olivia, Minn. |
| 5 |
Ryan Schlichte |
QB |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Mankato, Minn. |
| 7 |
JD Ekowa |
QB |
So. |
Minnesota State |
Plainfield, Ill. |
| 42 |
Jordan Bergren |
DL |
Jr. |
Minnesota State |
Elgin, Ill. |
| 31 |
Harvey (Michael) Enalls |
LB |
So. |
Sioux Falls |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 36 |
Tucker Stout |
DB |
Jr. |
Sioux Falls |
Spokane, Wash. |
| 63 |
Nick Zimmerman |
OL |
Sr. |
Sioux Falls |
Rosendale, Wis. |
| 46 |
Shane Ratkovich |
LB |
Sr. |
SMSU |
Crete, Ill. |
| 65 |
Zach Stratmoen |
OL |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Dawson, Minn. |
| 37 |
Mitchel Siech |
LB |
Jr. |
Upper Iowa |
Denver, Iowa |
| 98 |
Jesse Hynek |
DL |
Sr. |
Upper Iowa |
Swisher, Iowa |
| 77 |
Alex Schneider |
OL |
So. |
Upper Iowa |
Waterloo, Iowa |
| 32 |
Kolbie Foster |
DL |
Jr. |
Wayne State |
Omaha, Neb, |
| 24 |
Ian Ailts |
DB |
Jr. |
Wayne State |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 86 |
Conner Paxton |
TE |
So. |
Wayne State |
Stuart, Neb. |
| 95 |
Cole LaLiberty |
DL |
So. |
Winona State |
Chetek, Wis. |
| 23 |
Sam Santiago-Lloyd |
RB |
So. |
Winona State |
West Bend, Wis. |
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