Twenty-One Honored by League
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–A total of 21 Statesmen players and one assistant coach concluded their 2011 seasons with high praise as the all-Midwest League football teams were announced Thursday.
E.J. White, quarterback from St. Francis (Ill.), was named Midwest League Player of the Year, while Mike Woodley of Grand View earned Coach of the Year laurels.
William Penn Defensive Coordinator Brad Griffin was a tri-Assistant Coach of the Year honoree, sharing the award with Matt Drinkall of St. Ambrose and Peter Sterbick of Grand View.
Griffin picked up the assistant laurel after his defense led the MWL in scoring (11.3 points per game) and was second in total yards (235.2 per game). The Statesmen shut out two teams this fall and limited four other foes to ten points or less.
William Penn recorded three first-team selections, eight second-team nods, and ten honorable mentions.
Offensive lineman Mason Woods (Jr., Williamsburg, Williamsburg HS) guided the Statesmen to once again lead the nation in rushing for the second year in a row. Woods helped the navy and gold post 3,634 rushing yards (330.4 per game) and 4,510 total yards (410.0 per game). William Penn eclipsed the 200-yard mark nine times, including a season-best 470 rushing yards against Waldorf on September 17.
The Statesmen scored 377 points this year, good for third all-time in school history. It is the first postseason award for Woods in his career.
Defensive lineman Damon Harrison (Sr., Lake Charles, La., Lake Charles Boston HS) collected his third career honor and his first selection to the top team (previous two were on second squad). Harrison led his team with 60 tackles (25 solos, 35 assists), including a team-best 8.5 for loss. A one-time Defensive Player of the Week, he also had three sacks and forced two fumbles.
Placekicker Marcus Kerrigan (So., Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove HS) improved upon his honorable mention laurel from 2010 as he rounded out the first team. The sophomore tied his own single-season record with 48 extra points (51 attempts) and also connected on five field goals (14 tries). He was a Special Teams POW once.
For the second-consecutive year, quarterback Taylor Parsons (So., The Woodlands, Texas, College Parks HS) topped a lengthy second-team list. The sophomore led all Statesmen runners with 1,026 yards and 13 touchdowns. He surpassed 100 yards three times, including producing a career-high 237 yards against Trinity International on October 29.
Parsons also completed 47-of-110 passes for 819 yards and seven scores. He was MWL Offensive POW twice this fall.
Fullback Shawn Davis (Fr., Hamersville, Ohio, Western Brown HS) had another workhorse campaign, picking up 957 yards (7 TDs) on a team-high 194 carries. He broke the century mark four times.
Slot back DeMarco Sanders (Sr., Horn Lake, Miss., Horn Lake HS) concluded his William Penn career with his second award (first on the second team). The senior was a great complement in the backfield, picking up 317 yards and four touchdowns. He managed solid yardage through the air as well with eight catches for team highs in yards (256) and touchdowns (3).
Offensive linemen Steve Steele (Sr., Freeland, Mich., Nouvel Catholic HS) and Nick Harris (Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Brighton HS) were also great assets in the trenches. They are both first-time recipients.
Defensively, linemen Jordi Vernor (Sr., Ripley, Miss., Northeast Mississippi CC) and Micheal Welch (So., Houston, Texas, Booker T. Washington HS) and cornerback Junior Delva (So., Miami, Fla., Hialeah HS) picked up second-team recognition as well.
Vernor, now a two-time honoree (HM in 2010), tallied 44 tackles (23 solos, 11 assists), including six for a loss. He had 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Welch posted 34 stops (14 solos, 20 assists), including 1.5 for a loss, in addition to 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. Delva added 20 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups. He and Welch were named to the postseason squads for the first time.
The Statesmen defense dominated the honorable-mention group with six selections.
Punter Jason Johnson (So., Geneseo, Ill., Geneseo HS) and safety Jacob Batterson (So., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) are the lone repeat picks as both collect their second nod (Johnson on second team and Batterson an HM in 2010).
Johnson punted 17 times for an average of 38.3 yards, including five attempts of over 50 yards and eight inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Batterson recorded 44 tackles (19 solos, 25 assists) with two interceptions and three pass breakups.
Lineman Brandon Dunbar (Jr., Houston, Texas, Booker T. Washington HS) led William Penn with five sacks and posted a total of 25 tackles (14 solos, 11 assists, 6 for a loss). A first-time pick, he also recovered one fumble.
Linebackers Rushawn Stewart (Sr., Houston, Texas, Eisenhower HS) and Scott Adams (Fr., Park City, Utah, Park City HS) joined the postseason team as did safety Joseph Frye (Fr., Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS) and cornerback Andrew Reed (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS). All three received awards for the first time in their careers.
Stewart posted 50 tackles (24 solos, 26 assists), had an interception, and broke up two passes, while Adams managed 41 stops (19 solos, 22 assists) and a fumble recovery.
Frye paced the navy and gold unit with four interceptions and seven pass breakups on top of 44 stops (26 solos, 18 assists). He also blocked a kick, while Reed intercepted three balls (six breakups) and stopped 27 ball carriers (20 solos, 7 assists).
On the offensive end, wide receiver Aaron Broyles (So., Escondido, Calif., Escondido Charter HS) and lineman Shawn Oaks (Sr., Murray, Iowa Central CC) were also honorable mentions for their first-career honors. Broyles caught eight passes for 181 yards and two scores, while Oaks was another member of the dominant line.
Chris Crawford (Jr., Muskegon, Mich., Grand Valley State) concluded the list of honorees as a return specialist. The junior, a first-time selection, returned 20 punts for an average of 7.8 yards and a touchdown and took nine kickoffs back an average of 17.7 yards. He also caught a squad-best 12 balls for 128 yards and a TD.
