Jackson, Dawley Honored on All-Time Midwest League Team
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Former Statesmen gridiron standouts James Jackson and Steven Dawley are continuing to receive accolades well after their playing careers have ended as they were recently named to the Mid-States Football Association’s All-Time Midwest League team.
As part of the MSFA’s 20th anniversary, league Sports Information Director Larry Alter took on the time-consuming and impressive task of compiling the squads (also did the Mideast League), pouring over statistics of players from current as well as former Midwest League institutions (some have left to NCAA Division II, etc.).
He picked just 11 offensive players (1 QB, 2 RB, 5 OL, 1 TE, 2 WR), 11 defensive players (4 DL, 4 LB, 4 DB), one athlete, one placekicker, one punter, and one return specialist. The selections feature players from 16 of the 24 schools which have competed in the MSFA since its founding in 1994.
Jackson, who played at William Penn from 2003-2006, was a two-time first-team all-MWL running back in 2005 and 2006. A native of Brockton, Mass., he had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons in the navy and gold, including a school-record 1,500 yards in 2005. Jackson is also the school’s career rushing record holder with 3,709 yards, which is also good enough for seventh-best all-time in the MSFA.
Jackson’s record-breaking 2005 campaign netted him NAIA Honorable-Mention All-America status. The five-time MWL Offensive Player of the Week was also chosen as a Second-Team All-American by Victory Sports Network and an Honorable-Mention All-American by Don Hansen–both coming in 2006.
Dawley, a member of the Statesmen squad from 2007-2010, was named to the team’s offensive line after a stellar career as a right guard. A native of New Sharon, Iowa, his time in the navy and gold was highlighted by leading the program to NAIA single-season records for rushing yards (4,476 yards) and yards per rushing attempt (6.9). William Penn led the nation in rushing in 2010, was third in 2009, and was fourth in total offense in 2010. Numerous other school offensive records were set in 2010.
A four-time all-MWL pick (two first-team nods), his greatest individual honors were two AFCA-NAIA First-Team All-America awards. He was also recognized as an All-American in 2010 by Victory Sports Network.
The entire all-time MSFA teams can be viewed at http://www.mid-statesfootball.org/article/613.php
