William Penn Amasses 20 All-MWL Selections
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Another great William Penn football season has culminated in the program’s first playoff appearance in 37 years and numerous Statesmen players have garnered recognition for their efforts as the 2012 all-Midwest League teams were announced Thursday.
Eric Williamson, quarterback from St. Ambrose, was named Midwest League Player of the Year, while Mike Magistrelli of St. Ambrose earned Coach of the Year laurels. Grand View’s Tom Barnabo claimed Assistant Coach of the Year laurels.
#13 William Penn (9-2, 5-1 MWL) took home three first-team awards, seven second-team nods, and ten honorable mentions.
Center Mason Woods (Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) headlined the first-teamers, garnering his second first-team accolade.
The leader of a stout offensive line, he guided the Statesmen offense to 4,105 total yards, including an NAIA-best 3,530 yards. It is the third year in a row William Penn has topped the division on the ground. The squad eclipsed the 300-yard mark in all but one contest this fall.
Marcus Kerrigan (Jr., Cary, Ill., Sociology) gathered his third overall honor (second on the first team) as a placekicker. The junior was one of the most prolific kickers in the nation, going 33-of-39 in extra points and 12-of-14 in field goals. A four-time MWL Special Teams Player of the Week, Kerrigan broke the single-season field goal mark at WPU.
A previous two-time honorable mention, free safety Jacob Batterson (Eddyville, Iowa, Industrial Technology) moved up the ladder to first-team status as a junior. The leader of the defensive secondary, he posted 63 tackles (four for loss), one-half sack, three interceptions (tied for team lead), five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries (one returned for a score), and one forced fumble. Batterson earned one MWL Defensive POW honor this season.
A pair of fullbacks and a pair of linebackers topped the program’s second-team list. Evan Ressler (So., Cascade, Iowa, Biology) and Shawn Davis (Jr., Hamersville, Ohio, Physical Education) shared a load of carries this year at the fullback spot (247 to be exact). Ressler finished with 664 yards and nine touchdowns, while Davis added 554 yards and four scores. Davis’ honor is his third (all on second team), while Ressler is honored for the first time in his career.
Outside linebacker Brock Peery (Jr., Payson, Utah, Secondary Education) and middle linebacker Scott Adams (So., Park City, Utah, Sociology) led the defense in tackles, Peery with 81 and Adams with 78. Peery had 2.5 tackles for loss in addition to one interception, two pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries (both scores), while Adams had 3.5 stops for loss, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
Adams is now a two-time all-MWL recipient (honorable mention last year), while Peery notches his first award. Peery garnered two MWL Defensive POW honors in 2012.
Defensive tackle Micheal Welch (Jr., Houston, Texas, Physical Education) received his second second-team honor, while defensive end Nick DiMarco (So., St. Charles, Mo., Physical Education) and left guard Jake Adams (So., Park City, Utah, Psychology) are both first-time winners.
Welch managed 50 tackles (six for loss), one quarterback sack, and two forced fumbles, while DiMarco tallied 42 stops, team bests in tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (6.5), two interceptions, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Adams, a converted tight end, joined Woods as a major component of the offense’s success.
Quarterback Taylor Parsons (Jr., The Woodlands, Texas, Sociology) headlines a talented and deep honorable-mention group. The junior, who became the school’s all-time leading scorer (44 TDs) this season, led the offense with 791 rushing yards (11 scores) and 490 passing yards (31-of-80, three TDs). A one-time MWL Offensive POW, this fall, Parsons has collected three all-MWL awards in his career (two second-team nods).
Slot backs Dalton Phelps (Sr., Tipton, Iowa, Physical Education) and Sam Tvedt (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Business Management) joined wide receivers Ed Cazenave (So., Marietta, Ga., Communications) and Aaron Broyles (Jr., Escondido, Calif., Physical Education) and left tackle Travis Blecher (Fr., Rock Island, Ill., Sociology) as fellow offensive honorable mentions.
The awards are the second for Phelps and Broyles, while the other three members are all first-time recipients.
Phelps posted 360 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Tvedt was just a bit better at 383 yards and three scores. Broyles paced the receiving corps with ten catches (143 yards, one TD), while Cazenave had the most yards of any player at 191 (nine catches, one TD).
Strong safety Michael Wright (Sr., Olive Branch, Miss., Physical Education), cornerback Andrew Reed (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education), and nose tackle Brandon Dunbar (Sr., Houston, Texas, Biology) represented William Penn’s defensive side on the honorable-mention team. Both Reed and Dunbar are now two-time honorable-mention picks.
Wright had 38 stops, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups, while Reed stopped 32 ball carriers, intercepted three passes, broke up two passes, and recovered one fumble. Dunbar had strong numbers on the line with 47 tackles (5.5 for loss) and three sacks.
Kerrigan concluded the list as a dual-recipient by being named an honorable-mention punter. The junior sent off 19 punts for a 39.0 average. He had three punts over 50 yards (long of 66) and landed six inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
