ST. PAUL (Nov. 20, 2008) – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released its football all-conference teams on Thursday following the final week of regular season play. Northwestern College, who win its second straight UMAC conference championship in 2008, was awarded the most first team honorees, earning 14 of the total 29 first team selections.
Northwestern also took three of the four top individual awards that are given out, including both the Most Valuable Player on offense and defense. Eagles’ quarterback Zach Tarter, who earned Co-Offensive MVP honors in 2007, was chosen for the award again after passing for 804 yards and nine touchdowns in four conference games. Tarter, whose presence seems to affect the outcome of every game, finished the season ranked 7th in the NCAA Div. III for passing efficiency. The junior led Northwestern’s come-from-behind charge in several contests.
Tarter’s teammate Kyle Nash, a second team all-conference selection in 2007, was awarded with first team all-conference and UMAC Defensive MVP accolades. The sophomore linebacker was fourth in the conference for total tackles (36) in UMAC affairs while leading a defense that held opponents to 18.0 points and 276.8 total yards per game.
Crown College offensive lineman Josh Prokosch was honored as the UMAC Lineman of the Year, helping Crown post its second consecutive winning season. Prokosch, a senior, led a Storm offensive line that paved the way for the league’s No. 1 scoring offense and passing offense. Prokosch was also a first team all-conference selection in 2007.
After guiding his team to an undefeated 4-0 UMAC record while earning the program’s first NCAA Division III regional ranking, Northwestern head coach Kirk Talley was picked as the UMAC’s Coach of the Year. In eight seasons with the Eagles, Talley, a 13-year UMAC veteran coach, has been selected for the award three times.
Following Northwestern’s 14 first team selections, Crown received six first team awards, while the University of Minnesota-Morris, Martin Luther College and the College of St. Scholastica had four, three and two, respectively.
2008 UMAC ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAMS
Most Valuable Player on Offense: Zach Tarter (Northwestern College)
Most Valuable Player on Defense: Kyle Nash (Northwestern College)
Most Valuable Lineman: Josh Prokosch (Crown College)
Coach of the Year: Kirk Talley (Northwestern College)
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Offensive Lineman – 1st Team
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|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Joey Latsha
|
SO
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Crown College
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|
Josh Prokosch
|
SR
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Crown College
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Kevin Kleiner
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JR
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Northwestern College
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Kyle Weber
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SR
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Northwestern College
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Theo Powell
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JR
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University of Minnesota, Morris
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|
Wide Receivers – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Drew Milner
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JR
|
Crown College
|
|
Mike VanMassenhove
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FR
|
College of St. Scholastica
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|
Kyle Thomforde
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JR
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Northwestern College
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|
Tight End – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Nathan Clanton
|
SR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Quarterback – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Zach Tarter
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JR
|
Northwestern College
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|
Running Backs – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Lemone Johnson
|
SR
|
Crown College
|
|
Ryan Long
|
SO
|
Northwestern College
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|
Robert Koranda
|
FR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
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|
Kicker – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Cody Crum
|
SO
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Kick Returner – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Drew Milner
|
JR
|
Crown College
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|
Defensive Lineman – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Travis Larson
|
JR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Seth Scheuerlein
|
SR
|
Martin Luther College
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|
David Kleiner
|
SO
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Nate Copeland
|
SR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Linebackers – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Nate Richter
|
JR
|
Crown College
|
|
Matt Rothe
|
SO
|
Martin Luther College
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|
Kyle Nash
|
SO
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Andrew Shay
|
SR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
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|
Defensive Backs – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Mike Polley
|
SR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Taylor Swanson
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Ty Crabtree
|
SR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Luke Delain
|
FR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Punter – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Caleb Free
|
SR
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Punt Returner – 1st Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Kyle Thomforde
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Offensive Lineman – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Casey Reeves
|
SR
|
Crown College
|
|
Nick Skumatz
|
JR
|
Crown College
|
|
Stephen Voelkner
|
FR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Leslie Aurthurton
|
SO
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Kyle Schmidtke
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Wide Receivers – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Ryan Kolander
|
JR
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Cody Crum
|
SO
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Matt Fragodt
|
SR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Tight End – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Grant VanderArk
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Quarterback – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Adam Hayes
|
SO
|
Crown College
|
|
Running Backs – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Aaron Voss
|
SO
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Christopher Henagin
|
JR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Defensive Lineman – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Doug Moore
|
FR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Chuqee Fletcher
|
FR
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Mike Burrows
|
SR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Mitch Zimmer
|
FR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Linebackers – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Jay McCoy
|
SR
|
Crown College
|
|
Steve Gurgel
|
JR
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Andrew Magaard
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Blair Elliott
|
SR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Defensive Backs – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Benjamin Olson
|
SO
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Ben Reichel
|
JR
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Luke Urbaniak
|
JR
|
Crown College
|
|
Nate Lund
|
SO
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Punter – 2nd Team
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Zach Holsman
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Offensive Lineman – Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Wyatt Nolan
|
SO
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Brandon Lorenz
|
SR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Wide Receivers – Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Steve Boger
|
SO
|
Crown College
|
|
Jake Rusinkovich
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Jonathan Bennett
|
FR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Quarterback – Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Jake Olson
|
FR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Running Backs Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Andrew Becker
|
SO
|
Martin Luther College
|
|
Rahnee Dennard
|
JR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Tight End – Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Tom Lyscio
|
FR
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Defensive Lineman Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Brad Eliel
|
FR
|
Crown College
|
|
Linebackers – Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Derrick Howell
|
FR
|
Crown College
|
|
Spencer Sommerlot
|
SR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Reid Jilek
|
SR
|
Northwestern College
|
|
Defensive Backs – Honorable Mention
|
|
Name
|
Year
|
School
|
|
Marquise Dixon
|
SO
|
Crown College
|
|
Phil DesMarais
|
SO
|
College of St. Scholastica
|
|
Corey Hemphill
|
JR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|
|
Shane Fickes
|
JR
|
University of Minnesota, Morris
|