UMAC Central's Outstanding Team of the Year

After much deliberation, we now present to you the 2012 UMAC Central Outstanding Team of the Year. We chose the players who we believe were the best at their position in the UMAC based upon our observations of the players as well as their statistical performances. There were several outstanding players left off of the list because our tough decisions were made as though we were selecting players to comprise a starting lineup. Brendan Chambers, for example, had an outstanding year, but having two starting quarterbacks just does not make sense (sorry UM-Morris, it still doesn't work). Congratulations to all of the outstanding athletes chosen! And to those athletes who did not make our list, work hard this offseason and maybe you can earn this distinction next season.

Outstanding Offense:

QB - Josh Balzer (Northwestern)*
- 129/235 attempts, 54.9% completion, 2244 yards, 9.5 yards/attempt, 23 TDs, 8 INTs, & 2 rushing TDs
RB - Immanuel Gamble (Greenville)
- 208 carries, 1188 yards, 5.7 average per carry, 11 TDs
RB - Josh Sinnen (Northwestern)
- 131 carries, 764 yards, 5.8 avg, 8 TDs & 13 receptions, 222 yards receiving, 2 TDs
WR - James Gladstone (Westminister)*
- 96 receptions, 1246 yards, 13 yard average, 14 TDs
WR - Brian Lecheler (Northwestern)*
- 45 receptions, 963 yards, 21.4 yard average, 9 TDs
WR - Brendon Foss (UM-Morris) 
- 54 receptions, 789 yards, 14.6 yard average, 8 TDs (7 games played)
TE - Matt Dammann (Northwestern)*
- 19 receptions, 234 yards, 12.3 yard average, 7 TDs
LT - Jeremy Burrows (Greenville)*
LG - Luke Scharrer (St. Scholastica)
C - Connor Leach (Northwestern)
RG - Mike Evans (St. Scholastica)*
RT - Ethan White (Greenville)
-Offensive Line Statistics:

--Greenville - 314.2 rushing yards/game, 5.2 yards/carry and only 9 sacks in 181 passing attempts

--St. Scholastica - 188.4 rushing yards/game, 4.8 yards/carry and only 14 sacks in 286 passing attempts

--Northwestern - 182 rushing yards/game, 4.6 yard/carry and only 13 sacks in 243 passing attempts

Outstanding Defense:

DT - Rodney Lyles (Westminster)*
- 71 tackles (34 solo/37 assisted) 17.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF, 2 FR
DE - Joshua Swore (Northwestern)*
- 74 tackles (29 solo/45 assisted) 17.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR/1 TD, 3 pass breakups
DE - Derek Loewen (Martin Luther) 
- 95 tackles, (35 solo/60 assisted) 12.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 pass breakups, 2 blocked kicks
DT - Zack Dubanoski (St. Scholastica) *
- 73 tackles, 29 solo/44 assisted), 9 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 1 blocked kick
LB - Cody Hickman (UM-Morris) 
- 119 tackles (38 solo/81 assisted), 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 pass breakup
LB - Jacob Carls (Eureka) 
- 106 tackles (25 solo/81 assisted), 9.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF, 2 FR, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups
LB - Kendall Sommerlot (Northwestern)*
- 86 tackles (38 solo/48 assist) 2.5 TFL, 1 FF, 3 FR, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups
LB - Zeke Miller (UM-Morris)
- 77 tackles (29 solo/48 assisted), 8 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR, 2 pass breakups
CB - Raymond Smith (MacMurray)
- 4 INTs/66 yds, 16 pass breakups, 46 tackles, (35 solo/11 assisted), 1 sack, 2.5 TFL, 1 FF
CB - Alec French (St. Scholastica)
- 3 INTs/84 yards/1 TD, 7 pass breakups, 90 tackles (51 solo/39 assisted), 2 sacks, 6.5 TFL
CB - Mike LaValley (St. Scholastica)
- 4 INTs/108 yards/1 TD, 7 pass breakups, 25 tackles (13 solo/12 assisted)
S - Galen Holzhueter (Martin Luther)
- 3 INTs, 9 pass breakups, 76 tackles (35 solo/41 assisted), 2 TFL, 1 FF, 2 FR
S - Sebastian Alvar (Crown)
- 5 INTs/134 yards/1 TD, 10 pass breakups, 48 tackles, (34 solo/14 assisted), 1 TFL, 1 blocked kick

Outstanding Special Teams:

K - Mike Theissman (St. Scholastica) 
- 12/13 FG, 44 yard long, 35/37 XP, 71 total points
P - Josh Balzer (Northwestern)*
- 44 punts, 37.6 average, 62 yard long, 10 punts in-20, 3 touchbacks
KR/PR - Cory Gebhard (St. Scholastica) 
- 7 kick returns, 32.4 yard average, 1 TD // 23 punt returns, 10.1 yard average
KR/PR - Dalton DeGraffenreid (UM-Morris) 
- 10 kick returns, 25.4 yard average, 1 TD // 7 punt returns, 21.7 yard average, 1 TD

Outstanding Season Awards:

Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year: Brendan Chambers - QB (Greenville)
Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Swore - DE (Northwestern)*
Outstanding Rookie of the Year: Luke Rothe - QB/KR (Martin Luther)
Outstanding Senior of the Year: Josh Balzer - QB (Northwestern)*
Outstanding Coach of the Year: Ordell Walker (Greenville)
Outstanding Team of the Year: Greenville College Panthers

* = Senior Athlete