SAU Nabs 15 All-Conference, Coaches of the Year

After a 10-0 regular season, the St. Ambrose football team was rewarded with 15 all-conference selections, including 8 on the first team, 5 on the second team and 2 honorable-mentions.

The Bees were balanced with seven members on offense and eight members defense making the MSFA Midwest all-conference honors. Offensively, Vernon Reed (JR, RB) led the league in rushing and touchdowns with 1,266 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was joined on the first team offense by Tyler Driscoll (SR, TE), Brad Cook (SR, OL) and Drew Filikins (SR, OL). Jim DuPage (SR, QB), Brett Van Hove (SR, WR) and Tim Turkowski (SR, WR) rounded out the second-team offense for the Fighting Bees.

The # 1 conference ranked defense featured four first team selections, two second-team choices and two honorable mention selections. Andy Wulf (SR, DE) and Ben Sacco (SR, DE) headed the defensive line for the Bees on the first team. Wulf lead the league this season in sacks (9) and tackles for loss (15.5). Wulf and Sacco were joined on the first-team by Chad Otdoerfer (SR, LB) and Chance Jenkins (JR, DB). Jenkins had three interceptions a week ago to tie for the league lead in interceptions with 6.

Dan Eble (DB, JR) and Kellen Driscoll (DB, SR) were selected to the MSFA Midwest second team for their efforts. Eble had been in the top 10 in tackles for loss and sacks prior to an inury that sidelined him three weeks ago. Driscoll finished second in the league for fumbles forced with 3. Vince Filipp (SR, DL) and Justin Thompson (SR, DB) were honorable-mention selections for the Bees.

Coach Todd Sturdy was named the MSFA Coach of the Year and defensive coordinator Mike Magistrelli was named the league’s Assistant Coach of the Year.

2006 MSFA All-League Selections
Midwest League

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Andy Ricca, Saint Xavier, 6-1, 200, Sr.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Todd Sturdy, St. Ambrose (12th year, 85-39 record)
ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Magistrelli, St. Ambrose, defensive coordinator

First Team Offense

QUARTERBACK: Billy Yeo (Oak Lawn, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-2, 205, Soph.
RUNNING BACK: **James Jackson (Brockton, MA), William Penn, 5-9, 220, Sr.; Vernon Reed (Rock Island, IL), St. Ambrose, 5-10, 190, Jr.; Dominique Jones (St. Louis, MO), McKendree, 5-10, 185, Sr.
WIDE RECEIVERS: **Andy Ricca (LaPorte, IN), Saint Xavier, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Deon Duke (Compton, CA), Trinity International, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Greg Gerritsen (Frankfort, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-2, 205, Sr.
TIGHT END: Tyler Driscoll (DeWitt, IA), St. Ambrose, 6-1, 200, Jr.
LINEMEN: Brad Cook (Bettendorft, IA), St. Ambrose, 6-1, 250, Sr.; Charlie Russ (Tinley Park, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-3, 260, Sr.; Mike Siverly (Casey, IL), McKendree, 6-4, 315, Jr.; Drew Filkins (Downers Grove, IL), St. Ambrose, 6-4, 270, Jr.; Harrison Brewer (Lockport, IL), Olivet Nazarene, 6-4, 295, Sr.; Bryan Edgar (Belleville, IL), McKendree, 6-, 280, Soph.
PLACEKICKER: Shane Longest (Wilmington, IL), Saint Xavier, 5-11, 180, Jr..
RETURN SPECIALIST: Allen Buford (Kankakee, IL) , Olivet Nazarene, 5-8, 170, Sr.

First Team Defense

LINEMEN: Andy Wulf (Tipton, IA), St. Ambrose, 6-0, 270, Sr.; ***Jon Lehman (Milford, OH), Trinity International, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Ben Sacco (East Moline, IL), St. Ambrose, 6-4, 240, Sr.; **Tony Wheatley (Springfield, IL), McKendree, 6-2, 245, Sr.
LINEBACKERS: Clint Peery (Payson, UT, William Penn, 6-2, 250, Jr.; Chad Otdoerfer (Oelwein, IA), St. Ambrose, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Jacob Zsuppon (Flossmoor, IL), Quincy, 5-11, 225, Soph.; Sean Kennedy (Palos Hills, IL), Saint Xavier, 5-10, 215, Jr.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Ricardo Patterson (Bennetsville, SC), Quincy, 5-7, 170, Sr.; Adam Clapp (Oakland, IL), McKendree, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Chance Jenkins (Maquoketa, IA), St. Ambrose, 6-0, 210, Jr.; **Mike Harrison (Bloomington, IL), McKendree, 5-9, 185, Sr.
PUNTER: **Sean Collins (Niles, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-0, 220, Sr.

Second Team Offense

QUARTERBACK: Jim DuPage (Pekin, IL), St. Ambrose, 6-1, 210, Jr.
RUNNING BACKS: Billy Lawrence (Clifton, IL), Olivet Nazarene, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Cory Williams (Coral Springs, FL), Quincy, 5-4, 162, Soph.; Jason Banning (Wilmington, IL), Saint Xavier, 5-11, 210, Soph.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Patrick Mayes (Alton, IL), Quincy, 6-2, 162, Sr.; Brett Van Hove (Traer, IA), St. Ambrose, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Tim Turkowski (Orland Hills, IL), St. Ambrose, 6-4, 200, Sr.
TIGHT END: Michael Robinson (Brockton, MA), William Penn, 6-4, 255, Sr.
LINEMEN: Kevin Zientek (Oak Lawn, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-2, 250, Soph.; Jeremy Saunders (Warren, IL), Quincy, 6-5, 314, Jr.; Aaron Kauffman (Battle Creek, MI), Trinity International, 6-3, 295, Sr.; George Smith (Tacoma, WA), William Penn, 5-10, 265, Sr.; Dan Fahner (Belleville, IL), Quincy, 6-3, 235, Jr.

 Second Team Defense

LINEMEN: Lee Davis (Maywood, IL), William Penn, 6-2, 280, Sr.; Adam Huebner (Dyer, IN), McKendree, 6-4, 285, Jr.; Floyd Turner (Maywood, IL), Iowa Wesleyan, 6-2, 280, Sr.; Justin Tufts (Mokena, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-0, 250, Jr.
LINEBACKERS: Joe Miller (Chicago, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-1, 225, Soph.; Josh Tooley (Libertyville, IL), Trinity International, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Dan Walker (Fort Collins, CO), Olivet Nazarene, 6-2, 215, Jr.; Derrick Summerlin (Cincinnati, OH), McKendree, 5-10, 210, Jr.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Mike Williamson (Chicago, IL), Saint Xavier, 6-0, 200, Jr.; Dan Eble (Oak Lawn, IL), St. Ambrose, 5-9, 185, Jr.; Kellen Driscoll (Waseca, MN), St. Ambrose, 6-4, 260, Sr.; Justin Carmean (Mishawaka, IN), Olivet Nazarene, 6-0, 185, Jr.

Honorable Mention

IOWA WESLEYAN: Clint Hunold (Donnellson, IA), OL; Derek Kirby (Kingston, IL), OL; Jeffery Candler (Minneapolis, MN), DL; Lathavis Miller (Rochelle, GA), DL; James Fisher (Pahala, IL), LB; Tremell Jones (St. Louis, MO), DB; Ashton Smiley (Chicago Ridge, IL), DB; Ejouboke Atiyota (Blythe, CA), DB.
McKENDREE: George Smith (Jacksonville, FL), RB; Matt Lauber (O’Fallon, IL), WR; Tim Fahrenhorst (Ballwin, MO), DL.
OLIVET NAZARENE: Dan Herrmann (Glendale Heights, IL), WR; Austin Kizzee (Worthington, OH), WR; David Scherer (Racine, WI), TE; Andy Kizzee (Columbus, OH), DL; Jeremy Robinson (Schererville, IN), LB; Chris Bjorkland (Mishawaka, IN), DB; Aaron Palmer (Circleville, OH), DB.
QUINCY: Matt Wehrle (Minooka, IL), QB; Greg Climan (Clearwater, FL), DL; Jamar Johnson (Oak Park, IL), DL; Jake Stone (Fremont, CA), DB; Luther Rush (Indianapolis, IN), DB; Chris Lee (Champaign, IL), DB.
SAINT AMBROSE: Vince Fillipp (Cary, IL), DL; Justin Thompson (Bettendorf, IA), DB.
SAINT XAVIER: Jim Doherty (Evergreen Park, IL), WR; Brett Farmer (Wilmington, IL), DL; Scott Kooistra (Chicago, IL), DL; John Klupshas (Oak Lawn, IL), LB; Tom Regnier (Manteno, IL), DB.
ST. FRANCIS: Jason Fiske (Loves Park, IL), WR; Andrew Zurales (New Lenox, IL), TE; Matt Boyce (Lockport, IL), OL; Kevin Sanders (Elgin, IL), LB; Clayton Norberg (Sterling, IL), DB; Pat Lenahan (Homer Glen, IL), DB.
TRINITY INTERNATIONAL: Ryan Thorson (Modesto, CA), QB; Brennan Smith (Lake Worth, FL), RB; Jordan Heesch (Wisconsin Dells, WI), TE; Tim Jager (Tinley Park, IL), DL; Zach McDole (Frankfort, IL), LB; Jason Welch (Peoria, IL), LB; James Hawk (Holtville, CA), LB; Kellen Cotrell (Phoenix, AZ), DB.
WILLIAM PENN: Skyler Crouch (Payson, UT), WR; Antoine Murray (Detroit, MI), OL; Blandon Prowse (South Jordan, UT), DL; Chris Minton (Rock Hill, SC), DL; Cale Carlson (Odgen, IA), DB.

** -- 2-time selection *** -- 3-time selection