Monday, December 10, 2012

SAINT LOUIS, Mo.  – Butler quarterback Matt Lancaster, Drake linebacker Tyler Moorehead, Valparaiso running back Jake Hutson, Butler defensive lineman Kyle Annis and Butler head coach Jeff Voris were voted to receive the Pioneer Football League’s top honors in a vote of the league’s coaches.

Lancaster, a junior from West Lafayette, Ind., led Butler to a share of the PFL title in his first season with the team. He was responsible for 29 touchdowns – 21 passing and eight rushing – and 178 points. Lancaster’s 16.18 points responsible for per game ranked ninth among FCS leaders. He also amassed 3,111 total offensive yards – passing for 2,703 yards and running for 408 more – and ranked second among the league’s signal-callers in total offense and passing yardage.  Lancaster becomes the first Butler player to receive the league’s Offensive Player of the Year honor, which is being presented for the 12th time.

Moorehead, a senior from Mason City, Iowa, helped Drake capture a share of its second consecutive PFL title. He captained a Drake defense that ranked second among league squads in total defense (329.2 yards per game), passing defense (185.5 yards per game) and sacks (28). He was credited with 64 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Moorehead becomes the third Drake player to earn the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honor, joining Dain Taylor (2010) and James Adams (2006).

Hutson, a freshman from Blanchard, Mich., played in all 11 contests for Valparaiso and ranked fourth among league rushers with 68.5 yards per game. The bulk of his effort came in league action where he averaged 83.8 yards per game and scored seven of his eight touchdowns. Hutson posted a PFL single-game best 248 rushing yards, Nov. 3, at Campbell. In addition, he finished the season with 235 receiving yards and 197 special teams return yards and totaled 1,102 all-purpose yards – ranking third in all-purpose yardage per game (137.8 ypg). Hutson is the first Valparaiso player to earn one of the league’s major awards.

Annis, a freshman from Hillard, Ohio, played in all 11 contests and helped anchor a Butler defensive line that tied for the league lead with a plus-11 turnover margin. He was credited with 42 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and had a pass breakup, fumble forced and fumble recovered. Annis also did the bulk of his work during the conference slate, amassing 31 tackles and three sacks during the eight-game campaign. It is the first time a Butler player has earned the league’s Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honor, which is being presented for the fifth time.

Voris, who completed his seventh season at Butler, led the Bulldogs to their second PFL title under his guidance and third crown all-time. He led Butler to an 8-3 overall mark and 7-1 PFL record – a three and four-game improvement, respectively, over the team’s marks a year ago. It is Voris’ second PFL Coach of the Year citation and he is the only Butler head coach to receive the honor.

Butler, Drake and San Diego each won a share of the 2012 PFL regular-season title. While it was Butler’s third title and second in the last four seasons, Drake and San Diego claimed a share of the title for a second consecutive season. Drake won its sixth PFL title while San Diego claimed its fifth PFL crown.

The announcement of the league’s major award winners begins the league’s awards week. The All-PFL squads will be released Tuesday followed by the Academic All-PFL teams, Wednesday.

The PFL’s awards announcements were delayed due to the extension of the PFL regular season into December – a contest between Marist and San Diego was played Dec. 1 after their Nov. 13 contest was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

2012 PFL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Lancaster, Butler
Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Moorehead, Drake
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Jake Hutson, Valparaiso
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Annis, Butler
Coach of the Year: Jeff Voris, Butler