ST. LOUIS – Pioneer Football League officials announced Tuesday the winners of its postseason honors and the All-Pioneer Football League first and second teams. All selections were made by the league’s coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Drake and San Diego each won a share of the 2011 PFL regular-season title. It is Drake’s fifth league championship but first since the 2004 campaign. San Diego won its fourth PFL crown and first since the 2007 season.
Drake quarterback Mike Piatkowski was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, San Diego defensive lineman Blake Oliaro was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and San Diego head coach Ron Caragher was named the league’s Coach of the Year. The league’s freshman awards went to San Diego wide receiver Brandon White and Drake linebacker Travis Merritt, who were named the league’s Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year, respectively.
Piatkowski earns the league’s Offensive Player of the Year honor after leading Drake to a share of the PFL Championship with a 7-1 record while also posting a 9-2 overall mark. The senior signal-caller finished the season as the league’s top rated passer, with a 151.40 pass efficiency rating that also was 13th among FCS quarterbacks at regular season’s end. Piatkowski also ranked 21st nationally in total offense, averaging 253.82 yards per game. He is the second Drake player to be named Offensive Player of the Year (Scott Phaydavong, 2004).
Oliaro became one of the nation’s top backfield threats en route to earning the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The redshirt sophomore – who did not play in 2010 – returned to Toreros lineup and helped spark a defensive unit ranked among the FCS top 20 in rushing defense (113.5 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (109.60 rating). Behind the strength of that defense, San Diego won a share of the 2011 PFL Championship with a 7-1 record while posting a 9-1 overall mark. Individually, Oliaro ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.36 pg) and 10th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.77 pg). He becomes the second San Diego athlete to receive the league’s defensive award (Eric Bakhtiari, 2006 & 2007)
White played 11 games at wide receiver for San Diego, finishing the season with 45 receptions for 561 yards and five touchdowns. His 4.1 receptions per game ranked 94th among all FCS receivers at the regular season’s conclusion. White is the fourth San Diego player to receive one of the league’s freshman awards and it is the second time in the past three years a San Diego athlete has won the freshman offensive honor.
Merritt led all PFL freshmen defenders with 66 tackles (6.0 pg) this season. The redshirt freshman was second among Drake tacklers, finishing behind unanimous first-team All-PFL selection Tyler Moorehead. Merritt helped anchor a defensive unit that led the league in scoring defense and rushing defense, limiting opponents to 17.8 points and 77.2 rushing yards per game. He becomes the second Drake player to receive one of the league’s freshmen awards, joining Moorehead who earned the defensive honor in 2009.
San Diego head coach Ron Caragher receives his first PFL Coach of the Year citation. He led the Toreros to their fourth PFL title, posting a 7-1 PFL record. For the third time in his career, Caragher led San Diego to a 9-2 overall mark. Dating back to last season the Toreros have won 13 of their last 16 games, including this season’s final three games. Caragher is the third San Diego coach to be tapped the league’s Coach of the Year, joining Kevin McGarry (2002) and Jim Harbaugh (2005 & 2006).
The 19th All-PFL squads are highlighted by two unanimous first-team selections: San Diego running back Kenny James and Drake linebacker Tyler Moorehead. Additionally, the All-PFL first-team selections include eight repeat honorees from the 2010 All-PFL first team, as denoted in the following listing.
2011 All-Pioneer Football League First Team
| OFFENSE (Two tight ends and two quarterbacks due to a tie in the voting) |
POS
|
Student-Athlete |
School
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
Hometown (Previous School)
|
| WR |
Josh Philpart (1) |
Jacksonville |
6-1 |
175 |
Sr. |
Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS) |
| WR |
Donte Sawyer |
Morehead State |
6-0 |
190 |
Jr. |
Acworth, Ga. (North Cobb HS) |
| WR |
Zach Watkins (2) |
Butler |
6-2 |
200 |
Sr. |
Chicago, Ill (St. Ignatius) |
| TE |
Quintin Davis |
Jacksonville |
6-3 |
195 |
Jr. |
Jacksonville, Fla. (Wolfson HS) |
| TE |
Anthony Calcagni |
Marist |
6-5 |
218 |
Jr. |
Thornwood, N.Y. (Westlake HS) |
| QB |
Josh McGregor (2) |
Jacksonville |
6-2 |
210 |
Sr. |
Royal Palm Beach, Fla. (Belle Glades Day HS) |
| QB |
Mike Piatkowski (H) |
Drake |
6-1 |
170 |
Sr. |
Wheaton, Ill. (Wheatonville Warrenville South HS) |
| FB |
Jordan Cramer |
Campbell |
6-1 |
239 |
R-Sr. |
Wake Forest, N.C. (Wake Forest-Rolesville) |
| RB |
Kenny James (U) |
San Diego |
5-8 |
175 |
So. |
San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Carmel HS) |
| RB |
Taylor Harris |
Dayton |
5-10 |
190 |
Sr. |
Centerburg, Ohio (Highland HS) |
| OL |
Christian Fetters (1) |
San Diego |
6-1 |
255 |
Sr. |
Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West HS) |
| OL |
Evan Lawrence (1) |
Drake |
6-5 |
300 |
Sr. |
Moline, Ill. (Moline HS) |
| OL |
Sam Issermoyer (2) |
Campbell |
6-3 |
314 |
Sr. |
Eldersburg, Md. (Liberty HS) |
| OL |
Pete Mattingly (H) |
Butler |
6-5 |
300 |
Sr. |
Zionsville, Ind. (Cathedral HS) |
| OL |
Phede Celestin (H) |
Marist |
6-5 |
317 |
Jr. |
Brooklyn, N.Y. (Canarsie HS) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| DEFENSE (Five linebackers due to a tie in voting) |
| DL |
Devon Langhorst (1) |
Dayton |
6-3 |
225 |
R-Sr. |
Sidney, Ohio (Sidney HS) |
| DL |
Blake Oliaro |
San Diego |
6-5 |
250 |
R-So. |
Folsom, Calif. (Folsom HS) |
| DL |
Rolando Fines |
Jacksonville |
6-0 |
240 |
Sr. |
Tampa, Fla. (Freedom HS) |
| DL |
Jerome Raymond (2) |
Morehead State |
6-4 |
245 |
Sr. |
Lawrenceville, Ga. (Berkmar HS) |
| LB |
Tyler Moorehead (U, 1) |
Drake |
6-1 |
222 |
Sr. |
Mason City, Iowa (Newman Catholic HS) |
| LB |
Jordan Ridley (1) |
Butler |
6-0 |
220 |
Jr. |
Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence Central HS) |
| LB |
Zach Dunaj |
San Diego |
5-11 |
228 |
Jr. |
Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Westlake HS) |
| LB |
Bryan Bailin |
Dayton |
6-2 |
215 |
Sr. |
Naperville, Ill. (Naperville HS) |
| LB |
Ryan Cronan |
Marist |
6-0 |
214 |
Sr. |
Hampton, N.H. (Winnacunnet HS) |
| DB |
Al-Rilwan Adeyemi (1) |
San Diego |
5-9 |
188 |
Sr. |
Santa Monica, Calif. (Santa Monica HS) |
| DB |
Loka Kanongataa (2) |
San Diego |
5-10 |
205 |
R-Sr. |
Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue Senior HS) |
| DB |
Leonard Smith (H) |
Jacksonville |
5-11 |
175 |
Sr. |
Orlando, Fla. (Edgewater HS) |
| DB |
Jaquan Bryant (H) |
Marist |
6-1 |
188 |
Sr. |
St. Albans, N.Y. (Holy Cross) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS |
| PK |
Rainer Duzan (1) |
Morehead State |
5-11 |
165 |
Jr. |
Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Scioto) |
| P |
Billy Janssen (H) |
Drake |
6-4 |
202 |
R-Sr. |
Round Lake Beach, Ill. (Carmel Catholic HS) |
| RS |
Kenny James |
San Diego |
5-8 |
175 |
So. |
San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Carmel HS) |
2011 All-Pioneer Football League Second Team
| OFFENSE (Four wide receivers due to a tie in the voting) |
POS
|
Student-Athlete |
School
|
Ht.
|
Wt.
|
Yr.
|
Hometown (Previous School)
|
| WR |
Lanny Funsten |
Davidson |
6-2 |
185 |
Jr. |
Raleigh, N.C. (Ravenscroft HS) |
| WR |
John McGough |
San Diego |
6-3 |
205 |
R-Sr. |
Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue Senior HS) |
| WR |
Larry Thompson |
Jacksonville |
6-2 |
170 |
Sr. |
Tampa, Fla. (Freedom HS) |
| WR |
Sam Hoekstra |
San Diego |
5-10 |
180 |
So. |
Carlsbad, Calif. (Santa Fe Christian HS) |
| TE |
Patrick Doyle |
San Diego |
6-4 |
245 |
R-Sr. |
Western Springs, Ill. (Fenwick HS) |
| QB |
Mason Mills |
San Diego |
6-0 |
190 |
R-So. |
Coronado, Calif. (New Mexico State) |
| FB |
Desmond Cox |
Morehead State |
5-7 |
178 |
Sr. |
Akron, Ohio (Akron East HS) |
| RB |
J.J. Laster |
Jacksonville |
5-6 |
185 |
Sr. |
Graceville, Fla. (Graceville HS) |
| RB |
Trae Heeter |
Butler |
5-9 |
185 |
So. |
Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North HS) |
| OL |
Chris Wilson |
Drake |
6-0 |
270 |
Sr. |
Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport Township HS) |
| OL |
Ian Osking |
Jacksonville |
6-5 |
300 |
Sr. |
Fort Pierce, Fla. (Westwood HS) |
| OL |
Branden Burt |
Campbell |
6-3 |
289 |
Sr. |
Greenville, N.C. (D.H. Conley HS) |
| OL |
Chad Cypher |
Jacksonville |
6-6 |
310 |
Sr. |
Fort Myers, Fla. (Bishop Verot HS) |
| OL |
Dan Prindle |
Dayton |
6-3 |
275 |
Sr. |
Fairborn, Ohio (Carroll HS) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| DEFENSE |
| DL |
Brandon Coleman |
Drake |
6-4 |
244 |
Jr. |
Cary, Ill. (Cary-Grove HS) |
| DL |
Terrence Fede |
Marist |
6-4 |
270 |
Jr. |
Nyack, N.Y. (Nyack HS) |
| DL |
Mario Kurn |
San Diego |
6-2 |
235 |
Sr. |
Encinitas, Calif. (Santa Fe Christian HS) |
| DL |
John Sawhill |
Drake |
6-3 |
244 |
Sr. |
Jefferson, Iowa (Jefferson-Scranton HS) |
| LB |
Tony Bachman |
Morehead State |
5-11 |
221 |
Sr. |
Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg HS) |
| LB |
Joe Martin |
San Diego |
6-1 |
235 |
R-Sr. |
Lake Oswego, Ore. (Central Catholic HS) |
| LB |
Travis Merritt |
Drake |
6-1 |
215 |
So. |
Johnston, Iowa (Johnston, Iowa) |
| LB |
Nick Caldicott |
Butler |
6-0 |
230 |
Sr. |
Oak Park, Ill. (Fenwick HS) |
| DB |
Lacy McDougald |
Jacksonville |
5-10 |
180 |
Sr. |
Jacksonville, Fla. (Fletcher HS) |
| DB |
Michael Lahart |
Drake |
5-11 |
185 |
R-Sr. |
Chariton, Iowa (Chariton HS) |
| DB |
Brandon Chandler |
Campbell |
5-8 |
201 |
R-Jr. |
Kernersville, N.C. (Glenn HS) |
| DB |
Andy Dauch |
Butler |
5-10 |
190 |
Sr. |
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Lahser HS) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS |
| PK |
Billy Janssen |
Drake |
6-4 |
202 |
R-Sr. |
Round Lake Beach, Ill. (Carmel Catholic HS) |
| P |
Greg Wood |
Valparaiso |
6-1 |
175 |
Jr. |
Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville HS) |
| RS |
Colby Walden |
Jacksonville |
5-11 |
185 |
Jr. |
Tampa, Fla. (Hillsborough HS) |
2011 All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention Squad
| OFFENSE |
| WR |
Drew Blackmon (DRA), Paul Constantine (CAM), Luke Bellman (DAY), Nathan Paddock (DRA), Kevin Fitzpatrick (MAR), Branden Johnson (DAY), Sean McCarty (VAL), Brandon White (SAN) |
| TE |
Matt Jenson (BUT) |
| QB |
Andrew Huck (BUT), Zach Lewis (MOR) |
| FB |
Kevin Marshall (DRA), Nick Scudellari (SAN) |
| RB |
Carl Smith (CAM), Pat Cashmore (DRA), Ronnie McDermott (MOR) |
| OL |
Justin Griffis (DAY), Matt Peleti (SAN), Matt Storey (BUT), Eric Matteson (MOR), Jeremy Hill (CAM), Steve Flynn (DRA), Dan Clinton (DRA), Jay Howard (BUT), Joey Clegg (MOR), Nate Blair (VAL), Ethan Clark (DAV), Kyle Nanton (JAC), Pat Thompson (SAN) |
| |
|
| DEFENSE |
| DL |
Grant Hunter (BUT), Jeremiah Robinson (CAM), Randel Herring (CAM), James Desautels (MAR), David Toriola (MAR), David Witkiewicz (DRA), Michael Mayoral (JAC), Brannon Dunn (DAY), Nikko Carson (VAL) |
| LB |
Jeff Grovak (DRA), Patrick Moynahan (DAV), Cody Gokan (VAL), John Behm (DAV), Colin Monnier (DAY), Pat Derback (VAL), Paul Sakowski (MAR) |
| DB |
Steth Monroe (CAM), Pete Kidwell (DAV), Schon Thomas (JAC), Laurence Treadaway (VAL), Nick Mainiero (MAR), Sean Grady (BUT) |
| |
|
| SPECIAL TEAMS |
| PK |
Jason Myers (MAR), David Lang (BUT), Mike Levine (SAN) |
| P |
Ted Moore (CAM), Brenton Goodman (DAV) |
| RS |
Jordan Koopman (BUT), Jaquan Bryant (MAR), Tom Bernhards-Callahan (DAV) |
|
