FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona football team placed nine players on the All-Big Sky first- and second-team squads among the 22 players honored overall on the teams announced Tuesday. The Lumberjacks were represented with four players on the first-team squads, including two-time selection running back Zach Bauman on the first-team offense.
The 22 All-Big Sky selections are tied for the most during Jerome Souers' tenure.
Bauman rushed for 1,182 yards, the seventh-best total in school history, while recording his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, the only player in school history to accomplish the feat. He averaged 107.5 yards per game, the 19th-best total in the FCS and posting five 100-yard rushing performances on the season.
Joining Bauman on the first-team offense was fullback Jake Hess, a senior from Reno, Nev. He served as the lead blocker for Bauman all season, playing a major role in the success of the offense. He had nine carries for 52 yards on the season.
Cornerback Anders Battle and safety Lucky Dozier were both named to the All-Big Sky first team as selected by the coaches, presenting a secondary unit that was part of the Big Sky's best pass defense. Battle, a product of Phoenix Desert Vista High School, led the team in tackles with 64 and tied for team lead with six passes defended. Dozier, a Sacramento, Calif., native, ranked fourth on the team in tackles for 57 and tied for Big Sky Conference lead with four interceptions. He added five pass defended, the second-best total on the team.
Five players earned All-Big Sky second-team honors, including tackle Trey Gilleo, return specialist Austin Shanks, special teams player Taylor Malenfant, defensive tackle Tim Wilkinson and punter Andy Wilder.
Gilleo, who hails from Kingman, Ariz., started every game the last three seasons (33 straight) and was the leader on line that blocked for Walter Payton Award candidate Bauman. He allowed only one sack for an offensive unit that averaged 173.5 yards per game on the ground (38th in FCS) and 233.3 yards per game passing (40th in FCS).
Shanks led the nation in punt returns with 19.8 per kick return average on 17 returns. The Pacoima, Calif., product returned two punts for touchdowns, including a 74-yard return against Fort Lewis and 75-yard return versus UNLV. The 75-yard return was the sixth-longest run back in school history and longest since Pete Mandley's 85-yard return against Fresno State in 1983.
Malenfant earned second-team honors on special teams after starting on all four Lumberjack special teams units. Wilkinson recorded 37 tackles on the season with 6.5 sacks. Wilder, a Scottsdale, Ariz., product, led the nation in punting 46.3 yards per punt with a long of 71, recording 19 kicks inside the 20 and 25 punts of 50 or more yards on the season.
The Lumberjacks had six on the honorable mention offense and seven players on the honorable mention defensive unit. Wide receiver Ify Umodu, guard Roy Garcia, tight end R.J. Rickert and Drew Emanuel, quarterback Cary Grossart and kicker Andy Wilder earned spots on the All-Big Sky honorable mention offense. The defense had seven representatives including defensive linemen Marc Thompson and Jarret Bilbrey up front. Linebackers Ryan Reardon, Mike Dosen and Austin Hasquet were also honorable mention choices, as well as cornerback Devin Willis and safety Blair Wishom.
Offensive MVP – DeNarius McGhee, Jr., Montana State
Defensive MVP – Jody Owens, Sr., Montana State
Newcomer of the Year – Zak Browning, Fr., Southern Utah
Co-Coach of the Year – Tim Walsh & Beau Baldwin.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers: $*Brandon Kaufman, Jr., Eastern Washington, *Rodrick Rumble, Sr., Idaho State, Greg Hardin, Jr., North Dakota
Tackles: Danny Kistler Jr., Montana, Will Post, Sr., Eastern Washington
Guards: Sean Davies, Sr., UC Davis, Gavin Farr, Jr., Southern Utah
Center: Shaun Sampson, Sr., Montana State
Tight End: *Greg Hardy, Sr., Montana
Quarterback: *DeNarius McGhee, Jr., Montana State
Running Backs: Deonte Williams, Sr., Cal Poly, *Zach Bauman, Jr., Northern Arizona
Fullback: Jake Hess, Sr., Northern Arizona
Placekicker: Jimmy Pavel, Sr., Eastern Washington
Return Specialist: Dominic Gunn, Sr., Northern Colorado
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Tackles: *Zach Minter, Sr., Montana State, Cody Larsen, Sr., Southern Utah
Ends: Caleb Schreibeis, Sr., Montana State, Zach Wagenmann, So., Montana
Outside Linebackers: Jordan Tripp, Jr., Montana, $*Jody Owens, Sr., Montana State
Inside Linebackers: Kennith Jackson, Sr., Cal Poly, Ronnie Hamlin, Jr., Eastern Washington
Cornerbacks: *T.J. Lee III, Sr., Eastern Washington, Anders Battle, Jr., Northern Arizona
Safeties: Lucky Dozier, Jr., Northern Arizona, Joel Fuller, Sr., Montana State
Punter: Colton Schmidt, Sr., UC Davis
$- Unanimous Selection
*Two-Time First Team All-Conference
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
Dominic Gunn, Sr., Northern Colorado
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers: Tanner Bleskin, Sr., Montana State, Morris Norrise, Jr., Sacramento State, Fatu Moala, Jr., Southern Utah
Tackles: Steven Foster, Sr., Montana State, Trey Gilleo, Sr., Northern Arizona
Guards: Tyler Worthley, Jr., Sacramento State, Steven Forgette, Jr., Eastern Washington
Center: Dylan Fox, Sr., Southern Utah
Tight End: Josh Hill, Sr., Idaho State
Quarterback: Brad Sorensen, Sr., Southern Utah
Running Backs: Cody Kirk, Jr., Montana State, Peter Nguyen, Sr., Montana
Fullback: Lavell Ika, Sr., Southern Utah
Placekicker: Colton Cook, Jr., Southern Utah
Return Specialist: Austin Shanks, Sr., Northern Arizona
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Tackles: Sullivan Grosz, Jr., Cal Poly, Tim Wilkinson, Jr., Northern Arizona
Ends: Jerry Ceja, Sr., Eastern Washington, Brad Daly, Jr., Montana State, Marquis Jackson, Sr., Portland State
Outside Linebackers: Johnny Millard, Jr., Cal Poly, Ian Sluss, Sr., Portland State, Zach Johnson, Sr., Eastern Washington
Inside Linebackers: Jordan Glass, Sr., UC Davis, Anthony Morales, Jr., Weber State
Cornerbacks: Darius Jones, Sr., Montana State, Osagie Odiase, Jr., Sacramento State
Safeties: Allen Brown, Jr., Eastern Washington, Marcel Gibbons, Sr., Northern Colorado
Punter: Andy Wilder, Jr., Northern Arizona
SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
Taylor Malenfant, Sr., Northern Arizona
HONRABLE MENTION OFFENSE
Wide Receivers – Willie Tucker, So., Cal Poly; Cole Stanford, Jr., Cal Poly; Greg Herd, Sr., Eastern Washington; Nicholas Edwards, Sr., Eastern Washington; Cam Richmond, Jr., Idaho State; Sam Gratton, Sr., Montana; Ify Umodo, Jr., Northern Arizona; Dominic Gunn, Sr., Northern Colorado; Jace Davis, Jr., Northern Colorado; Justin Monahan, Sr., Portland State; Mitch Jessop, So., Southern Utah; Corey Galindo, So., UC Davis; Xavian Johnson, So., Weber State.
Tackles – Giovanni Sani, Jr., Cal Poly; Emmett Lynch, Sr., North Dakota, Nick Candler, Sr., Northern Colorado; Kyle Ritt, Sr., Portland State; Mitchell Van Dyk, Jr., Portland State; Cody Burgess, Jr., Southern Utah; Shelton Robinson, So., Weber State
Guards – Lefi Letuligasenoa, Jr., Cal Poly; Mark Clampitt, Sr., Idaho State; Jake Hendrickson, SR., Montana; Quinn Catalano, So., Montana State; Galeb Gillson, Sr., North Dakota; Roy Garcia, So., Northern Arizona; Chris Anderson, Sr., Northern Colorado; Cornelius Edison, So., Portland State.
Centers – Geoff Hyde, Sr., Cal Poly; Ashton Miller, Jr., Eastern Washington; Kjelby Oiland, Jr., Montana; Ian McGurran, Sr., North Dakota; Mitch Gaulke, Jr., Portland State; Ray Wilburn, Sr., UC Davis; Tytan Timoteo, Sr., Weber State.
Tight ends – R.J. Rickert, So., Northern Arizona; Drew Emanuel, Jr., Northern Arizona; TJ. Knowles, Sr., Sacramento State; Henna Brown, Sr., Southern Utah; Taylor Sloat, Jr., UC Davis.
Quarterbacks – Andre Broadous, Sr, Cal Poly; Kevin Yost, Sr., Idaho State; Braden Hanson, Sr., North Dakota; Cary Grossart, Sr., Northern Arizona; Seth Lobato, Jr., Northern Colorado; Garrett Safron, So., Sacramento State
Running Backs – Demitrius Bronson, Jr., Eastern Washington; D.J. Adams, Jr., Portland State; Ezekiel Graham, Jr., Sacramento State; C.J. Tuckett, Sr., Weber State.
Fullback – Tray Robinson, Sr., Montana State; Dalton Turay, So., UC Davis.
Placekicker – Chris Lider, Fr., Montana; Rory Perez, Jr., Montana State; Zeb Miller, Jr., North Dakota; Andy Wilder, Jr., Northern Arizona; Zach Brown, Sr., Portland State.
Return Specialists – Shaquille Hill, Fr., Eastern Washington; Peter Nguyen, Sr., Montana; Shawn Johnson, So., Montana State; Greg Hardin, Jr., North Dakota.
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
Tackles – Andru Pulu, Jr., Eastern Washington; Dylan Zylstra, So., Eastern Washington; Tonga Takai, So., Montana; Alex Bienemann, Jr., Montana; Marc Thompson, Jr., Northern Arizona; Dereck Jester, Jr., Portland State Matt Lawrence, Sr., Sacramento State; Andrew Benjamin, Sr., UC Davis.
Ends – Paul Ena, Sr., Eastern Washington; Josh Harris, Sr., Montana; Jay Nelson, Sr., North Dakota; Ross Brenneman, Sr., North Dakota, Jarret Bilbrey, Sr., Northern Arizona; Gavin Miller, Jr., Northern Colorado; Avery White, Sr., Sacramento State; James Cowser, Fr., Southern Utah; Trevor Pletcher, Sr., Weber State.
Outside Linebacker – Nick Dzubnar, So., Cal Poly; Grant Williams, Sr., Eastern Washington; Trevor Spence, Jr., Idaho State; John Paul Kanongata'a, Jr., Montana; Mike Dosen, So., Northern Arizona; Ryan Reardon, Jr., Northern Arizona; Jaycob Shoemaker, Jr., Portland State; Byron Gruendl, Sr., UC Davis.
Inside Linebackers – Tyler Washburn, Sr., Eastern Washington; Brock Coyle, Jr., Montana; Na'a Moeakiola, Jr., Montana State; Austin Hasquet, So., Northern Arizona; Herve Tonye-Tonye, Sr., Northern Colorado; Khalil Bass, Sr., Portland State; Todd Davis, Jr., Sacramento State; Jeff Badger, Sr., Sacramento State; Zak Browning, Fr., Southern Utah.
Cornerbacks – Nico Molino, Sr., Cal Poly; Vante Smith-Johnson, Jr., Cal Poly; Ronald Baines, Jr., Eastern Washington; Donovan Henley, Sr., Idaho State; Sean Murray, Jr., Montana; Devin Willis, Sr., Northern Arizona; Courtney Hall, So., Northern Colorado; Jonathan Perkins, Jr., UC Davis; David James, Sr., Weber State.
Safeties - Jordan Tonai, Fr., Eastern Washington; Taison Manu, Fr., Idaho State; Matt Hermanson, So., Montana; Steven Bethley, Jr., Montana State; Blair Wishom, Jr., Northern Arizona; Jordan Bible, Sr., Northern Colorado; Joel Sisler, Sr., Portland State; Mike Williams, Sr., Portland State; Ryan McMahon, Sr., Sacramento State; Miles Killebrew, Fr., Southern Utah
Punters – Bobby Zalud, Jr., Cal Poly; Stephen Shaw, Fr., Montana.
HONORABLE MENTION SPECIAL TEAMS
Chris Judge, Jr., Cal Poly; Chase King, Sr., Eastern Washington; Mike Foster, So., Montana State; Nevin Lewis, Sr., Portland State.
