BURNSVILLE, Minn. --- A total of 12 Minnesota State football players have claimed 13 All-NSIC honors for their efforts o the field this season.
On offense, senior
Marshall Foerner, junior
TreShawn Watson and freshman
Sam Backer were named All-NSIC First Team Offense, while senior
Gabe Hagen, senior
Zach Roggow, senior
Deontae Veney and junior
Nathan Gribble earned All-NSIC Second Team Offense honors.
In addition, Backer was named the NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year. He is the third Maverick to receive the award, joining
Nick Pieruccini (2014) and
Nate Gunn (2017) who received the award previously.
On defense, seniors
Maven Kretche,
Khai West and
Antonio Alzheimer claimed All-NSIC First Team Defense honors, while seniors
Cody Brown and
Joey Goettl received All-NSIC Second Team Defense accolades.
In addition to his All-NSIC First Team Offense honors
TreShawn Watson also garnered All-NSIC First Team Special Teams honors as a return specialist.
Minnesota State continues its season on the road this Saturday as it takes on the Augustana Vikings in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in Sioux Falls, S.D.
All-NSIC First Team Offense
All-NSIC Second Team Offense
All-NSIC First Team Defense
All-NSIC Second Team Defense
All-NSIC First Team Special Teams
#4 Khai West – Has played and started in all 11 games for the Mavericks this season. Ranks second on the team in tackles with 51 and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two. Against UMD, West blocked an extra point and returned it for a two point conversion. Against Wayne State, West recoded a season-high nine tackles.
#6 TreShawn Watson – Has played in all 11 games this season, including 10 starts. He leads the Maverick receiving corps with 41 catches for 606 yards and seven touchdowns. He has recorded more than 100 receiving yards in three games this season, including 144 against Minot State. Watson also leads the team in kick return yards with 391 and is averaging 23.0 yards per return.
#8 Gabe Hagen – Has played and started in 10 games for the Mavericks this season. Hagen has caught 36 passes for 430 yards and six touchdowns. Against Sioux Falls, he caught eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
#20 Antonio Alzheimer – Has played in all 11 games for the Mavericks, including 10 starts. He leads the team in tackles with 89, to go along with 5.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Against Sioux Falls, Alzheimer notched a season-high 11 tackles.
#21 Joey Goettl – Has played and started in all 11 games for the Mavericks this season. Has recorded 31 tackles and two interceptions. Goettl has broken up five passes this season and notched a season-high six tackles vs. Bemidji State.
#24 Sam Backer – Has played in all 11 games, including six starts. Backer leads the Maverick rushing attack with 716 yards, to go along with four touchdown carries. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in three games this season, including a season-high 159 yards against Wayne State.
#56 Nathan Gribble – Has played and started in all 11 games for the Mavericks on the offensive line this season. As a member of the offensive line, he has helped the Mavericks rush for 1,920 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Maverick offensive line has only given up 11 sacks this season which ranks 19th in NCAA Division II.
#73 Zach Roggow - Has played and started in eight games for the Mavericks this season. As a member of the offensive line, he has helped the Mavericks rush for 1,920 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Maverick offensive line has only given up 11 sacks this season which ranks 19th in NCAA Division II.
#74 Deontae Veney – Has played and started in all 11 games for the Mavericks on the offensive line. As a member of the offensive line, he has helped the Mavericks rush for 1,920 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Maverick offensive line has only given up 11 sacks this season which ranks 19th in NCAA Division II.
#79 Marshall Foerner – Has played and started in nine games for the Mavericks this season. As a member of the offensive line, he has helped the Mavericks rush for 1,920 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Maverick offensive line has only given up 11 sacks this season which ranks 19th in NCAA Division II.
#90 Maven Kretche – Has played and started in all 11 games for the Mavericks. Has recorded 32 tackles and ranks second on the team in tackles for loss with 6.0. Kretche has also tallied 2.5 sacks and has forced two fumbles. Against MSU Moorhead, Kretche recorded four tackles, including 2.0 for a loss.
#98 Cody Brown – Has played and started in all 11 games for the Mavericks this season. Has tallied 40 tackles on the season and leads the team in tackles for loss with 12.5 and sacks with 6.0. Brown opened the season vs. Northwest Missouri with 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Against UMary, he tallied 4.0 tackles for loss.
