November 19, 2014

Ferris State's Vander Laan Named 2014 #GLIACFB 'Player of the Year', All-GLIAC Awards Announced

Scroll down the release to view 2014 GLIAC Football All-Conference Teams

BAY CITY, Mich. -- Ferris State junior quarterback Jason Vander Laan was named 2014 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football 'Player of the Year' today (Nov. 19) to conclude all-conference voting conducted by the league's coaches. Lake Erie's junior running back Anthony Bilal claimed 'Offensive Back of the Year' honors, while Ferris State's senior Jacob VanderKlok took home the 'Offensive Lineman of the Year' award. On the opposite side of the ball, Wayne State senior linebacker Nores Fradi was selected 'Defensive Back of the Year' along with Michigan Tech senior Nelson Wienke who was tabbed 'Defensive Lineman of the Year' for the playoff-bound Huskies. Ashland quarterback Travis Tarnowski was labeled 'Freshman of the Year' after an impressive debut season with the Eagles and Ferris State's Tony Annese was named 'Coach of the Year' after he orchestrated a breakout season for the Bulldogs.

One of the favorites for the Division II Harlon Hill Trophy, Jason Vander Laan quarterbacked the Bulldogs to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular season. This season, Vander Laan has compiled a squad-best 1,328 rushing yards with 19 scores while completing 164-of-239 passes for a career-high 2,140 yards and 27 touchdowns. He ranks as the nation's top rushing quarterback at all levels and is tops in the country in passing efficiency (177.8) along with points responsible for this year (276). Behind Vander Laan's play as the signal caller, Ferris State presently leads the nation in total offense (533.5 ypg.) and is second in scoring offense (47.8 ppg.) along with fourth in rushing (334.5 ypg). The Bulldogs compiled 700 yards or more in three games and have set a school single-season scoring record with 526 total points heading into the playoffs. The three-year starter, who also became the school's all-time leader in total offense and career rushing yards this fall, was also a Capital One Academic All-District IV First Team honoree and is the only active quarterback in college football at any level with both 50+ passing and rushing TD's in his career. 

Anthony Bilal broke several school records en route to becoming the Storm's first 2,000-yard rusher.  Bilal ended the year tied for the lead nationally in rushing touchdowns with 29 and second in rushing yards with 2,091 on only 254 carries.  Against Ohio Dominican University, Ferris State University and Michigan Tech University - the three teams that qualified for the NCAA Playoffs- Bilal totaled 626 yards and six touchdowns.  His 270 yards in the final week against Michigan Tech set a school record which he set earlier in the season.  Against Walsh University, Bilal scored six rushing touchdowns, which tied the GLIAC record for most in a game.  Overall, Bilal rushed for 200 or more yards in six games this season and scored three or more touchdowns in five games.

The leader of a dominant Bulldog offensive line, Jacob VanderKlok's play helped Ferris State to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular-season along with FSU's first GLIAC Championship since 1999. One of two seniors starters up front, VanderKlok helped pave the way for a Ferris State unit that currently leads the nation in total offense (533.5 ypg.) and is second in scoring (47.8 ppg.) and fourth in rushing (334.5 ypg.). His efforts helped Ferris State rack up 700 yards or more three times this year, including a school single-game record 767 yards against Tiffin. The Bulldogs also set school game records for most points (75) and rushing yards (555) in 2014 en route to FSU's first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1996. Additionally, this season Ferris State has compiled a school single-season record 526 points and a program-best 3,679 rushing yards along with a record 5,869 total yards. VanderKlok's play at left tackle has not only allowed standout quarterback Jason Vander Laan to rank among the nation's leading rushers, but also allowed him to lead the country in passing efficiency. 

Wayne State's Nores Fradi started all 11 games at outside linebacker in 2014 for the Warriors and led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss during the regular season. He tied for the GLIAC lead with 8.5 sacks, while finishing with exactly 100 tackles (73-27) on the year. His 70 yards lost on sacks led the conference as did his 113 TFL yards and 73 solo tackles. Fradi tied-for-third in the league in forced fumbles with three, while helping the WSU defense rank fifth in scoring defense (21.4 ppg), fourth in total defense (338.5), first in sacks (32) and second in fumble recoveries (13) among GLIAC schools.  His 6.6 solo tackles per game ranked ninth nationally, and at the conclusion of the regular season, Fradi was first among active D-II players and 11th among all active NCAA football players with 51.5 career tackles for loss (43-17).  Fradi's selection as GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year is the third in the last seven years for WSU joining Dante Dunn (2008) and Jeremy Jones (2011).

Michigan Tech's Nelson Wienke posted 44 total tackles in the regular season to anchor Tech's defense, which finished second in the GLIAC in both scoring defense and total defense. The senior has 27 solo tackles and 17 assists in his final campaign, which will continue Saturday (Nov. 22) with an NCAA Regional Playoff matchup with Angelo State at Sherman Field. Wienke notched team highs of 11.0 tackles and 4.5 sacks; his 11 tackles for loss accounted for 64 lost yards for opposing offenses. The Upper Peninsula native is a three-time All-GLIAC honoree with 18.0 career sacks, fourth-most in school history. Wienke has been a part of 29 wins and just 12 losses in his career.

Ashland's Travis Tarnowski started all 10 games at quarterback for the Eagles, and finished with an 8-2 record. He was 168-for-288 (58.3 percent) for 2,167 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, and was sacked just eight times. Tarnowski ranked fifth in the GLIAC in passing attempts and passing yards, was tied for fifth in completions, sixth in completion percentage, tied for sixth in touchdown passes and was the third least-intercepted quarterback among conference qualifiers. His five touchdown passes at home against Northern Michigan tied the program record and set a new Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field standard, and his 374 passing yards at home against Lake Erie also set a new AU home stadium mark.

In his third season at the Ferris State helm, Tony Annese has been the mastermind behind the resurrection of the Bulldog program. This fall, he led Ferris State to the school's first-ever 11-0 regular-season, the school's first GLIAC Championship since 1999 and FSU's first NCAA Playoff appearance since 1996. The Bulldogs have won a nation-leading 15-straight games dating back to last year, which ranks as the third-longest streak in all of college football and have won 19 of their last 21 contests overall under Annese's direction. The veteran coach has posted a 26-7 mark in three seasons at Ferris State and led the turnaround of a squad that finished winless in GLIAC play only five years ago to an unbeaten showing this fall. This year, the Bulldogs' offensive unit also rolled up school records for total points (526), rushing (3,679) and total offense (5,869) with Annese directing the action. Ferris State beat archrival Grand Valley State for the third-straight year and beat a pair of unbeaten and highly-ranked league foes on the road in back-to-back weeks with wins at Ohio Dominican and Michigan Tech. FSU has won at least eight games in two-straight seasons for the first time since 1995-96 and became the first GLIAC North squad to finish unbeaten in conference action since 2008 this fall.


       

2014 GLIAC Football Postseason Awards

Player of the Year

Jason Vander Laan

Ferris State University

Junior QB

Offensive Back of the Year

Anthony Bilal

Lake Erie

Junior RB

Defensive Back of the Year

Nores Fradi

Wayne State

Senior LB

Defensive Lineman of the Year

Nelson Wienke

Michigan Tech

Senior DE

Offensive Lineman of the Year

Jacob VanderKlok

Ferris State

Senior OL

Freshman of the Year

Travis Tarnowski

Ashland

Freshman QB

Coach of the Year

Tony Annese

Ferris State

Third Season

2014 All-GLIAC Football First Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School
Jason Vander Laan Ferris State  Sr.    QB Frankfort, Ill. / Chicago Christian
Anthony Bilal Lake Erie  Jr.    RB Painesville, Ohio / Riverside 
Desmond Martin Wayne State  Sr.    RB    Redford, Mich. / Thurston
Anthony Taylor Ashland  Sr.    RB Arlington, Va. / Washington-Lee 
Trent Brodbeck Wayne State  So.    TE Toledo, Ohio / St. John's Jesuit
Lloyd Henry Findlay  Sr.    WR Garfield Heights, Ohio / Garfield Heights 
Jamie Potts Grand Valley State  Jr.    WR Muskegon, Mich. /  Oakridge
Daniel Piko Ashland  Sr.    WR Oak Lawn, Ill. / Marist Academy 
Dez Stewart Ohio Dominican  Jr.    WR Cincinnati, Ohio / Walnut Hills 
James Triplett Ashland  Sr.    OL Newark, Ohio / Newark
Frank Vruwink Michigan Tech  Jr.    OL Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. / Lincoln
Perrin Cunningham Ohio Dominican  Sr.    OL Cincinnati, Ohio / Winton Woods
Jake VanderKlok Ferris State  Sr.    OL Caledonia, Mich. / Grand Rapids South Christian
Jim Walsh Grand Valley State  Jr.    OL Howell, Mich. / Howell
Nate Theaker Wayne State  Jr.    OL White Lake, Mich. / Lakeland
Matt Judon Grand Valley State  Jr.    DL
 West Bloomfield, Mich. / West Bloomfield
Sydney Omameh Ohio Dominican  Jr.    DL  Columbus, Ohio / Westerville North
Nelson Wienke Michigan Tech  Sr.    DE
 Kingsford, Mich.
Justin Zimmer Ferris State  Jr.    DE
 Greenville, Mich. / Greenville
Chase Hoobler Ashland  Sr.    DL
 Orrville, Ohio / Indiana
Gerren DuHart Wayne State  Sr.    CB Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic
Billy Eakins Ohio Dominican  Jr.    DB Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington Central
Jamaris Brown Walsh  Sr.    DB Fort Myers, Fla. / Lehigh
DeShawn Nelson Michigan Tech  Sr.    DB Kentwood, Mich. / East
Troy Smith Ferris State  Jr.    CB Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike
Cody Bloom Ashland  Sr.    LB Napoleon, Ohio / Napoleon
Nores Fradi Wayne State  Sr.    LB Dearborn Heights, Mich. / Dearborn
Austin Osborne Ohio Dominican  Jr.    LB Jackson, Ohio / Jackson
Michael Fisher Northwood  So.    LB Rochester, Mich. / Adams
Tanner Wells Lake Erie  Sr.    LB Carrollton, Texas / Parish Episcopal
Brent Wahle Ohio Dominican  Jr.    PK Pataskala, Ohio / Bishop Hartley
Chris Picano Grand Valley State  Sr.    P Brighton, Mich. / Brighton
Jamaris Brown Walsh  Sr.   KR Fort Myers, Fla. / Lehigh

                                            2014 All-GLIAC Football Second Team

Name School Year Pos. Hometown/High School
Tyler Scarlett Michigan Tech  Sr.  QB  Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston 
Brandon Schoen Ohio Dominican Jr. RB Lewis Center, OH / Olentangy Orange
Charlie Leffingwell Michigan Tech Sr. RB Midland, Mich. / Midland
Jahaan Brown Ferris State Fr. RB East Grand Rapids, Mich. / East Grand Rapids
Jerad Butler Ohio Dominican Jr. TE Nevada, OH / Wynford
Brandon Cowie Michigan Tech So. WR West Bend, Wis. / West
Michael Johnson Wayne State Sr. WR Detroit, Mich. / Clintondale / Western Michigan
Marcus Tucker Northern Michigan Jr. WR Flint, Mich. / Grand Blanc / Mott CC
Shakur Sanders Ferris State So. WR Kentwood, Mich./Ottawa Hills
Corbin Jackimowicz Lake Erie  Sr.  OL North Fort Myers, Fla. / North Fort Myers
Chris Reaper Findlay  Jr. OL Toledo, Ohio / Whitmer 
Justin Glover Ferris State  Sr. OL Grand Rapids, Mich. / Union 
Bruce Tebelman Michigan Tech  Sr. OL  Dearborn, Mich./Edsel Ford 
Brandon Revenberg Grand Valley State  Jr. OL  Essex, Ontario / Essex District 
Ben Copher Ohio Dominican  Jr. OL  Dayton, Ohio / Valley View 
 Jake Carrizales
Wayne State
 Fr. DE
Hamler, Ohio / Patrick Henry
 Isiah Dunning
 Grand Valley State
 Sr. DL
 Grand Rapids, Mich. / Ravenna
Di'Andre Harrison Ohio Dominican Jr. DL Columbus, Ohio / Centennial
Corey Stone Ferris State Sr. DT Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson
Skyler Parks Walsh Jr. DL Canton, Ohio / McKinley
Deonté Hurst
Grand Valley State Sr. DB Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood
Harold Jones Findlay Sr. DB Columbus, Ohio / Horizon Science Academy
Ayrn Curtis Northwood So. DB Detroit, Mich. / West Bloomfield
Demarco Donaldson Malone Sr. DB Southfield, Mich. / Grand Valley State University
Kyle Tomko Ashland Jr. DB Independence, Ohio / Padua
Cameron Trudell Walsh Sr. LB Columbus, Ohio / Walnut Ridge
Chris Harvey Ashland Sr. LB Columbus, Ohio / Walnut Ridge
Anthony Darkangelo Ferris State So. LB Detroit, Mich. / Catholic Central
Warren Shields Ohio Dominican Jr. LB Richwood, Ohio / North Union
Paul Kuoppala Michigan Tech Jr. LB Iron Mountain, Mich.
Val Showers Wayne State Sr. KR Detroit, Mich. / Crockett / Central Michigan
Paul Graham Wayne State Fr.  PK  Commerce Township, Mich. / Orchard Lake St. Mary's 
Trevor Bermingham Ferris State So. P Addison, Ill. / Addison

     2014 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team

Ashland
Name Year Pos. Hometown/High School
Vance Settlemire So. RB Findlay, Ohio / Findlay
Travis Tarnowski Fr. QB Broadview Heights, Ohio / North Royalton
Logan Slavinski Sr. TE Bellville, Ohio / Clear Fork
Adam Wallace So. DL Sterling, Ohio / Norwayne
James Ester Jr. DB Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights
Eric Schwieterman Sr. DB Norwalk, Ohio / St. Paul
Ferris State

A.J. McEwen

Sr. CB East Grand Rapids, Mich. / East GR

Carlton Johnson

Sr. DE Muskegon, Mich. / Muskegon

Darnell Morris

Sr. LB Detroit, Mich. / Inkster

Adam Bennett

Jr. OL Romeo, Mich. / Romeo

Cody Dingeldey

Jr. OL L'Anse, Mich. / L'Anse

Bryan Bell

Jr. OL Walled Lake, Mich. / Central

Findlay

Verlon Reed

 Sr.  QB  Columbus, Ohio / Marion-Franklin

Zach Matracia

 Sr.  LB  Greenfield, Ohio / McClain

Myles Alexander

 So.  LB  Cleveland, Ohio / Euclid

Tyler Bugeja

 So.  K  Royal Palm Beach, Fla. / Royal Palm Beach

Chauncey Bridges

 Fr.  RB  Farmington Hills, Mich. / North Farmington

Alex Irastorza

 Sr. P
 Miami, Fla. / Christopher Columbus
Grand Valley State
Heath Parling Sr. QB Plymouth, Mich. / Salem
Chris Robinson Sr. RB Ovid, Mich. / Ovid-Elsie
Joe Wirth Sr. TE Shelby Twp., Mich. / Utica Eisenhower
Matt Mosley Sr. DL Chicago, Ill. / Morgan Park
DeVonté Jones
Sr. DB St. Joseph, Mich. / St. Joseph
Frank Boenzi Sr. DL Geneva, Ill. / Geneva
Hillsdale
Matt Eltringham Sr. P Loveland, Ohio / Loveland
Tyler Jenks Sr. DL Comstock Park, Mich. / Comstock Park
Steve Mette So. K Rockford, Mich. / Rockford
Tim Moinet Sr. DB St. Johns, Mich. / St. Johns
Dan Pittman Sr. DB Grand Rapids, Mich. / West Catholic
Bryan Siegert Sr. DL Clare, Mich. / Clare
Lake Erie
Tommy Jackson Sr. WR Hubbard, Ohio / Hubbard
Chris Higgins Sr. OL Alliance, Ohio / Marlington
Ben Miller Sr. OL Archbold, Ohio / Archbold
Ty Law Sr. DL Madison, Ohio / Madison
Maurice Hale So. DB Columbus, Ohio / Beechcroft
David Bojalad Sr. P Saint Mary's, Pa. / Elk County Christian
Malone
Austin Cary So. DL Loudonville, Ohio / Loudonville
Lloyd Phillips Sr. DB Pittsburgh, Pa. / West Liberty Univ. (WV)
Fred Baker Jr. LB Euclid, Ohio / Glenville
Drew Bond Sr. TE Mesa, Ariz. / Valley Christian
Ronnie Beers So. RB Canal Fulton, Ohio / Northwest
Josh McLaughlin Sr. WR Hanoverton, Ohio / United Local
Michigan Tech
Tanner Agen Jr. DL  Kaukauna, Wis.
Cam Allen Sr. DL  Clare, Mich.
Brett Gervais Jr. DB  Lake Linden, Mich.
Josh Knoepke Fr. OL  Appleton, Wis. / Fox Valley Lutheran
Garrett Mead Sr. K Alpena, Mich.

Jeremy Mims

Sr. DB  Novi, Mich.
Northern Michigan
Kyle Steuck Jr. OL Green Bay, Wis. / West De Pere
Shaye Brown So. QB Fenton, Mich. / Linden
Kelvin Smarwt Sr. WR St. Petersburg, Fla. / Boca Ciega
Trevor Kruzel Sr. DL Boyne City, Mich/ Boyne City
Jordan Adideran Sr. DL Gwinn, Mich. / Gwinn
Nick Krause Sr. LB Gillett, Wis. / Gillett
Northwood
 Mike Keith
 Jr.  LB  Roseville, Mich. / Warren De La Salle
 Ryan Spicuzzi
 Sr.  DB  Macomb, Mich. / Macomb-Dakota
 Brad Oxnevad
 Jr.  OL  Oak Park, Ill. / River Forest
 Jared Briguglio
 Jr.  RB  Saginaw, Mich. / Swan Valley
 Keegan Haggarty
 Jr.  K  Macomb, Mich. / Chippewa Valle
 Ron McNamara
 Sr.  DL
 Chicago, Ill. / St. Rita
Ohio Dominican
 Cody Culbertson
 Jr. DB
 Galloway, Ohio / Bishop Ready
 Mark Miller
 Sr. QB
 Cincinnati, Ohio / Elder
 Da'Twane Harris
 Jr. DB
 Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville Academic Campus
 Brad McCurdy
 Jr.  DB  Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson
 Hunter Maynard
 Jr.  DL  Ashville, Ohio / Bishop Watterson
 Mike Koehlke
 Jr. OL
 West Chester, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick
Saginaw Valley State
Murtada Jabbie Sr. DE Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South
Bryan Jones Fr. LB Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft
Logan Hauserman Sr. OL Circleville, Ohio / Logan Elm
Will Schwarz Sr. DE Troy, Mich. / Troy
Bryan Fobbs Jr. WR San Jose, Calif. / Valley Christian
Jesse Somsel Sr. OL Rockford, Mich. / Rockford
Tiffin
Antonio Pipkin So. QB Gary, Ind. / Theo Bowman Academy

Marcus Beaurem

Sr. WR Detroit, Mich. / Sterling Hts. Stevenson

Brandon Person

Sr. DB Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids CC

Carlton Watkins

Sr. DB Medina, Ohio / Buckeye

Mason Butler

Fr. OL Malvern, Ohio / Minerva

Terry Harper

So. LB Columbus, Ohio / World Harvest Prep

Walsh

Jerald Robinson

Sr. WR Canton, Ohio / South

Anthony Schrock

Jr. WR Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth

Zach Conlan

Sr. OL Youngstown, Ohio / Ursuline

Aaron Male

So. RB Akron, Ohio / Ellet

Justin Keith

Sr. RB Canton, Ohio / South

Tim Carter

Sr. P Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson
Wayne State
Zak Bielecki Jr. S Macomb, Mich. / Lutheran North
Ben Walker Sr. LT Oxford, Mich. / Lake Orion
Marcell Jones Sr. LB Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Mumford
Justice Akuezue Sr. DE Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron
Sam Sillmon Sr. DT Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King
Ethan Walsh Jr. TE Canton, Mich. / Salem