Scroll down the release to view 2017 GLIAC Football All-Conference Teams

The 2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football postseason awards have been announced after voting conducted by the league's coaches. 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Travis Tarnowski - Ashland

Ashland senior quarterback Travis Tarnowski ended the regular season with a GLIAC-leading 2,600 passing yards and a GLIAC-high-tying 26 touchdown passes, and was second in the conference in passing efficiency (155.6) and completion percentage (60.3). During the season, he became Ashland's all-time leader in passing yards (10,877) and total offense yards (11,263), and extended his program record for career touchdown passes (106).

OFFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR
Jake Mayon - Northern Michigan

Ashland senior offensive lineman Dominic Giunta is the anchor of an Eagle offensive line which has paved the way for the Eagles to average 35.4 points and 424.9 yards per game. Through the first 10 games of 2017, his blocking grade was 88 percent with 90 knockdowns and just four missed assignments. The best AU center since All-American Vince Cashdollar, Giunta has allowed just one sack in his Eagle career.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Zach Sieler - Ferris State

A returning All-American, Ferris State University junior defensive end Zach Sieler was a dominant force up front for one of the nation's top defensive units this season. He compiled a squad-high 16.5 tackles for loss along with six sacks while earning GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year laurels for the second-straight season. In addition, he ranked third on the squad with 51 total stops, including 23 unassisted tackles, despite being double-teamed most of the year. Sieler also finished with two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, a blocked kick and a forced fumble while starting all 10 games and helping lead FSU to its fourth-straight NCAA Playoff appearance.  He earned All-GLIAC First Team recognition for the second-straight year.

DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE YEAR
Tavierre Thomas - Ferris State

Ferris State University senior cornerback Tavierre Thomas helped lead the nationally-ranked Bulldogs to a fourth-straight NCAA Playoff appearance with a strong performance on the back end for one of the nation's top defensive units this season. Thomas tallied three interceptions and had a team-high 13 passs breakups while ranking among the league leaders. He also compiled 47 total tackles, which ranked fourth on the GLIAC's top unit, and produced two tackles for loss along with 36 unassisted stops while starting all 10 contests after garnering All-America accolades as a junior. He earned All-GLIAC First Team recognition for the second-straight year.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Chad Gailliard - Saginaw Valley

Saginaw Valley's Chad Gailliard led the GLIAC with his 84.9 receiving yards per game in his first season for the Cardinals. He reeled-in 42 catches for a league-leading 934 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 22.2 yards per receptions as well, which also led the league. Gailliard had over 100 yards receiving in four games, including 229 yards in the team's victory at NMU on Oct. 21. That marked the most yards by any GLIAC receiver in the 2017 campaign. 

COACH OF THE YEAR
Lee Owens - Ashland

Ashland head coach Lee Owens guided Ashland to its second outright GLIAC championship and third overall in six years in 2017, as well as his fifth NCAA Division II postseason appearance. The Eagles' 10-1 record marks the third time Owens has won double-digit games at AU, and he is 108-45 (.706) in his 14th season at the helm. This is his fourth GLIAC Coach of the Year award (2005, 2012 and 2015).