Franklin’s Burton & Bluffton’s Aelker Headline All-HCAC Football Selections
Posted: Nov 18, 2015
GREENWOOD, IN – Franklin College led the conference with 12 players on the 2015 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team, including the conference's Offensive Most Valuable Player. Franklin's Chase Burton (Corydon, Ind./Corydon Central) has been named the HCAC Offensive Most Valuable Player, while Bluffton's Ryan Aelker (New Bavaria, Ohio/Holgate) picked up the HCAC Defensive Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season.
Earlham's Jalen Kenner (Reserve, La./East St. John) was honored as Special Teams Most Valuable Player for the first time, while Earlham head coach Nick Johnson garnered Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career. Mount St. Joseph University's Garrett Weaver (Cincinnati, Ohio/Amelia) was named Freshman of the Year for his efforts this fall.
Burton, a sophomore quarterback for the Grizzlies, has passed for 3,560 yards this fall, ranking second in all of NCAA Division III. The sophomore is averaging 356.0 yards per game, while amassing 34 passing touchdowns and eight rushing scores. During conference play, Burton averaged 380.6 passing yards per contest and tossed a HCAC-record 33 touchdowns. The first-year starter crossed the 300-yard passing mark eight times in ten games, including a 474-yard performance against Defiance.
Aelker, a senior defensive lineman for Bluffton, led the Beavers defense this season that ranked among the conference leaders in scoring (3rd) and total defense (3rd). The senior currently leads NCAA Division III with 15.5 sacks and 24.0 tackles for loss. Aelker also has three forced fumbles and an interception from the defensive end position.
Kenner, a senior returner for Earlham, led the conference in return yards this fall. The senior totaled 1,036 yards on kickoffs, averaging 20.3 yards per return. Kenner led the conference in all-purpose yards this season, averaging 185.4 yards per game.
Weaver, a freshman wide receiver for Mount St. Joseph, played in all 10 games for the Lions this season. The freshman caught 44 passes for 995 yards and a league-high 17 touchdowns. His 17 receiving touchdowns also set a NCAA Division III freshman record.
Earlham head football coach Nick Johnson has been named the HCAC Coach of the Year in his first year as head coach of the Quakers. This honor was out of respect for Johnson and his dedication to his profession, his program, and his personal life. Coach Johnson instills life lessons to his student athletes on the field while embodying real life challenges. Off of the field, Johnson continues to head the football program while his wife, Melissa, battles illness. Melissa has been in the hospital for over 500 days in the last two years. Johnson has attended every practice and missed only one game this season.
"I believe it says volumes about the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference and its coaches who voted for this award," Johnson said. "Each week, I have felt such tremendous support from our competitors. I want to thank every coach in the HCAC for being a tough opponent, a great coach, and an even better man. All of the coaches in our league are great examples to their respective programs and a credit to their institutions."
"I do not accept this award for me, but on behalf of our staff," Johnson continued. "I don't know where Earlham Football would be without Robert Lee, Chuck Ehret, Dyrell Roberts, Elijah Ferguson, Kevin Carr, Patrick Piper, Jeff Adams, Kyle Fischer, and Rick Davis. These men are the glue that held Earlham Football together, and I am honored to be associated with them. If anyone 'won' this award it was our coaching staff as a whole. I was fortunate to see their dedication, work ethic, care, and concern for our young men and the game of football. It is sincere my privilege to work with each of them and to learn from them every day."
To learn more about Coach Johnson's story please read this outstanding piece from Mike Lopresti of the Indiana Business Journal.
All teams are voted and selected by the nine conference head coaches.
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Chase Burton, Franklin College
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Ryan Aelker, Bluffton University
Special Teams Most Valuable Player: Jalen Kenner, Earlham College
Freshman of the Year: Garrett Weaver, Mount St. Joseph University
Coach of the Year: Nick Johnson, Earlham College
First Team All-HCAC
|
Chase Burton
|
Franklin
|
So.
|
QB
|
Corydon, Ind./Corydon Central
|
|
Hunter Hardee
|
Manchester
|
So.
|
RB
|
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
|
|
Ty'Ronte Files
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
RB
|
Ocala, Fla./Vanguard
|
|
Devante Thomas-Wright
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Kings Clint Twp, Mich./Chippewa Valley
|
|
Dylan Jenney
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
TE
|
Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central
|
|
Micah Roberson
|
Bluffton
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Ada, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Mason Deal
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian
|
|
Lee Wroblewski
|
Franklin
|
So.
|
WR
|
Salem, Ind./Paoli
|
|
Alec Fisher
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills
|
|
Aaron Abbott
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Lebanon, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Austin Carlton
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Evansville, Ind./Reitz
|
|
T.J. Demos
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Huntsville, Ala./H.S.
|
|
Blaine Kowalkowski
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Myrtle Beach, S.C./Carolina Forest
|
|
Austin Speice
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Paulding, Ohio/Wayne Trace
|
|
D'Ante Dorsey
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington
|
|
Colten Kelso
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Coshocton, Ohio/River Valley
|
|
Ryan Aelker
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
New Bavaria, Ohio/Holgate
|
|
Nate Bryan
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Greencastle, Ind./North Putnam
|
|
Connor Kispert
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Oswego, Ill./H.S.
|
|
Devante Ash
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian
|
|
Isaac Zickafoose
|
Bluffton
|
Fr.
|
DL
|
Middlebury, Ind./Northridge
|
|
Jeremiah Windell
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Corydon, Ind./Corydon Central
|
|
Kaelen Garner
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
LB
|
Ocean Springs, Miss./H.S.
|
|
Lucas Windell
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Corydon, Ind./Corydon Central
|
|
Brad Swavel
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Marion, Ohio/Ridgedale
|
|
Nathan Birk
|
Manchester
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Ritter
|
|
Ryan Martin
|
Hanover
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Greensburg, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Alec Thompson
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
DB
|
Clermont, Fla./Foundation Academy
|
|
Marvin Draper
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone
|
|
Dillon Nelson
|
Manchester
|
Fr.
|
DB
|
Fairland, Ind./Triton Central
|
|
Taylor Christensen
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
|
|
Taylor Anglemyer
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Wakarusa, Ind./Northwood
|
|
Shane Kelly
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
K
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin
|
|
Josh Green
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
P
|
Beaumaris, Australia
|
|
Jalen Kenner
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
Ret.
|
Reserve, La./East St. John
|
|
Deontez Alexander
|
Anderson
|
So.
|
Ret.
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Manual
|
Second Team All-HCAC
|
Name
|
School
|
Year
|
Position
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
Austin Swenson
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
QB
|
Wauconda, Ill./H.S.
|
|
Logan Haston
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
QB
|
Avon, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Charles McCall
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Miami, Fla./Norland
|
|
Kevin Dufauchard
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
RB
|
New Orleans, La./Coast Guard Academy
|
|
Joe Moehrle
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Jr.
|
TE
|
O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic
|
|
Lorenzo McLaurin
|
Bluffton
|
Fr.
|
TE
|
Hilliard, Ohio/Darby
|
|
Jalen Kenner
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Reserve, La./East St. John
|
|
Garrett Weaver
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
WR
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Amelia
|
|
Deontez Alexander
|
Anderson
|
So.
|
WR
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Manual
|
|
Ricky Windell
|
Hanover
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Camden, Ind./Delphi
|
|
Colan Beare
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills
|
|
Eric Wietholter
|
Manchester
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Zionsville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Dillon Webb
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Southport
|
|
Cole Tepe
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
OL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder
|
|
Kyle Babb
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Anderson, Ind./Pendleton Heights
|
|
Joe Niehaus
|
Defiance
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Grass Lake, Mich./H.S.
|
|
Linkoln LaRoche
|
Bluffton
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Dola, Ohio/Hardin Northern
|
|
Dustin Kult
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Lafayette, Ind./McCutcheon
|
|
Cory Hardin
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
DL
|
Louisville, Ky./Ballard
|
|
Jake Stilwell
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights
|
|
Matt DeVore
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Van Buren, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Lajay Kelly
|
Earlham
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Carson, Calif./Long Beach Poly
|
|
Mike Henry
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
LB
|
Lusby, Md./Patuxent
|
|
Keandre Gilmer
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Toledo, Ohio/Rogers
|
|
Sammy Faulkner
|
Anderson
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler
|
|
Kevin McHale
|
Mount St Joseph
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas
|
|
Andrew Feldhaus
|
Defiance
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner
|
|
Tyler Brutofsky
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
DB
|
Madison, Ala./Bob Jones
|
|
Ryan Conner
|
Franklin
|
So.
|
DB
|
Zionsville, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Tyrone White
|
Bluffton
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Orrville, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Kenny Jones
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher
|
|
Jermaine Drake
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
So.
|
DB
|
Cleveland, Ohio/Brush
|
|
Tyler L'Heureux
|
Defiance
|
Fr.
|
K
|
Apopka, Fla./H.S.
|
|
Craig Larew
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
P
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North
|
|
Nate Roberts
|
Defiance
|
Fr.
|
Ret.
|
St. Petersburg, Fla./Boca Ciega
|
Honorable Mention All-HCAC
|
Name
|
School
|
Year
|
Position
|
Hometown/High School
|
|
Wesley Hundley
|
Earlham
|
So.
|
QB
|
Gardnerville, Nev./Douglass
|
|
Conner Sheehan
|
Bluffton
|
Jr.
|
QB
|
Monroeville, Ind./Heritage
|
|
Mike Williams
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Jr.
|
QB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Taft
|
|
Kole Stogner
|
Franklin
|
Jr.
|
RB
|
Greenwood, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Cody Wilson
|
Defiance
|
Jr.
|
RB
|
McComb, Ohio/H.S.
|
|
Justin Conners
|
Hanover
|
So.
|
RB
|
Harrison, Ohio/William Henry Harrison
|
|
Brandon Webb
|
Manchester
|
Jr.
|
TE
|
Ft. Wayne, Ind./Concordia
|
|
Kendal Butler
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Toledo, Ill./Cumberland
|
|
Marcaus Cooper
|
Earlham
|
So.
|
WR
|
Palm Coast, Fla./Matanzas
|
|
Ronnell Colbert
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Louisville, Ky./Doss
|
|
Gavin Miller
|
Anderson
|
So.
|
WR
|
South Bend, Ind./Adams
|
|
Jacob Dye
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Tipton, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Layne Taylor
|
Hanover
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Sellersburg, Ind./Silver Creek
|
|
Stephen Morris
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon
|
|
Cam Shepherd
|
Anderson
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Warsaw, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Nolan Miller
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest
|
|
Drew Ponder
|
Anderson
|
Jr.
|
DL
|
Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove
|
|
Dustin Applegate
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
DL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder
|
|
Stephen Marshall
|
Anderson
|
Fr.
|
DL
|
Middletown, Ind./Shenandoah
|
|
Matt Holden
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Convoy, Ohio/Crestview
|
|
Zack Moe
|
Anderson
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Cochran, Ga./Bleckley Co.
|
|
Chris Sander
|
Rose-Hulman
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Baileyville, Ill./Forreston
|
|
Tyler Hannah
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
DB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day
|
|
Kegan Aldridge
|
Hanover
|
So.
|
DB
|
Jasper, Ind./Pike Central
|
|
Stevie Thomas
|
Anderson
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
South Bend, Ind./Adams
|
|
Mitchell Oskam
|
Manchester
|
So.
|
LB
|
St. John, Ind./Lake Central
|
|
Jalin Nealy
|
Defiance
|
Fr.
|
LB
|
Pontiac, Mich./West Bloomfield
|
|
Ishmael MacNeil
|
Earlham
|
So.
|
LB
|
Pipe Creek, Tex./Bandera
|
HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team
|
Griffin Walizer
|
Anderson
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina
|
|
Aron Gibson
|
Bluffton
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Caledonia, Ohio/River Valley
|
|
Cody Lee
|
Defiance
|
Sr.
|
DL
|
Tampa, Fla./Jefferson
|
|
Junior Jean
|
Earlham
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Miami, Fla./Mater Academy
|
|
Cody Beeks
|
Franklin
|
Sr.
|
P
|
Wabash, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Zach Burkhardt
|
Hanover
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Anderson, Ind./H.S.
|
|
Evan Rice
|
Manchester
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Gosport, Ind./Owen Valley
|
|
Brad Murphy
|
Mount St. Joseph
|
Fr.
|
OL
|
Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder
|
|
Kaelen Garner
|
Rose-Hulman
|
So.
|
LB
|
Ocean Springs, Miss./H.S.
|