There’s plenty to look forward to when MIAC football begins later this summer. From outstanding players to predicted standings, here’s a capsule look:
Senior quarterbacks Alex Kofoed, Saint John’s, Matt Penz, St. Olaf, and Ben Wetzell, Bethel, will lead three of the best teams in the conference. Kofoed has been a first team all-conference choice the last two years and was a second team selection as a freshman. Penz led the MIAC in passing last year and returns the majority of his offensive helpers including senior wide outs Horace Gant and Andrew Schmiesing (baseball outfielder and 11th round pick of the Minnesota Twins last spring). Wetzell led Bethel to a MIAC co-title with Saint John’s and was third in the conference in rushing and fifth in total offense, but he will be without all-American running back Phil Porta who graduated.
Protecting those three star quarterbacks will be three senior linemen who were first team all-MIAC last year. They are Bethel center Tommy Davis, 6-2, 280, Saint John’s center Andrew Salvato, 6-1, 290, and St. Olaf guard Eric Yuen, 6-1, 305. The trio will again be three of the best in the conference, region, and could possibly end up on some all-American teams.
Conference defensive players attracting notice include St. Olaf defensive end James Bechdol, Saint John’s junior lineman Nick Gunderson, Gustavus senior linebacker Jared Sieling, and Bethel senior safety Brandon Carr. All four were first team all-MIAC last season and NCAA Division III all-region selections. Bechdol led St. Olaf and was fourth in the conference in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (14). Gunderson was second in sacks (9.5) and first in the conference in tackles for loss (18.5). Sieling was fourth in the MIAC in tackles (63). Carr led the conference in interceptions (seven) and was second in passes defended (13).
All-region last season, St. Olaf senior kicker and punter Paul Fortman could be an all-American in 2007. Fortman led the conference in punting (40.2 yards) and in scoring among kickers with 51 points ( second place had 27).
Here’s my predicted order of finish in the conference: St. Olaf, Saint John’s, Bethel, Concordia, St. Thomas, Carleton, Gustavus, Hamline, Augsburg.