NJCAA Announces Football Players of the Year; 2011 Season Wrap-Up
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 15, 2012) – Following their record-breaking seasons, East Mississippi Community College freshman quarterback Bo Wallace and Rochester Community & Technical College (Minn.) freshman defensive back Caleb Leichtnam were named the 2011 NJCAA Football Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year today by the NJCAA Headquarters on behalf of the NJCAA Football Coaches Association.
Wallace was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Leichtnam garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors. The duo is the first pair of freshman to receive both awards.
The 2011 season marks the 22nd consecutive year that the NJCAA Football Coaches Association has presented a Player of the Year Award. Since 2000, an award has been granted to both an offensive and defensive player.
Bo Wallace
Quarterback (6’ 5”, 210 lbs., Fresh.)
East Mississippi Community College
Statistically, Bo Wallace compiled the best season by a quarterback in the history of the NJCAA. Wallace broke three NJCAA single-season records, while leading the East Mississippi Lions to a perfect 12-0 record and their first ever national championship in any sport.
The freshman set new NJCAA records with 4,604 passing yards (4,001 yds – Marc Dunn – Ricks College, Idaho), 53 passing touchdowns (50 TDs – Tony DeLeon – Vermilion CC, Minn. – 1992) and 4,810 yards of total offense (4,075 yds – Will Hall – Northwest Mississippi CC – 1994). Wallace is only the second player in NJCAA history to surpass the 4,000-yard mark passing and the first freshman to win the offensive award since 2004.
In all 12 games this season, Wallace registered over 300 yards of total offense. Wallace also threw for over 400 yards five times and recorded seven passing touchdowns in four games.
At the El Toro Bowl, Wallace put on his best performance of the season to outgun No. 1 Arizona Western College 55-47 for the national championship. Wallace completed 31-of-44 passes for 486 yards and seven touchdown passes, the most ever thrown in a NJCAA sanctioned national title game.
From Pulaski, Tenn., Wallace transferred to East Mississippi from Arkansas State University. Wallace has yet to decide where he will continue his collegiate career next season. Although he has received an offer from Memphis according to Rivals.com, the recent hiring of Hugh Freeze as head coach at Mississippi could reunite Wallace with the former-Arkansas State coach.
Caleb Leichtnam
Defensive Back (6’ 0”, 177 lbs., Fresh.)
Rochester Community & Technical College, Minn.
Caleb Leichtnam’s ball-hawking skills made him the single biggest defensive threat on the field this season. His defensive efforts anchored Rochester’s Top 10 passing defense and spurred the Yellowjackets on to an 11-0 record in the regular season and their second-consecutive MCAC championship.
Leichtnam intercepted 20 passes in 2011, shattering the previous NJCAA single-season record of 14 (Vonkeith Spencer – Middle Georgia College – 1996/Landrain Gordon – Central Lakes College-Brainerd, Minn. – 2007). The freshman had multiple interceptions in seven games this season, including three contests where he picked off three or more passes. Totaling 422 return yards off his interceptions, Leichtnam returned two picks for touchdowns this season. He also tallied 39 total tackles, including three for a loss.
The best effort Leichtnam displayed this season was his four-interception performance in a 12-2 key conference win over Central Lakes College-Brainerd (Minn.). That showing earned Leichtnam one of his two Offensive Player of the Week awards in 2011.
Leichtnam is the second player from Rochester to receive Player of the Year honors. The first freshman to win the defensive award since 2007, Leichtnam will return to Rochester next year for his sophomore season.
East Mississippi Wins 2011 NJCAA Football National Championship
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2011 NJCAA football season concluded with eight highly-intriguing bowl games that saw blow outs, upsets and the crowning of a new national champion.
No. 2 East Mississippi Community College squared-off against No. 1 Arizona Western College in the El Toro Bowl, which served as the NJCAA National Championship Game. In a shootout that set a new total points record for the title game, the East Mississippi Lions came out on top 55-47 to claim the school’s first national
championship in any sport. First-team All-American quarterback Bo Wallace led the Lions with 452 yards passing and seven touchdowns.
Outside of the championship game, three of the most anticipated matchups of the bowl season featured teams out of the SWJCFC (Southwest Junior College Football Conference). In the Mississippi Bowl, No. 5 Blinn College (Texas) suffered a demoralizing 46-17 loss to No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. No. 10 Trinity Valley Community College (Texas) went down as well with a 21-17 defeat at the hands of No. 3 Butler Community College (Kan.) in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl. No. 6 Navarro College (Texas) was the lone SWJCFC team to score a victory, taking care of No. 12 New Mexico Military Institute 40-24 in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.
In the closest contest of the bowl season, No. 11 Dean College (Mass.) edged out a 26-25 win over No. 18 Glendale Community College (Ariz.) in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. With less than two minutes remaining, the Bulldogs of Dean scored the go-ahead touchdown on a pass from sophomore quarterback Jamal Small. Glendale would respond with a drive of their own but missed a 34-yard field goal to give Dean the victory.
Despite the high-level of completion, the bowl season did see its fair share of lopsided affairs. No. 14 Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) racked up the most points of any team with a 70-20 rout of No. 19 Lackawanna College (Pa.) in the Salt City Bowl. The Zions Bank Top of the Mountains bowl was one-sided as well, with No. 16 Snow College (Utah) dominating No. 17 Eastern Arizona College 36-9.
The Graphic Edge Bowl once again kicked-off the bowl season and saw the MFC (Midwest Football Conference) teams sweep the squads from the MCAC (Minnesota College Athletic Conference). Iowa Central Community College defeated No. 15 Central Lakes College-Brainerd (Minn.) 42-12 in the opening game, while the feature contest saw No. 8 Iowa Western Community College shutout No. 7 Rochester Community & Technical College (Minn.) 62-0.
National Champion East Mississippi Closes 2011 NJCAA Football Season at No. 1
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2011 NJCAA football season came to a close Sunday with the conclusion of the postseason bowl schedule. After all was said and done, East Mississippi Community College came out on top with a perfect 12-0 record and received a unanimous No.1 ranking from the voters.
The East Mississippi Lions outgunned Arizona Western College in the El Toro Bowl, airing out a 55-47 victory in the national championship game. East Mississippi freshman quarterback Bo Wallace threw seven touchdown passes to claim the school’s first title in any sport. Due to the loss, the Matadors of Arizona Western fell to No.
3 in the final poll.
Coming in at No.2 in the rankings was Butler Community College (Kan.). The 11-1 Grizzlies edged out a 21-17 win over Trinity Valley CC (Texas) in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl. Butler marched 89 yards down the field for the go ahead score and then clinched the win by stopping the Cardinals of Trinity Valley on fourth down. Grand Rapids Community College (Mich.) fell back a spot to No. 4. The Raiders did not participate in a bowl game but were invited to play in the Top of the Mountains Bowl but declined.
Finishing the season with 10-2 records, No. 5 Navarro College (Texas) and No. 6 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College both moved up in the rankings. In the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, Navarro cruised to a 40-24 win over New Mexico Military. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs put on an exceptional performance in the Mississippi Bowl, beating Blinn College (Texas) 46-17.
Enjoying the only shutout of the bowl season, Iowa Western Community College blew out Rochester CTC (Minn.) 62-0 in the feature game of the Graphic Edge Bowl. The Iowa Western Reivers moved up to No. 7, ahead of No. 8 Dean College (Mass.) who slipped past Glendale CC (Ariz.) 26-25 in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Dominating Lackawanna College (Pa.) 70-20, Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) finished the season ranked No. 9 ahead of No. 10 Blinn College (Texas).
With Trinity Valley Community College (Texas) receiving a No. 11 ranking, Snow College (Utah) finished at No. 12 following a 39-6 victory over Eastern Arizona College in the Zion’s Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl. Without participating in a bowl game, No. 13 Nassau Community College (N.Y.) stood pat in front of No. 12 New Mexico Military Institute.
Iowa Central Community College jumped back into the rankings at No. 20 with a 42-12 win over Central Lakes College-Brainerd (Minn.) in the second contest played at the Graphic Edge Bowl. The Central Lakes Raiders joined Lackawanna College (Pa.) as the only two teams to fall out of the Top 20 in the final poll of the season.
NJCAA Football Poll – Dec. 5, 2011 (Final Poll of 2011 Season)
School, Record, Poll Votes (1st Place Votes), Previous Ranking
1. East Mississippi CC, 12-0, 140 (7), 2
2. Butler CC, Kan., 11-1, 127, 3
3. Arizona Western College, 11-1, 123, 1
4. Grand Rapids CC, Mich., 10-0, 116, 3
5. Navarro College, Texas, 10-2, 113, 6
6. Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, 10-2, 107, 9
7. Iowa Western CC, 9-2, 103, 8
8. Dean College, Mass., 8-1, 90, 11
9. Hutchinson CC, Kan., 9-3, 84, 14
10. Blinn College, Texas, 9-2, 77, 5
11. Trinity Valley CC, Texas, 8-3, 66, 10
12. Snow College, Utah, 9-3, 64, 16
13. Nassau CC, N.Y., 8-2, 62, 13
14. New Mexico Military Institute, 9-3, 44, 12
15. Hinds CC, Miss., 7-3, 35, 20
16. Glendale CC, Ariz., 8-4, 31, 18
17. Rochester CTC, Minn., 11-1, 28, 7
18. Tyler JC, Texas, 7-4, 18, RV
19. Eastern Arizona College, 8-4, 15, 17
20. Iowa Central CC, 6-4, 12, NR
Others: Lackawanna College, Pa, 7-4, 7, 19; Scottsdale CC, Ariz., 7-4, 7, RV; Central Lakes College-Brainerd, Minn., 7-3, 1, 15
Dropped from Rankings: Central Lakes College-Brainerd, Minn. (15), Lackawanna College, Pa. (19)
Full NJCAA Football Bowl Results (Nov. 20 – Dec. 4)
Top 20 Schedule
1. Arizona Western (11-1) lost to No. 2 East Mississippi (12-0) in the El Toro Bowl, 55-47.
2. East Mississippi (12-0) defeated No. 1 Arizona Western (11-1) in the El Toro Bowl, 55-47.
3. Butler (11-1) defeated No. 10 Trinity Valley (8-3) in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl, 21-17.
3. Grand Rapids (10-0) did not participate in a bowl game.
5. Blinn (9-2) lost to No. 9 Mississippi Gulf Coast (10-2) in the Mississippi Bowl, 46-17.
6. Navarro (10-2) defeated No. 12 New Mexico Military (9-3) in the Heart of Texas Bowl, 40-24.
7. Rochester (11-1) lost to No. 8 Iowa Western (9-2) in the Graphic Edge Bowl, 62-0.
8. Iowa Western (9-2) defeated No. 7 Rochester (11-1) in the Graphic Edge Bowl, 62-0.
9. Mississippi Gulf Coast (10-2) defeated No. 5 Blinn (9-2) in the Mississippi Bowl, 46-17.
10. Trinity Valley (8-3) lost to No. 3 Butler (11-1) in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl, 21-17.
11. Dean (8-1) defeated No. 18 Glendale (8-4) in the Valley of the Sun Bowl, 26-25.
12. New Mexico Military (9-3) lost to No. 6 Navarro (10-2) in the Heart of Texas Bowl, 40-24.
13. Nassau (8-2) did not participate in a bowl game.
14. Hutchinson (9-3) defeated No. 19 Lackawanna (7-4) in the Salt City Bowl, 70-20.
15. Central Lakes (7-3) lost to Iowa Central (6-4) in the Graphic Edge Bowl, 42-12.
16. Snow (9-3) defeated No. 17 Eastern Arizona (8-4) in the Top of the Mountains Bowl, 36-9.
17. Eastern Arizona (8-4) lost to No. 16 Snow (9-3) in the Top of the Mountains Bowl, 36-9.
18. Glendale (8-4) lost to No. 11 Dean (8-1) in the Valley of the Sun Bowl, 26-25.
19. Lackawanna (7-4) lost to No. 14 Hutchinson (9-3) in the Salt City Bowl, 70-20.
20. Hinds (7-3) did not participate in a bowl game.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
The Graphic Edge Bowl (UNI Dome – Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Iowa Central CC (5-4) vs. #15 Central Lakes College-Brainerd, Minn. (7-2) – Iowa Central 42, Central Lakes 12
#8 Iowa Western CC (8-2) vs. #7 Rochester CTC, Minn. (11-0) – Iowa Western 62, Rochester 0
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
Zions Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl (Rio-Tinto Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah)
#16 Snow College, Utah (8-3) vs. No. 17 Eastern Arizona College (8-3) – Snow 36, Eastern Arizona 9
Salt City Bowl (Gowans Stadium – Hutchinson, Kan.)
#14 Hutchinson CC, Kan. (8-3) vs. #19 Lackawanna College, Pa. (7-3) – Hutchinson 70, Lackawanna 20
Valley of the Sun Bowl (Matt O. Hanhila Stadium – Glendale, Ariz.)
#11 Dean College, Mass. (7-1) vs. #18 Glendale CC, Ariz. (8-3) – Dean 26, Glendale 25
C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl (Bulldawg Stadium – Copperas Cove, Texas)
#6 Navarro College, Texas (9-2) vs. #12 New Mexico Military Institute (9-2) – Navarro 40, New Mexico Military 24
El Toro Bowl (Veterans Memorial Stadium – Yuma, Ariz.)
#1 Arizona Western College (11-0) vs. #2 East Mississippi CC (11-0) – East Mississippi 55, Arizona Western 47
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
Citizen’s Bank Bowl (Carnie Smith Stadium – Pittsburgh, Kan.)
#3 Butler CC, Kan. (10-1) vs. #10 Trinity Valley CC, Texas (8-2) – Butler 21, Trinity Valley 17
Mississippi Bowl (Biloxi Indians Stadium – Biloxi, Miss.)
#5 Blinn College, Texas (9-1) vs. #9 Mississippi Gulf Coast CC – Mississippi Gulf Coast 46, Tyler 17
Click here to view dates and info for this year's NJCAA bowl games
2011 NJCAA Football All-Americans
1st Team Offense
QB Bo Wallace – East Mississippi CC (Fresh.)
RB Damien Williams – Arizona Western College (Soph.)
RB Rasheed Williams – Louisburg College, N.C. (Soph.)
WR Cordarrelle Patterson – Hutchinson CC, Kan. (Soph.)
WR Marquez Clark – Navarro College, Texas (Soph.)
TE Blake Jackson – Scottsdale CC, Ariz. (Soph.)
OL Ellwood Clement – Eastern Arizona College (Soph.)
OL Donald Hawkins – Northwest Mississippi CC (Soph.)
OL Armondo Alverez – Blinn College, Texas (Soph.)
OL Carlin Landingham – Grand Rapids CC, Mich. (Soph.)
C David Kekuewa – Arizona Western College (Soph.)
K Cody Dickson – Iowa Western CC (Soph.)
RS Kali Rashaad – Cisco College, Texas (Soph.)
1st Team Defense
DL Chaz Nelson – Garden City CC, Kan. (Soph.)
DL Marcus Cribbs – Grand Rapids CC, Mich. (Soph.)
DL Bernardo Nunez – Lackawanna College, Pa. (Soph.)
DL Denico Autry – East Mississippi CC (Soph.)
LB Martrell Spaight – Coffeyville CC, Kan. (Fresh.)
LB Jermaine Longino – Trinity Valley CC, Texas (Soph.)
LB Chris Young – Arizona Western College (Soph.)
DB Zach Miller – Butler CC, Kan. (Soph.)
DB Alonzo Lawrence – Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Soph.)
DB Caleb Leichtnam – Rochester CTC, Minn. (Fresh.)
DB Travell Dixon – Eastern Arizona College (Soph.)
P Zach Kerndt – Iowa Central CC (Soph.)
2nd Team Offense
QB Cody Sokol – Scottsdale CC, Ariz. (Soph.)
RB Vintavious Cooper – Southwest Mississippi CC (Soph.)
RB Marion Grice – Blinn College, Texas (Soph.)
WR Javon Bell – Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Soph.)
WR Kendall Wrenn – Butler CC, Kan. (Soph.)
TE Keyon Cole – Grand Rapids CC, Mich. (Soph.)
OL Dylon Holley – Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Soph.)
OL Mark Glowinski – Lackawanna College, Pa. (Soph.)
OL John McClure – Butler CC, Kan. (Soph.)
OL Travon Carter – Trinity Valley CC, Texas (Soph.)
C Nate Richards – Trinity Valley CC, Texas (Soph.)
K Kurt Walker – Blinn College, Texas (Fresh.)
RS Wes Smith – Iowa Western CC (Soph.)
2nd Team Defense
DL Demarcus Lawrence – Butler CC, Kan. (Soph.)
DL Calvin Barnett – Navarro College, Texas (Soph.)
DL Dontrill Hyman – Hinds CC, Miss. (Fresh.)
DL Tenny Palepoi – Snow College, Utah (Fresh.)
LB Terrell Porter – Grand Rapids CC, Mich. (Fresh.)
LB Nick Gilbo – Hudson Valley CC, N.Y. (Fresh.)
LB Chris Ficklin – East Central CC, Miss. (Soph.)
DB Evan Ray – Grand Rapids CC, Mich. (Soph.)
DB Kewitt Koonce – Louisburg College, N.C. (Soph.)
DB Deion Belue – Northeast Mississippi CC (Soph.)
DB Dehendret Collins – Copiah-Lincoln CC, Miss. (Soph.)
P Will Scott – Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (Soph.)
Click here for the honorable mention teams and more information on the 2011 All-Americans.
Top Seasons from Former NJCAA Football All-Americans in the NCAA
Lavonte David, LB at Nebraska (Fort Scott CC, Kan. ‘09) – David’s senior season with the Cornhuskers was one to remember as the former-Greyhound was a first-team All-America selection by the American Football Coaches Association. The Big Ten’s third-leading tackler was also named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year by the conference and was first-team All-Big Ten. In only two seasons with Nebraska, David is only three tackles away from becoming the fourth-leading tackler in the storied history of the program. David and the No. 20 Cornhuskers will clash with No. 9 South Carolina in the Capitol One Bowl on Jan. 2.
Tirrell Rennie, QB at Northern Iowa (Ellsworth CC, Iowa ’09) – Rennie had a spectacular season with Northern Iowa, leading the Panthers to the FCS quarterfinals. A first-team All-Missouri Valley selection, Rennie became the school’s all-time single-season leader in touchdowns and points scored. The former-Ellsworth quarterback threw for 1,709 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2011, while adding 834 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.
Jasmin Hopkins, RB at Northern Illinois (Fort Scott CC, Kan. ‘09) – Leading the Huskies’ to their first Mid-American Conference championship since 1983, Hopkins earned himself a second-team All-MAC selection. The senior led Northern Illinois in rushing touchdowns this season with 15. Having ran for 932 yards this season, Hopkins will have an opportunity to pass the 1,000-yard mark against Arkansas State in the GODADDY.com Bowl on Jan. 8.
Top Seasons from Former NJCAA Football Players in the NFL
Cam Newton, QB with the Carolina Panthers (Blinn College, Texas ’09) – When the season is over, Newton will go down as one of the best rookie quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. The former-Blinn Buccaneer already holds single-season rookie records for touchdowns with 28 and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 13. With three games remaining, Newton is only 166 passing yards shy of Peyton Manning’s single-season rookie record. Newton’s best performance of the season came against the defending-champion Green Bay Packers where he set the rookie single-game passing record with 432 yards through the air. Although the Panthers won’t be making a postseason appearance, the future is bright behind the arm and legs of Newton.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE with the New York Giants (Fort Scott CC, Kan. ‘08) – Ranking fifth in the NFL in sacks, Pierre-Paul has brought opposing quarterbacks to the turf 12.5 times in 2011. Anchoring one of the best defensive lines in football, Pierre-Paul has recorded 60 tackles this season and has forced two fumbles. With nine tackles and two sacks, the former-Greyhound’s best game this season came against Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. Pierre-Paul and the Giants are locked up with the Dallas Cowboys for first in NFC East.
Dashon Goldson, S with the San Francisco 49ers (Coffeyville CC, Kan. ’03) – Goldson has been a surprise leader this season on the league’s surprise team, the 49ers. With five interceptions on the season, Goldson is tied for the fourth-most picks in the NFL. The former-Coffeyville Raven has also displayed his physical abilities with 54 tackles and a forced fumble. Goldson’s top tackling-performance came at the Philadelphia Eagles when he single-handedly brought down 10 ball carriers. The 49ers have already clinched the NFC West and are tied with the Saints for a first-round bye.
LINKS TO MORE NJCAA FOOTBALL
www.kjccc.org (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference website)
www.iccac.org (Iowa Community College Conference and Midwest Football Conference website)
www.northeastfootball.com (Northeast Football Conference website)
www.region14athletics.org (NJCAA Region 14 and SW JC Football Conf. website)
www.mcac-sports.com (Minnesota College Athletic Conference website)
www.accac.org/sports/football/ (Western States Football League website)
www.jucoweekly.org (Website dedicated to Mississippi NJCAA sports)
www.jcfootball.com (Dedicated site to Two-Year College Football)
www.jcgridiron.com (Dedicated site to Two-Year College Football)
www.jrcollegefootball.com (WSFL coverage and live show streamed on Saturday's)
For more on NJCAA Football download the 2011 NJCAA Football Guide
About the NJCAA: The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering athletic and academic opportunities to college students. It is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states. Each year over 60,000 student-athletes compete in one of 28 different sports and the organization sponsors 48 national championship events and nine football bowl games. For more, visit http://www.njcaa.org.
Photo Courtesy: David Rosinksi, Steve Carpenter, Jared Dort, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Athletic Dept., Nebraska Athletic Dept., Kent Smith/Carolina Panthers, Eric Berg/http://www.scoreyourpics.com/