(Sioux City, Iowa) – The 2019 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Football All-Conference Team has been selected after a vote of the league coaches on Sunday, November 17.
Tyson Kooima of Northwestern has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year. Tanner Machacek of Northwestern was named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year. Steve Ryan of Morningside College was named the Hauff Mid-America/GPAC Coach-of-the-Year.
Kooima is the first Red Raider offensive player to claim the GPAC’s top honor since 2000 (Dave Perrigo). Kooima ranks sixth in the NAIA in passing yards (2,797) and third in the GPAC with 25 touchdown passes. The junior has thrown for 300+ yards in four games and for multiple touchdowns in eight of his 10 games played. Earlier this season, Kooima became the program’s career passing yards leader; he is currently tied for third all-time with 70 career touchdown passes. Now a three-time all-conference selection, Kooima also ranks second on the team with 358 rushing yards and six touchdowns while ranking second in the NAIA in total offense (3,155 yards).
Machacek earns the GPAC’s top defensive honor, joining a prestigious list of past Red Raider players who have been named the Defensive Player of the Year. Machacek, now a four-time all-conference selection and three-time first team pick, leads the Raider D with a career-best 88 tackles, fourth most in the conference. The senior linebacker is fifth in the GPAC with eight quarterback sacks and is tied for the GPAC lead with three forced fumbles. Machacek also has a pair of fumble recoveries and one interception to lead a Raider D that is among the best in the NAIA in scoring (12.9) and pass defense (147 yards/game).
Morningside was the regular season conference champion for 2019 finishing 9-0 in GPAC play and 10-0 overall. The Mustangs and regular season runner-up, Northwestern, qualified for the NAIA Football Championship Series which opens on Saturday, November 23, with first round action.
Named to the first team Offense from Northwestern was Tyson Kooima, Jacob Kalogonis, Shane Solberg, and Paxton De Haan.
Offensive first teamers from Dordt College were Levi Schoonhoven, and William Vander Woude.
Braxton Williams of Northwestern earned first team Special Teams Honors.
First Team defensive players from Northwestern were Tanner Machacek, Sean Powell, and Dylan Snyders.
The lone defensive first team player from Dordt was David Kacmarynski
For the complete list of first-team, second-team and honorable mention selections see the complete release below:
2019 GPAC Football All-Conference Honors
