FOOTBALL: All-MIAA Teams Announced
Nov. 13, 2007
Alma, Mi. - The 2007 All-MIAA Teams were announced earlier today and the 5-5 Scots were honored with four offensive players and four defensive players being recognized.
Alma College All-MIAA First Team Honorees
Senior receiver, Joe Cline (Ithaca/Ithaca), was honored for the third consecutive year as an All-MIAA First Team Offensive player. Cline, one of the elite receivers in the nation, followed a 2006 season that saw him put up the best numbers in the country, with a 2007 campaign in which he continued to dominate despite facing double teams and playing with a first year quarterback. Cline finished second in the MIAA in both receptions per game and yards per game in a season where became the statistical leader in every career receiving record at Alma College. Cline ended the season with 69 receptions for 996 yards and six touchdowns.
Fellow senior, Wren Chellis (Ellsworth/Ellsworth), was honored in 2006 as a First Team right tackle
and after being asked to switch to left tackle in the offseason, continued to dominate opponents and is recognized this year as the All-MIAA First Team left tackle. Chellis, who never started a game until his junior year, blossomed into one of the strongest and most dominating road grading blockers in the MIAA and was pivital in protecting the blind side of the Scots' first year quarterback this year. Chellis worked his way into becoming an offensive lineman after being recruited to play linebacker and is the perfect example of how with hard work and determination, a young man can make the most of his talent.
Zac Zanotti, Bay City Central senior, was the most explosive and biggest play maker on the Scots front four which was by far the strength of the defense. Zanotti led the Scots with five sacks and also with 13 tackles for losses. Time after time, when the Scots needed a big play on defense, Zanotti either made the play or pressured the opponent into making a mistake. Zanotti was not just an outstanding pass rusher but also was solid against the run and showed tireless effort in pursuit and recorded 44 total tackles for the Scots. This big, strong defensive end with a non stop motor will be extremely hard to replace in 2008.
Alma College All-MIAA Second Team Honorees
Four year starter on the offensive line, Tyler Wellman (Dewitt/Dewitt), was honored with a Second
Team nod. Wellman is with out a doubt one of the most versatile offensive lineman in the MIAA and maybe in Alma College history as he has spent time at every position on the offensive line during his career. An undersized lineman, Wellman not only managed to play bigger than his weight but also showed incredible durability putting up the second most career starts in Alma College history. Wellman also served as captain for the Scots in 2007.
Although he didn't wear a "C" on his shoulder, senior Alex Catlin (Alma/Alma) was the unquestioned leader of the Scots defense and made his living blowing up the middle of opponents offensive line. The pressure Catlin brought from the inside, led to opportunities for edge pass rushers and also accounted for lots of tackles for losses for the Scots defense. Catlin recorded 42 total tackles for the Scots, three sacks, and six and a half tackles for losses. Catlin's contributions as a leader and as a physical force in the middle can not be captured by stats and his second straight All-MIAA nod is more than deserved.
Brian Lenneman (Portland/Portland St. Patrick's) is another outstanding senior on the Scots front
seven who got the nod and will have to be replaced next year. Lenneman's emergence as a ball hawking, tackling maching in midseason was one of the factors that led to the vast improvement that was seen on that side of the ball for the Scots. Lenneman excelled both in run stop and in coverage as he recorded 44 tackles for the Scots and also picked off two passes. Lenneman's eight tackles for loss ranked him second on the Scots defense.
Junior Jeremy Stephens (Maple Rapids/Fulton) is a big strong receiver who has the rare ability to be effective as a chain mover and also as a deep threat. On the season, Stephens was second in receiving for the Scots, catching 40 passes for over 400 yards and four touchdownds. Stephens also made his mark on special teams as on several key occassions he picked up first downs for the Scots on fake punts. With the departure of Joe Cline, Stephens will be the go to guy for the Scots in his senior season and will continue to show the talent and ability that earned him this All-MIAA Second Team recognition.
Junior cornerback, Kyle Percival (Lansing/Waverly) also earned Second Team All-MIAA
honors for second consecutive year for the Scots. Percival, an All-American sprinter, was asked all season to line up against the opponents most dangerous receiver and did a solid job for the Scots as a shut down corner, leading the Scots with six pass break ups. Percival also did an outstanding job in run support for the Scots and was fourth on the team in total tackles with 48. One of the fastest players in the conference, Percival is a threat to take it to the house every time he gets his hands on the ball and the Scots will be depending on him next year as a big play maker and a lock up corner.
Posted: Tue, November 13th, 2007 at 4:00PM
