To say the University of Minnesota Duluth was well-represented Monday when the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's postseason football honors were handed out would be putting it mildly.
The Bulldogs not only had half of their starting lineup land All-NSIC first team recognition, but they also claimed three of the five major conference awards -- Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Newcomer of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Senior quarterback Ted Schlafke, one of 24 final candidates for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy, was chosen the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year. The 2008 NSIC North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year currently owns the third best passing efficiency mark (192.89) in the NCAA II and, despite staying in for an entire game only twice all season, still ranks first among NSIC quarterbacks in pass completion percentage (69.7), is third in total offense (259.9 yards per game) and fourth in passing yards (222.9 ypg). A starter in all 43 games over the past four seasons, Schlafke has established UMD career records for pass completions (1,005 and counting), pass attempts (1,598) and touchdown passes (100) while his .629 lifetime completion percentage is well above the current team mark (.548 by Darrell McKibbon between 1970-73). Schlafke, the first three-time team captain in the 76 years UMD has been playing football, also is the owner of Bulldog single-game and single-season records for pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards, total offense and total plays. Nationally, the three-time North Central Conference All-Academic Team selection ranks sixth on the NCAA II career total offense charts (12,367 yards), is eighth all-time in passing yards (11,021) and 13th in touchdown passes (100). Schalfke, a native of Stevens Point, Wis. becomes the third Bulldog to be bestowed with the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year award, joining quarterback Rick Fritz (2002) and running back Amory Bodin (1980) in that select group.
Schlafke's favorite pass target this season, rookie wide out D.J. Winfield, was cited as the NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Winfield, whose debut year with the Bulldogs lasted less than two quarters (he suffered a season-ending ankle sprain in the 2007 opener), has turned 13 of his team-high 55 pass receptions into touchdowns this season. Those 13 scoring strikes rank third on the UMD single-season charts, trailing only Tim Battaglia (19 in 2002) and Greg Aker (15 in 2005). Winfield's one other TD this fall came on 48-yard run off a lateral in Game 1 at Concordia University-St. Paul. The Mountain Iron, Minn., native averaged 92.5 yards per game during the 2008 regular season, a total surpassed by only one other NSIC player.
In addition, Bob Nielson earned his second NSIC Coach of the Year award after directing the Bulldogs to a perfect regular season finish this fall. Nielson, who returned to the UMD sidelines in 2008 after a four-year hiatus, has now guided UMD to a 49-19 overall record (for a .720 winning percentage --the best figure in school history), two NCAA II playoff berths (2002 and 2008) and a pair of NSIC championships (2002 and 2008) during his six seasons in Duluth.. This past fall, his Bulldogs turned in the school's third unbeaten, untied regular season record ever (UMD also went 11-0 in 2002 under him) while averaging 46.1 points per game. Nielson, the 2002 NSIC Coach of the Year who doubles as UMD's athletic director, is now 119-52-1 in 16 years of collegiate coaching. That includes a 40-12 record in NSIC play.
Schalfke and Winfield were accompanied on the 24-member NSIC All-North Division first team by nine fellow Bulldogs -- senior offensive guard Nate Baier, senior offensive tackle Mitch Cady, senior outside linebacker Jake Comnick, senior defensive end Drew Fautsch, senior strong safety Jim Johnson, junior center Tobias Lemke, senior linebacker Ben Loth, sophomore running back Isaac Odim and senior free safety Tyler Yelk, an All-North Central Conference first team pick one year ago.
The 2008 NSIC champions placed three more players on the All-North Division second team. That trio included sophomore inside linebacker Robbie Aurich, junior cornerback Cole Strilzuk and senior defensive end Dustin Timmersman. Sophomore running back Brad Foss, junior offensive tackle Sam Whitney and junior cornerback Brandon Wood all earned honorable mention acclaim.
UMD, which riding a 12-game winning streak going back to last season, will host either Chadron State College or Wayne State College in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs on Nov. 22 at James S. Malosky Stadium.
Complete Listing of NSIC Honorees
