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Football NWC Athletic Communications

Jalyn Gramstad Tabbed GPAC Player of the Year; 16 Raiders Honored

McCarty picks up first-career GPAC Coach of the Year honor

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) announced the All-Conference teams for the 2022 football season ahead of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Championship Series (FCS) beginning this weekend. The Northwestern College football team (11-0, 10-0 GPAC) saw 16 nominees honored this season, including the Offensive Player of the Year in Jalyn Gramstad and Coach of the Year Matt McCarty.  
Each of the two teams saw 15-member offensive and defensive honors, plus a five-man special teams list per team. In total, there were 40 available slots on the two teams which saw the Red Raiders take 16 of them. Northwestern had nine First Team honors, five offensive, two defensive, and one special team honorees.
 
Gramstad's Player of the Year honor marks the second-straight year the Red Raiders have won a GPAC Player of the Year in some variety, following the Defensive Player of the Year nod for Parker Fryar last season. In total, that brings the program's number up to 13 Players of the Year and the fifth Offensive Player of the Year.  
McCarty garners his first-career GPAC Coach of the Year honor after leading the Red Raiders to an 11-0 record and held the No. 1 ranking in the NAIA all season long. He becomes just the second coach in Red Raider program history in GPAC history (2000 to present) to win Coach of the Year honors, joining Orv Otten in 2000.
Read below about the Raider student-athletes who excelled on the field this season, and who played roles in ensuring Northwestern got back to the NAIA Football Championship Series for the seventh-straight season.
 
On the offensive honorees, McCarty notes, "The Raider offense was outstanding on the ground this year. It started up front with the consistency and toughness that Jawan and Patrick brought. Jalyn has been extremely efficient leading our offense, and Konner and Mike have been excellence playmakers. Peyton did a great job in our run game and was a great target over the middle."
 
Jalyn Gramstad – GPAC Offensive Player of the Year | First Team Quarterback
Gramstad (Jr., Lester, Iowa) continued his dominance this season. He led the GPAC in completion percentage (69.9%) and yards per attempt (9.8), and total passing yards (2,887). Leading a very balanced offensive attack for the Red Raiders, Gramstad found a way to sit second in the conference in passing yards per game (262.5) and passing touchdowns (27).
 
In the rushing game, Gramstad sat second on the team in carries (123), net rushing yards (640) and third in rushing scores with seven.
 
"I'm proud of the way Jalyn has continued to grow and lead," noted McCarty. "He is a great competitor and raises the play of the guys around him."
 
Gramstad is picking up his second-career All-Conference nod after his Second Team honors last season (2022), it marks his first-career First Team honors.
 
Konner McQuillan – First Team Running Back
Konner McQuillan (Sr., Leavenworth, Kan.) has sat near the top in multiple rushing categories all season long. He led the GPAC with his 17 rushing scores this season and his 6.9 yards per rush average. He sat second in both total rushing yards (1,015) and yards per game (92.3), and surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career.
 
He was a two-time GPAC Offensive Player of the Week honoree (Sept. 5, Oct. 16) on the season, and set a new career-high with 252 rushing yards at Concordia in Week 1 and a career-long rush of 73 yards (TD) at Briar Cliff. He also became just the seventh Red Raider to notch 3,000 career rushing yards in program history.
 
He's picking up his third-straight First Team All-Conference nod and his fourth total All-Conference honor (Second Team in 2020).
 
Michael Storey – First Team Wide Receiver
Michael Storey (Sr., Spencer, Iowa) has been one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NAIA this season, as he has been his entire Red Raider career. He's just one of seven NAIA wide outs to sit at over 100 receiving yards per game, sitting fourth at 106.0 entering the FCS. He also sits in a four-way tie in the nation with his 13 receiving touchdowns, which leads the GPAC.
 
The senior paces the league in total receiving yards (1,166) and his 16.4 yards per catch sits third in the conference. In the final week of the regular season, Storey notched a new career-high with his 181 receiving yards (11 catches) against Jamestown; landing him his first-career GPAC Offensive of the Week nod.
 
It marks three-straight seasons for the Spencer, Iowa native bringing home First Team honors. In total, it's his fifth-career All-Conference honor – Second Team in 2019 and Honorable Mention in 2020.
 
Jawan Grant – First Team Offensive Line // Patrick Gottburg – First Team Offensive Lineman
The offensive line duo of Jawan Grant (Sr., Kansas City, Mo.) and Patrick Gottburg (Sr., Sioux City, Iowa) helped pace the high-powered Red Raider offense that led the conference with 60 touchdowns on the season, 59 offensive scores. The Red Raider passing attack sat second in the league (265.9ypg) and the rushing attack sat third (195.3), but the overall total offense was best in the GPAC wat 461.2 yards per contest. Nationally, the duo offensive lineman helped pace the sixth-best total offensive team in the NAIA.
 
For Grant, he's earning his first placement to a team in his career after his Honorable Mention nod in 2022. For Gottburg, it marks his first-career All-Conference recognition of any kind.  
Ty Schafer – First Team Long Snapper (Special Teams)
Ty Schafer (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) has been a constant in the Red Raider Special Teams unit this season, holding down the long snapper duties all season long. He has also served as a punt returner. It's the first-career All-Conference honor for the junior.
 
"Ty does it all for us and has been reliable as our long snapper," said McCarty.
   
On the defense, McCarty commented, "It has been fun seeing the growth of this group all season. Jacob and Morris have been extremely disruptive up front each week and all three of our linebackers (Ben E., Ben K., and Tristan) have played a huge part in the dominance of our defense. Before his injury, Jessen was at the top of the league in sacks. It's great to see him get the recognition he deserves."
 
Jacob Dragstra – First Team Defensive Lineman
Jacob Dragstra (So., Sioux Center, Iowa) led the defensive line group with his 57 tackles on the year and had a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss in the regular season. Additionally, the sophomore had one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries.
 
After garnering Second Team honors last season, Dragstra is collecting his second-straight All-Conference honor with First Team accolades this season.
 
Ben Egli – First Team Linebacker
Ben Egli (So., Fort Dodge, Iowa) was one of two Red Raiders with 60 or more tackles in the regular season, sitting second on the team with 60. He had 4.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry to his name.
 
Egli is garnering his first-career All-Conference nod in a Red Raider uniform with his First Team honors.
 
Cody Moser – First Team Defensive Back
The nation's interception leader, Cody Moser (Jr., Rock Valley, Iowa) became a force to be reckoned with this season in his first year as a safety. His interception numbers exploded this season, after entering the season with two to his name. He has recorded a pair of multi-interception games this season (vs. Hastings, at Dakota Wesleyan). He had a streak of four-straight games with a pick, and recorded at least one in seven of the 11 games this season. Furthermore, he now sits fifth in program history with his 85-yard pick-six in the Hastings game for longest INT returned for a touchdown.
 
"Cody has been a great leader and playmaker on the back end," said McCarty. "And he leads the nation in interceptions."
 
Additionally, he has recorded 26 tackles this season including 1.5 tackles for loss. It marks his first-career All-Conference honor.  
Eli Stader – Second Team Kicker
Eli Stader (Jr., Cedar Grove, Wis.) has been one of the best kickers in the nation this season – and his entire career. On the season, he has hit three field goals of 50 or more yards, including setting a new program-record with a 53-yarder on Homecoming weekend against Hastings.  
This season he's 11-for-18 on field goal attempts and is a perfect 2-for-2 with field goals between 30 and 39 yards.
 
"Eli has been a great weapon for us all season," notes McCarty. "I believe he is the best at our level."
 
Morris Hofer – Second Team Defensive Lineman
Morris Hofer (Sr., Onida, S.D.) has been a force up front on the defensive line for the Red Raiders this season. He sits with 26 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss (27 yards). Recording 2.5 sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries, plus a fumble recovery. He's also one of three Red Raiders with multiple interceptions on the season (2).
 
The Second Team honor marks his first honor on a team, after picking up Honorable Mention accolades in 2022.
 
Tristan Mulder – Second Team Linebacker
Tristan Mulder (Jr., Rock Valley, Iowa) sits third on the team in tackles this season with his 57.0, bringing in 32 solo tackles. He's recorded 5.0 tackles for loss for seven total yards lost and is one of three Red Raiders with multiple-interceptions (2). Additionally, he's been credited with two quarterback hurries on the year.
 
His Second Team honor marks his first-career All-Conference accolade.  
HONORABLE MENTION:
Peyton Carroll (Tight End)
Kole Telford (Defensive Back)
Jessen Reinking (Defensive Lineman)
Ben Kingery (Linebacker)  
The Raiders are set to enter the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) for the seventh-straight season with an 11-0 record (10-0 GPAC), after winning their first GPAC title under the direction of head coach Matt McCarty in his eighth season leading the program.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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Players Mentioned

Parker Fryar

#43 Parker Fryar

LB
6' 3"
Sophomore
Peyton Carroll

#80 Peyton Carroll

TE
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jacob Dragstra

#97 Jacob Dragstra

DL
5' 11"
Sophomore
Ben Egli

#34 Ben Egli

LB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Patrick Gottburg

#66 Patrick Gottburg

OL
6' 1"
Senior
Jalyn Gramstad

#12 Jalyn Gramstad

QB
6' 0"
Junior
Jawan Grant

#54 Jawan Grant

OL
6' 0"
Senior
Morris Hofer

#23 Morris Hofer

DE
6' 2"
Senior
Ben Kingery

#38 Ben Kingery

LB
5' 11"
Junior
Konner McQuillan

#3 Konner McQuillan

RB
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Parker Fryar

#43 Parker Fryar

6' 3"
Sophomore
LB
Peyton Carroll

#80 Peyton Carroll

6' 3"
Sophomore
TE
Jacob Dragstra

#97 Jacob Dragstra

5' 11"
Sophomore
DL
Ben Egli

#34 Ben Egli

6' 1"
Sophomore
LB
Patrick Gottburg

#66 Patrick Gottburg

6' 1"
Senior
OL
Jalyn Gramstad

#12 Jalyn Gramstad

6' 0"
Junior
QB
Jawan Grant

#54 Jawan Grant

6' 0"
Senior
OL
Morris Hofer

#23 Morris Hofer

6' 2"
Senior
DE
Ben Kingery

#38 Ben Kingery

5' 11"
Junior
LB
Konner McQuillan

#3 Konner McQuillan

6' 0"
Senior
RB