Four Valpo Players Named to All-PFL First Team, Three Others Earn Second Team Accolades
Seven members of the Valparaiso University football program were recognized with All-Pioneer Football League First or Second Team status on Tuesday as the conference revealed its annual all-league teams.
After helping the program finish with a Pioneer Football League record of .500 or better for the third straight season for the first time since 1998-2000 and helping the Beacons finish with their highest league road win total since 1962, four players were tabbed to the All-PFL First Team – redshirt junior wide receiver Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton), fifth-year senior running back Aaron Dawson (Westbury, N.Y. / W.T. Clarke [Central Connecticut]), redshirt senior offensive lineman Aaron Byrd (Bradley, Ill. / Bourbonnais) and redshirt senior linebacker Ben Hines (Snohomish, Wash. / Archbishop Murphy [Washington]).
Three players earned All-PFL Second Team status – redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere), fifth-year senior defensive back Kohlton Sherman (Millington, Mich. / Millington) and redshirt senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]).
In addition, three Beacons received All-PFL Honorable Mention nods – redshirt freshman tight end Evan Jernegan (Altadena, Calif. / St. Francis), redshirt junior wide receiver Matt Ross (Naperville, Ill. / Montini Catholic [Eastern Illinois]) and redshirt freshman defensive lineman and long snapper Kevin Spelman (New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic). Spelman received honorable mention at both positions.
Dawson had five performances with 100 or more rushing yards en route to a PFL-most 1,187 rushing yards. He also led the league in rushing yards per game (107.9) and ranked second in all-purpose yards per game (120.27) and third in rushing touchdowns (10). Dawson ranks second on Valpo’s single-season rushing list. He broke a longstanding program record for longest scoring run from scrimmage with a 99-yard TD and nearly shattered the program’s single-game rushing mark with his 241-yard effort at Morehead State.
Davis finished third in the PFL in receiving yards (711) and receiving yards per game (64.6) while also finishing among the league leaders in receiving TDs (four, ninth), receptions per game (3.5, eighth) and yards per reception (18.23, third).
After earning All-PFL Honorable Mention each of the last two seasons, Byrd garnered First Team All-PFL status in his final collegiate campaign. He was the leader of a Valpo offensive line that paved the way for Dawson’s aforementioned success on the ground. He has also earned the team’s Sever Award presented to the squad’s top offensive lineman each of the last two seasons and has twice been tabbed to the Academic All-PFL Second Team.
Hines made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball after joining the program as a transfer, accruing a team-high 88 tackles while also garnering an interception, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The linebacker ranked ninth in the PFL with 8.0 tackles per game.
Matthes led the league with a punting average of 41.5, booting eight kicks 50+ yards and pinning 20 kicks inside the 20. Hafner led the league in forced fumbles with three while also finishing tied for second on the team with 59 tackles. He had five sacks and 8.0 TFL. Sherman shattered a program record for longest interception return for a touchdown with a 95 yarder, one of his four picks during the season, a total that ranked tied for third in the league. He contributed 50 tackles including 5.5 TFL and a pair of sacks.
2022 Pioneer Football League Major Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Bret Bushka, Butler
Defensive Player of the Year: Muhindo Kapapa, San Diego
Special Teams Player of the Year: Luka Zurak, Butler
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Brady Meitz, Stetson
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Finn Claypool, Drake
Coach of the Year: Glenn Caruso, St. Thomas
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: To be announced, Wednesday
2022 All-Pioneer Football League First Team
Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
OFFENSE
WR Solomon Davis Valparaiso 6-1 180 RJr. Brighton, Tenn.
WR Quinton Lane Stetson 6-3 205 RJr. Tampa, Fla.
WR Andrew McElroy (U) St. Thomas 6-3 184 So. Bolingbrook, Ill.
QB Bret Bushka Butler 5-9 200 RJr. Lombard, Ill.
RB Jake Chisholm (1) Dayton 5-9 191 Sr. Union, Ky.
RB Aaron Dawson Valparaiso 5-11 220 RSr. Westbury, N.Y.
FB Joshua Komis St. Thomas 5-10 239 Sr. Green Bay, Wis.
A-P Re-al Mitchell San Diego 6-0 210 RJr. Eastvale, Calif.
TE Jared Suchevits Butler 6-3 242 RJr. Naperville, Ill.
OL Aaron Byrd Valparaiso 6-4 300 RSr. Bradley, Ill.
OL Skyler Spetter Butler 6-5 302 RSr. Bargersville, Ind.
OL Brian Stevens Dayton 6-2 290 Sr. Milford, Ohio
OL David Tkatch Dayton 6-2 291 Sr. Harmony, Pa.
OL Matthew Weimann St. Thomas 6-4 319 Sr. Oakdale, Minn.
DEFENSE
DL Aaron Acosta Marist 6-1 285 Grad. Mount Laurel, N.J.
DL Finn Claypool Drake 6-1 240 So. Des Moines, Iowa
DL Muhindo Kapapa San Diego 6-2 275 Grad. Fairfield, Calif.
DL Sam Schadeck Dayton 6-3 270 Sr. Columbus, Ohio
LB Mike Arrington Marist 6-0 213 Grad. Ashburn, Va.
LB Jonathan Bunce St. Thomas 6-3 239 So. Edina, Minn.
LB Ben Hines Valparaiso 5-11 240 RSr. Snohomish, Wash.
LB Ben Schmiesing Dayton 6-1 233 Grad. Piqua, Ohio
DB Claybourn Fields III Marist 5-11 220 RSr. Franklin, N.J.
DB Luke Glenna St. Thomas 5-11 189 Sr. Edina, Minn.
DB Rassie Littlejohn Stetson 6-1 173 RJr. Gainesville, Ga.
DB Hunter Nichols San Diego 6-0 185 Grad. Los Angeles, Calif.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Luka Zurak Butler 6-0 188 RJr. Cleveland, Ohio
P Luka Zurak Butler 6-0 188 RJr. Cleveland, Ohio
RS Hunter Nichols San Diego 6-0 185 Grad. Los Angeles, Calif.
LS Justin Iaccio Marist 6-0 208 RJr. Mullica Hill, N.J.
Note: Six offensive linemen selected to first team due to a tie in voting.
Notes in parentheses: U-indicates a player was a unanimous first-team selection; 4x-is a four-time first-team All-PFL selection; 3x-is a three-time firstteam All-PFL selection; 1-was a first-team selection in 2020-21; 2-was a second-team selection in 2020-21; H-was a honorable mention selection in
2020-21.
2022 All-Pioneer Football League Second Team
Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
OFFENSE
WR Michael Carner San Diego 6-1 190 RSr. Westlake Village, Calif.
WR Dominic Kibby Presbyterian 6-1 175 Fr. Catsonville, Md.
WR Luke Wooten Butler 5-10 192 RFr. Danville, Ind.
QB Cade Sexauer St. Thomas 6-4 222 Sr. South St. Pual, Minn.
RB James Louis Morehead State 5-8 185 So. Hillside, N.J.
RB Shawn Shipman St. Thomas 6-0 204 So. Brooklyn Park, Minn.
FB Coy Williams Davidson 6-0 215 RSr. Lumberton, Texas
A-P Glemour Leonard-Osbourne Marist 5-10 190 RSr. Ardsley, N.Y.
TE Lucas Raber Davidson 6-3 230 Sr. Greenville, S.C.
OL Gilbert Deglau Davidson 6-5 285 Jr. Richmond, Va.
OL Beck Kipperman Davidson 6-3 270 Jr. Round Rock, Texas
OL Cam Marriott Morehead State 6-3 300 Sr. Redlands, Calif.
OL Jimmy Poremba Drake 6-3 290 Sr. Wildwood, Ill.
OL Alex Rasmussen St. Thomas 6-7 299 So. Wayzata, Minn.
DEFENSE
DL Will Buck San Diego 6-0 285 RJr. Sacramento, Calif.
DL Sam Hafner Valparaiso 6-2 260 RSo. Green Bay, Wis.
DL Jonathan Hammond Davidson 6-3 225 Jr. Dunwoody, Ga.
DL Fermon Reid Stetson 5-10 240 Grad. Naples, Fla.
LB Nate Arthur Dayton 5-11 222 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio
LB Ethan Hull Stetson 6-0 225 RJr. Crestwood, Ky.
LB Chase Lyons San Diego 6-4 225 Jr. Aurora, Colo.
LB Campbell Watson Presbyterian 6-3 216 RJr. Fayetteville, N.C.
DB Ja’Veon Ensley Stetson 6-1 179 Grad. Plainfield, N.J.
DB Yusef Leak St. Thomas 6-0 178 So. Orlando, Fla.
DB Conner Reid Butler 6-1 205 RSr. Clarendon Hills, Ill.
DB Kohlton Sherman Valparaiso 6-0 200 RSr. Millington, Mich.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Caden Bonoffski Davidson 5-8 180 Sr. Huntersville, N.C.
P Evan Matthes Valparaiso 6-3 215 RSr. Reston, Va.
RS Claybourne Fields III Marist 5-11 220 RSr. Franklin, N.J.
LS Mike Wojciechowski Stetson 5-7 165 RJr. Oak Harbor, Ohio
2022 All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention
BUTLER: OL Colton Ruhland Butler (RSr, OL), Tyler Adams (Grad., WR), Joey Audia (Fr., RS), Jack Belskis (So., DL), Adam Dolan (Fr., OL), Cameron Heald (Fr., FB), Austin Korba (So., DL), Will Mason
(Fr., DB). DAVIDSON: Daniel Carter (So., DB), Kaedon Jenkins (Sr., DB), Aaron Maione (Jr., RS), Mark McCurdy (Jr., FB), Jaden Pask (Sr., LS), Julian Rawlins (So.,
DL), Dylan Sparks (Sr., RB), Yusef Thomas (Sr., LB), Aaron Warren (Jr., DL). DAYTON: Luke Brenner (Jr., RS), Sam Bubonics (Sr., WR), Cole Hildebrand (Jr., DB),
Elijah Smith (Sr., DB), Sam Webster (Sr., K), Derek Willits (Sr., WR). DRAKE: Parker Althaus (Sr., OL), Dorian Boyland (RFr., RB), Tony Graham (So., DB), Matt
Hartlieb (RSr., TE), Ander Johnson (RSr., LB), Bennett Krebs (Jr., C), Ryan Kriceri (6th-yr., LB), Ryan Kriceri (Grad., LB), Joey Lukrich (Jr., DB), Danny Morales (RSr.,
DB), Ross Palmer (Jr., OL), Tanner Pollock (RJr., LB), Trey Radocha (Jr., WR), Jake Shipla (RSo., DL), Eli Stewart (Jr., FB), Luke Williams (Grad., K). MARIST: Brock
Bagozzi (So., QB), Will Downes (RSr., WR), Ibrahim Giwa (So., OL), Miles Kauderer (RSo., DL), Brett Landis (RSo., WR), Wyatt McMahon (Grad., TE), Luke Paladino
(RSr., K), Ethan Parris (RSr., OL), Arthur Pinckney (Grad., LB), Tyler Ruscher (So., LB), Isaiah Smith (RJr., DB), Teddy Wright (Grad., DB). MOREHEAD STATE: Tom
Flood (Sr., DL), Cooper Krezek (RSo., DB), Nick Lavender (Jr., DL), Brady McKnight (So., LS), Jaxsen Spears (So., OL), Sid Weddington (Jr., DL). PRESBYTERIAN:
Keith Boyd (Sr., OL), Keegan Halloran (RJr., DB), Alex Herriott (So., LB), Jalen Jones (RJr., WR), A.J. Seay (So., DB). SAN DIEGO: Judd Erickson (Sr., QB), Eric Haney
(RSo., DB), Vance Jefferson (So., WR), Aidan Lehman (So., K), Aidan Lehman (So., P), Nick Murray (So., DB), Jagger Pagano (RSo., LB), Ja’seem Reed (So., WR),
Jacob Saewitz (RSo., DL). ST. THOMAS: Shea Albrecht (So., OL), Luke Herzog (So., LB), Joshua Komis (Sr., FB), Jason Laliberte (RFr., OL), Andrew McElroy (Sr.,
RS), Trent Meyer (Sr., LB), Brent Robley (Sr., DL), Grif Wurtz (Jr., DB), Max Zimmerman (So., TE). STETSON: Micah Adams (RSo., DB), Alex Alteus (Jr., LB),
Nazeviah Burris (So., WR), Cameron Gillis (RSo., K), Steve Godwin (RSr., OL), Marshall Golick (Jr., P), Majeste Hansberry (RSr., LB), Joshua Hughes (RSo., DL),
Tyler Lewis (RSo., DL), Jalen Mason (Sr., RS), Brady Meitz (RFr., QB), Logan Wylie (Fr., OL). VALPARAISO: Evan Jernegan (RFr., TE), Matt Ross (Sr., WR), Kevin
Spelman (RFr., DL), Kevin Spelman (RFr., LS).
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