BAY CITY, Mich.---NMU senior Jake Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Back of the Year and First Team All-GLIAC for the second straight year while a total of 11 players earned All-GLIAC Recognition.
Mayon set two school records during his senior campaign while leading the GLIAC in rushing for the season. He became the first player in school history to achieve 1,500 rushing yards in a season and set a new NMU single season rushing record, finishing the year with 1,505 yards on the ground while score 14 touchdowns.
That total also placed him sixth nationally in Division II. He averaged 136.8 yards rushing per game and posted two games with over 200 rushing yards PLUS three more games over 170 rushing yards. Against Michigan Technological University, Mayon became the school's career rushing leader and will finish his career with 4,220 yards.
Two offensive linemen earned All-GLIAC Second Team, as seniors Zyggy Arledge (Hoover, Ala.) and Vince Propson (Chilton, Wis.) earned the honor.
In addition to helping Mayon set two school records, the pair helped guide the team to a school record of 2,660 yards rushing which placed the team in the nation's top 20 for both total yards and yards per game. Arledge started all 11 games with Propson getting nin starts after missing the first two games with injury.
Senior defensive tackle Abram Cook (Surprise Ariz./Valley Vista) gained All-GLIAC Second Team distinction after recording 2.5 sacks for a total of eight yards, finishing with six tackles for loss.
On the season, the defensive lineman finished with 42 total tackles. Junior punter John Kwiecinski (Plymouth, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) also earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors. Kwiecinski averaged 39.5 yards per punt with a long of 70 yards. He put 12 punts inside the 20.
Six players were named All-GLIAC Honorable Mention.
Senior safety Jalen Saunders (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale) had 50 tackles, including 2.5 for loss while forcing two fumbles, recovering one, and also had four pass breakups.
Junior safety Troy Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) finished the year with 79 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss. He also recovered a fumble and had two interceptions along with four pass breakups.
Junior Thompson McWatters (Grand Haven, Mich.) and sophomore Gabe Baumann (Rockford, Mich.) from the offensive line helped three rushing records fall. McWatters started all 11 games while Baumann appeared in seven.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Benjamin Loutsis (Aurora, Ill./Matea Valley) led the receivers with 27 receptions, 482 yards and four touchdowns. Averaging 43.8 yards per game, Loutsis had a season-long completion of 66 yards in the season opener at McKendree.
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Jacob Dudeck(Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln Way West) tallied 33 tackles this season, getting 2.5 for loss and added a .5 sack. He also forced a fumble.
This year's team placed the most NMU players onto the All-GLIAC teams since at least 2000. The Wildcats finished the year 3-8 and broke a total of three school records.
