Chevalier's Player of the Year leads herd of GPAC awards

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A herd of Morningside University football players on Wednesday received Great Plains Athletic Conference first-, second-team, and honorable mention recognition.

Quarterback Zack Chevalier was named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Year, while coach Steve Ryan was voted as Coach of the Year. Coaches from around the conference participated in the vote.

Here's a breakdown of who earned what:

First Team Offense

Zack Chevalier, QB: The junior quarterback from Santa Clarita, Calif., leads the country in touchdowns with 38, and yards per game with 353.0. In total passing yards, Chevalier has 3,883 passing yards, second-most of any QB at a four-year college or university in the U.S.

Drew Sellon, WR: The sophomore from Fremont, Neb., has been Chevalier's top target. He's caught 92 passes for 1,423 yards and 14 touchdowns. He broke a school record on Sept. 7 with 18 catches in a single game.

Aidan Queen, OL: The Omaha Burke High graduate has played in nine games during his senior year after playing in six in 2023 and 2021.

Jack James, OL: James, a junior from Omaha, has played in 10 games this season after appearing in nine last season.

Both linemen (along with Mason Scott) helped the rushing attack earn 1,860 yards this season, and helped allow just seven total sacks.

First Team Special Teams

Laken Harnly, dPRS: The senior wide receiver from Bellevue, Neb., became the first Mustang to return three punt returns in a season. His season-high in all-purpose yards was 152 on Oct. 19 against Briar Cliff.

First Team Defense

Isaac Pingel, LB: A senior from Spencer, Iowa, Pingel has amassed 110.0 total tackles (T-1 GPAC), including 52 solo. He had five sacks for 29 yards.

Dijion Walls, DB: Walls, a senior from Hazelwood, Mo., picked off six passes this season (T-1 GPAC) and he returned one for a TD against Doane. He had three INTs in the 31-21 Oct. 26 win over Dordt.

Malik Hampton, DB: The sophomore from Wildwood, Mo., broke up a pass last Saturday against Dakota Wesleyan, and had three solo tackles for loss for a total of nine yards.

Second Team Offense

Max Hough, RB: The sophomore from Graettinger, Iowa, appeared in 10 games. He collected 902 yards on 128 carries and scored nine times. Four of those TDs came last Saturday against DWU.

Lennx Brown, WR: The Council Bluffs native has caught 62 passes during his junior season so far, and has eight TDs. He has 829 yards.

Mason Scott, OL: Scott appeared in nine contests this season, after also playing in nine last year. The Bishop Heelan High graduate played center.

Second Team Defense

Colton Dreith, DL: Dreith had 3.5 sacks for 35 total yards. The redshirt junior from Storm Lake had 6.0 tackles for loss, including two key ones against Northwestern on Nov. 2.

Landry Phipps, LB: Phipps picked off four passes (3rd in GPAC), and he returned one for a TD on Sept. 7 against Concordia. The Aubrey, Texas, native also had 42 total tackles.

Cade Harriman, DB: The sophomore from Holstein, Iowa, had 76 total tackles, good for 11th in the GPAC.

Honorable mention

Jakob Nelson, WR: Nelson caught 38 passes for 572 yards, and he earned six TDs.

Austin Jurgens, DL: Jurgens collected 25 total tackles, and he intercepted a pass.

Tommy Fitzsimmons, K: The Kuemper High School grad was 4-for-4 in field goal attempts and 68-for-69 in PAT attempts.

Ryan Cole, RB: Before suffering an injury, Cole had 351 yards and eight TDs in five games.

Brady Schlaeger, DL: Schlaeger has 12 total tackles, and he had one sack for 10 yards.