Eureka lands six selections on All-UMAC Team
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Six Eureka College football players have been selected to the All-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Team, according to an announcement from the league office on Wednesday. The awards included First Team selections for senior offensive lineman Javier Rivera (Chicago, Ill./Taft) and defensive lineman Austin Blair(Newton, Ill./Newton [Franklin]).
In addition to Eureka's duo on the All-UMAC First Team, freshman running back LeAnthony Reasnover (Momence, Ill./Momence), sophomore defensive end Trever Zeibert (Monee, Ill./Peotone), sophomore linebacker Chris Friend(Washington, Ill./Washington [St. Xavier]) and junior defensive back Ricky Martinez (Yorba Linda, Calif./JSerra Catholic) were named to the Second Team.
Rivera, a preseason All-American selection, anchored a Eureka offensive line that produced 339.1 yards per game and 176.0 passing yards per game, fourth-most in the UMAC, while allowing only ten sacks throughout the season. The 2015 campaign marked Rivera's third season as a full-time starter and third time as a member of the All-UMAC Team.
Blair delivered a strong senior season, finishing fourth on the team in total tackles with 44, averaging 4.4 tackles per game as a member of the interior defensive line. Consistently fighting double-teams, Blair was able to secure 9.5 tackles for a loss, second-most on the team, and 5.0 sacks. Additionally, he forced one fumble and recovered two.
Reasnover compiled one of the top seasons by a running back in program history carrying the ball 181 times for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns, third-most in conference. Reasnover's touchdown total ranks fourth in school history for touchdowns scored on the ground in a single season. He was a two-time selection as the UMAC Offensive Player of the Week over his rookie campaign.
Zeibert broke out this season as a sophomore, compiling 56 total tackles, second-most on the team. He amassed 8.5 tackles for a loss and collected a team-high 6.5 sacks. He was selected as the UMAC Defensive Player of the Week after punching a career-high 12 tackles against St. Scholastica on Sept. 19. He is a first time member of the All-UMAC team.
Friend received his first All-UMAC selection after registering 96 total tackles at linebacker behind Blair and Zeibert. He also finished his first campaign as a Red Devil with 12.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks. He tallied a season-high 16 total tackles, 10 solo, at home against Westminster on Oct. 10. Friend's brother, Matt Friend, was EC's representative on the All-UMAC Sportsmanship Team last season.
Martinez, another first time All-UMAC selection, posted a successful junior season that featured 31 total tackles at corner back. He was one of three EC defenders to intercept four passes this season, returning one interception for a score at Iowa Wesleyan on Oct. 17. In addition to his duties on defense, Martinez was an elite return specialist, second in the conference with a 24.1 kickoff return average.
Westminster running back Latif Adams was named UMAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Alex Managan from the College of St. Scholastica was named UMAC Defensive Player. St. Scholastica's Mitch Ejnik (Special Teams) and Nick Plager (Lineman) also collected specialty awards, while MacMurray's head coach Chris Douglas received the league's Coach of the Year award.
Senior defensive back Aaron Pearlman (Naperville, Ill./Metea Valley) was selected to the All-UMAC Sportsmanship Team. One player from each team received the honor, while Northwestern (Minn.) earned the Team Sportsmanship Award.