Barth, Reasnover Highlight Eight Red Devils on All-UMAC Team
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Eight Eureka College football players have received All-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference honors, according to a Wednesday announcement from the league office. Additionally, junior offensive tackle Ryan Barth (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest H.S.) has been voted UMAC Lineman of the Year and junior running back LeAnthony Reasnover (Momence, Ill./Momence H.S.) is the UMAC Offensive Player of the Year.
A total of seven players from Eureka's league championship team were voted to the All-UMAC First Team: Barth, Reasnover, senior linebacker Chris Friend (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S./St. Xavier), sophomore cornerback Trevon Moore (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley H.S.), senior offensive guard Michael Slingsby (Granville, Ill./St. Bede Academy), junior defensive tackle Macae Skaggs (Farmington, Ill./Farmington H.S.) and senior defensive end Trever Zeibert (Monee, Ill./Peotone H.S.).
Senior defensive end Ray Vogel (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone H.S.) was voted to the All-UMAC Second Team.
Reasnover and Zeibert are on the All-UMAC Team for the third consecutive season, including repeat appearances on the First Team. Barth, Moore, Slingsby and Vogel are now two-time selections and Skaggs in a first-time honoree.
Barth anchored a Eureka offensive line that churned out a school-record 2,987 rushing yards in 2017, smashing the previous program record by more than 700 yards. The Red Devils produced 4,322 yards of total offense this season, EC's highest team total since 1995 and the second-highest total in program history. Barth, Eureka's first UMAC Lineman of the Year in nine seasons as a member of the league, started all 10 games as a mainstay on Eureka's offensive front.
Reasnover staked claim to a major portion of the Eureka record book in 2017, setting single-season Eureka records with 1,834 rushing yards, 31 rushing touchdowns, 32 total touchdowns and 194 point scored. His touchdown totals led the nation and his rushing yardage ranked second in Division III in 2017. Additionally, Reasnover broke all-time program records with 3,808 rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns, as well as single-game EC records with 355 rushing yards against St. Scholastica on Oct. 28 and seven rushing touchdowns at Martin Luther on Nov. 4. In all, Reasnover compiled eight 100-yard rushing games, three 200-yard rushing games and a 300-yard rushing game in 2017.
Reasnover is Eureka's first UMAC Player of the Year since the conference dropped its divisional format prior to the 2010 season. Eureka Hall of Fame quarterback Nick Lindsey shared the league's South Division Offensive Player of the Year award in 2009.
Friend returns to the All-UMAC First Team after receiving the honor as a sophomore in 2015. He ended his final collegiate regular season with a team-best 74 tackles, 25 of which were unassisted. Friend tallied 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown in the homecoming victory over Westminster on Oct. 7 and collected his fourth career interception in the regular-season finale at Martin Luther on Nov. 4. Friend made seven tackles or more six times, including a season-high 21 stops against Greenville on Oct. 14.
Moore repeated on the All-UMAC First Team and continued developing his reputation as one of the league's most feared defensive backs. His 12 pass breakups ranked second in the UMAC and his 1.3 passes defended per game ranked tied for fourth among league players. He also added 11 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and gathered his second career interception in EC's Oct. 21 victory at MacMurray. Moore has broken up 27 passes in his first 20 games in the EC secondary.
Slingsby joins Barth as EC offensive lineman to be honored on the First Team. Perhaps one of the most consistent and dependable linemen of Eureka's Division III era, Slingsby hasn't missed a start since his arrival on campus, making 40 consecutive appearances as a starter since debuting as a freshman in 2014. His efforts allowed the Red Devils' record-breaking ground attack to rank sixth in the country through the 2017 regular season.
Skaggs emerged on Eureka's defensive front to make 59 total tackles and earn his first All-UMAC nod. He led the EC defense with 8.5 sacks and four interceptions during the regular season to become the first Red Devil to lead the defense in both categories since Eureka's sack totals were accurately recorded beginning in 2001. His 2017 sack total was third-most in a season by a Red Devil since 2001.
Vogel repeated on the Second Team after a campaign in which he totaled 32 total tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He scored a touchdown on a blocked put in the Red Devils' 48-6 win over Westminster on Oct. 7 and blocked a punt to setup Eureka's first scoring drive of the day in a critical league win over St. Scholastica on Oct. 28. Vogel ended the regular season with 37.5 career tackles for loss and 15.5 career sacks, both ranking second among EC defenders since 2000.
Zeibert wrapped up his final regular season as one of the Red Devils' most decorated defenders of the Division III era. The three-time All-UMAC selection set a new personal single-season high with 57 total tackles and led the Red Devils with 14.0 tackles for loss. His 6.0 sacks in 2017 were second-most on the team and increased his career total to 26.0, the most by a Eureka defender since 2000. Zeibert also leads all Red Devils since the turn of the century with 39.0 career tackles for loss. Zeibert proved to be a versatile weapon for the Red Devils, contributing as a short-yardage specialist on offense and hauling a 2-yard touchdown pass in EC's UMAC win over Westminster on Oct. 7.
Senior center Jake Price (Wyoming, Ill./Stark County H.S.) was Eureka's representative on the UMAC All-Sportsmanship Team. One player is nominated from each of the 10 member schools to be on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
MacMurray lineman Javon Muhammad was named UMAC Defensive Player of the Year. Minnesota Morris kicker received UMAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors and Martin Luther's Mark Stein was voted UMAC Coach of the Year.
Eureka will open the NCAA Division III playoffs Saturday at noon against #4/#4 St. Thomas (Minn.) in St. Paul, Minn.