November 16, 2003

Football Has Nine on All-RMAC Team

Ross Named Offensive Player of the Year

            Kearney, NE – Nebraska-Kearney has put nine different players, seven on offense and two on defense, on the 2003 All-RMAC team, which was released this morning.  

            Sophomore wide receiver Richie Ross leads the way as he was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Year. The Lincoln native, who also earned first-team honors, had one of the finest seasons in Division II history for a receiver, having 75 receptions for 1,482 yards and 11 TD’s. Currently second in the nation in yards per game (148.8), Ross’s season yardage total is the 17^th highest in Division II history. In 21 career games, he has 131 receptions for 2,624 yards and 21 TD’s.

            Quarterback Justin Coleman (1999) and running back Mike Miller (2002) are the other Lopers to have been named RMAC Offensive POY.

            Miller and senior tight end Joel Jacobs (Mullen) earned first-team offensive honors for the third straight season. They join cornerback Craig Neuhaus (1999-01) as the only other Lopers to earn first-team honors three times in a career. Miller, a junior from Littlteon, Colo., rushed for 1,137 yards and eight TD’s this fall to rank second in the league in rushing (126.3 ypg). Jacobs had 27 receptions for 228 yards to end his career with 66 catches for 623 yards and six TD’s. 

            Also earning first-team honors was Ponca senior left tackle Ryan Bachman. The 6-6, 300 lbs. Bachman was a second-team pick in 2002.  

            Earning second-team offensive honors were Hastings senior QB Pat Korth and Lexington junior wide receiver Garth Mins. Korth, who earned second-team honors as a junior, extends UNK’s streak of having an All-RMAC QB to seven straight years while Mins also earned honorable mention honors as a kick returner. He led the league in kick return average this season at 26.4.

            Korth led the league in virtually every passing category as he threw for a school-record 3,245 yards and 22 TD’s. He also set school records for pass completions in a season (208) and completion percentage for a career (60.1).

            Mins, an honorable mention pick as a sophomore, joined Ross among the RMAC receiving leaders. He caught 50 balls for 881 yards and six TD’s in 2003 and ranks seventh in school history in career receiving yards (1,805).

            The final offensive player honored was sophomore right tackle James Poynter, who earned honorable mention honors. He was a first year starter in 2003.

            Defensively, junior linebackers Jered Butts (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Ryan Krueger (Winside) earned honorable mention honors. It was the first time either was tabbed All-RMAC.

            Butts led UNK in tackles (68) this year and has registered 115 tackles in his career while Kruger, as a first year starter at outside backer, made 56 stops this season.