The Grinnell College football team had an amazing run in the 2010 season, and that success has been reflected in the All-MWC selections.
Jeff Pedersen ’02 (top, left) has been named MWC Coach of the Year, and Pioneers Marquis Bradley ’11 (top, second from left), Robert Seer ’12 (top, second from right) and Logan Granera ’13 (top, right) have been named to the All-MWC first team in voting by the league’s coaches.
Granera was also a second-team pick - at another position - and was joined on that team by Ryan Fletcher ’11 (bottom, left), Marc Heronemus ’11 (bottom, second from left) and TJ Schaid ’13 (bottom, second from right). Jake McVeigh ’11 (bottom, right) was an honorable mention pick for a team that won as many games in 2010 as the three previous Grinnell squads combined.
Under Pedersen’s guidance, the Pioneers achieved many things. Among them were beating Monmouth College for the first time since 2000, winning four of their first five games for Grinnell’s best start since 1999 and finishing at 6-4 for the team’s best record since 2004.
Bradley, a linebacker from Wichita, Kan. (Independence), was on the All-MWC second team a year ago. He was second in the league in tackles (103), fourth in forced fumbles (two), ninth in tackles for loss (9.5) and ninth in sacks (three). He was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week during the season and also named a MWC Performer of the Week.
Seer, a wide receiver from Saukville, Wis. (Port Washington), was an All-MWC honorable mention selection last year. He ranked second in the conference in scoring with 84 points and was fifth in both receptions (6.2 per game) and receiving yards (81.8 per game). He tied a school record with four touchdown receptions against Macalester College and ranks second in Pioneer history with 14 TD catches this season.
Granera, from Keokuk, Iowa (Keokuk) was a first-teamer at a special teams spot. He ranked first in the league in both kick return average (24.7 yards per return) and all-purpose yards (179.8 per game). He was twice named MWC Performer of the Week, once on special teams and once on offense, and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.
Granera was a second-team All-MWC pick as a wide receiver. He ranked fourth in receiving yards (89.7 per game) and sixth in both receptions (5.7 per game) and scoring (66 points). He had 195 receiving yards against Ripon College, which ranks fifth in program history.
Fletcher, a linebacker from Brookfield, Wis. (Brookfield Central), ranked sixth in the conference in tackles with 87 and seventh in tackles for loss with 10.5. He also had 2.5 sacks.
Heronemus, a defensive back from Topeka, Kan. (Topeka), was an honorable mention All-MWC selection in 2009. He ranked ninth in the conference in pass breakups with seven while also coming up with 59 tackles and three interceptions.
Schaid, a running back from Walworth, Wis. (Big Foot), was Grinnell’s top rusher and ranked ninth in the conference in that category with 384 yards and a touchdown. He also served as a key blocking back for a Pioneer passing attack that put up nearly 3,000 yards this season.
McVeigh, from Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X), anchored the powerful Pioneer offensive line that led to 3,719 yards of total offense and 263 points.
The MWC Offensive Player of the Year is St. Norbert College quarterback Rob Berger, while Illinois College linebacker Ricky Padilla and Beloit College linebacker Tony Baratti shared Defensive Player of the Year honors.
See complete All-MWC Football release here.
