MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Seventeen Saint John's University football student-athletes earned All-MIAC honors, including a school-record 10 on the first team, as the Johnnies swept all three major conference awards on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Junior quarterback Jackson Erdmann (Rosemount, Minn.) was named the Jim Christopherson MIAC Most Valuable Player, senior defensive end Nathan Brinker (Avon, Minn./Holdingford) earned the MIAC's Mike Stam Award as the conference's most outstanding lineman and head coach Gary Fasching '81 was named the MIAC John Gagliardi Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, and third time of his six-year tenure.

Brinker, Erdmann, senior tight end Tommy Auger (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral), senior wide receiver Will Gillach (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes), junior guard Dan Greenheck (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), senior safety Max Jackson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), senior defensive end Ted Kalina (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson), sophomore center Nick Neumann (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), sophomore linebacker Danny Pietruszewski (South St. Paul, Minn.) and senior cornerback Sam Westby (Lake Elmo, Minn./Hill-Murray) were named to the first team. 

Junior running back Kai Barber (Minneapolis, Minn./Totino-Grace), junior offensive tackle Ben Bartch (Dayton, Ore./Blanchet Catholic), senior running back Adam Essler (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) and senior tight end Jared Streit (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) were named to the All-MIAC second team.

Senior kicker Zach Barwick (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge), junior safety Ryan LaCasse (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) and junior wide receiver Andrew VanErp (Battle Lake, Minn./Ottertail Central) were All-MIAC honorable mention. Senior offensive tackle Isaac Ackerman (Mounds View, Minn./Irondale) was named to the MIAC All-Sportsmanship team.

A two-time All-MIAC first-team selection, Erdmann became the 20th Johnnie in program history to be named the MIAC Most Valuable Player. He is the first since Sam Sura '15 in 2014 and the first Johnnie quarterback since Kurt Ramler '97 in 1996. Erdmann led the MIAC in completion percentage (65.1 percent), yards per attempt (10.1), touchdown passes (23) and passing efficiency (185.4) in conference play. His 1,942 yards were good for second in the conference. He is currently second in NCAA Division III in both passing efficiency (201.2) and passing touchdowns (40), fourth in yards per pass attempt (10.41) and points responsible for (246), eighth in completion percentage (.672) and 11th in passing yards per completion (15.49). Erdmann has set single-game program records this fall for passing yards (470 on Oct. 13 vs. St. Thomas) and passing touchdowns (7 on Nov. 10 vs. Thomas More), and his 40 passing touchdowns this season are the third-most in an SJU season.

A three-time All-MIAC first-team selection, Brinker became the eighth Johnnie in program history to win the MIAC's Mike Stam Award and the first since Kyle Schroeder '11 in 2010. Brinker finished second to his counterpart, Kalina, with 6.5 sacks in MIAC play and led the conference with 13.5 tackles for loss. His 25 career sacks are sixth-most in school history and his 48.5 tackles for loss rank fifth. 

The MIAC coaching honor is Fasching's third in six seasons, after taking home a share of the award in 2017. He led SJU (11-0, 8-0 MIAC) to its MIAC-record 33rd conference title and 29th postseason appearance (25th in Division III), its fifth consecutive, this fall. Fasching has a 57-11 record (.838), including a 41-7 mark in MIAC play, which are both program bests through the first six seasons. 

SJU had five first-team honorees on offense, including Greenheck and Neumann, as well as Bartch on the line. The first-team honor is the second consecutive for Greenheck, who was also a 2017 D3football.com All-American and a 2018 D3football.com Preseason All-American. SJU led the MIAC (conference games only) in total offense (488.9 ypg., first time since 2010), scoring offense (47.5 ppg., first time since 2005) and passing offense (283.8 ypg., first time since 2010).

Gillach finished second in conference play with seven receiving touchdowns and claimed third in both receptions (41) and receiving yards (733). Gillach also completed his only pass attempt of the season, a 79-yard touchdown toss, Oct. 27 at Concordia. On Nov. 17, Gillach became the first Johnnie to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season since Brian Weber '07 (1,031 yards) in 2007. He now has 59 receptions for 1,063 yards (18.0 avg.) and 14 touchdowns, the fifth-most in an SJU season, this fall. Gillach became the first Johnnie since 1994 to catch four touchdowns in a game Nov. 10 against Thomas More and his 256 receiving yards against St. Thomas set a school record. 

Auger caught 12 passes for 155 yards in conference play, five of which were touchdowns. Streit, meanwhile, totaled 230 yards and three touchdowns on 15 receptions. The duo have combined for 42 receptions, 545 yards (13.0 avg.) and 13 touchdowns overall this fall. Streit has 12 career touchdown catches, which are tied for the third-most by an SJU tight end in school history, while Auger is tied for seventh with nine. Streit is also ninth among Johnnie tight ends with 703 career receiving yards.

SJU finished second in the league (conference games only) in scoring defense (8.8 ppg.), fourth in passing defense (183.8 ypg.) and rushing defense (100.6 ypg.) and fifth in total defense (284.4 ypg.). SJU led the league in sacks (32) and fumble recoveries (12), and its 25 takeaways were second in conference play.

The All-MIAC first-team honor is the second consecutive for Jackson, whose 47 tackles led the team in conference play. He recorded seven pass breakups and recovered two fumbles, including the game-breaking 99-yard fumble return for touchdown in the 40-20 win over St. Thomas Oct. 13. Jackson found the end zone once more on a 60-yard punt return Nov. 3 against Hamline. His 549 career punt-return yards are sixth on SJU's all-time list. Jackson currently leads the team with 64 tackles overall. 

Kalina led the MIAC with 8.5 sacks and finished fourth with 10.5 tackles for loss in conference play. He is second on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks overall. Pietruszewski, meanwhile, is third on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks overall.

Westby totaled 27 tackles (17 solo), two fumble recoveries and three interceptions, including the 34-yard return for a touchdown late in the Johnnies' 34-16 win Oct. 6 at Bethel. He currently leads the team in pass breakups (9) and passed defended (12) this fall.

Barber has enjoyed his first full (healthy) season for SJU this fall and rushed for 426 yards (6.5 per carry) and seven touchdowns in MIAC play. He recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with 102 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown, on four carries Nov. 3 vs. Hamline. Essler totaled 485 yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving combined) and seven touchdowns against league competition, including his first 100-yard rushing game (107 yards) Oct. 20 vs. St. Olaf. He also averaged 18.3 yards on 10 kick returns. Essler has 10 touchdowns overall, including five receiving over his last four games. 

No. 3/5 SJU hosts No. 10/11 Whitworth of Washington (10-0 overall) in the second round of the NCAA playoffs at noon Saturday, Nov. 24, in Collegeville.