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Five First Teamers Highlight All-MIAA Selections in Football
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Adrian College football team concluded its 2011 season on Saturday with a 16-0 win over Alma to finish 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA. On Monday, Nov. 14 the league's coaches gathered to select the 2011 All-MIAA teams on the gridiron. Adrian came away with five First Teamers including junior wide receiver Justin Hemm (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua HS) who is a repeat performer for the Bulldogs. Senior offensive lineman Nick Ross (Manchester, Mich./Manchester HS) was also a First Team selection on offense. On the defensive side, a trio of seniors were named First Team for the first time in their careers. Defensive lineman Steve Mauk (China, Mich./St. Clair HS), linebacker Darren Walter (Muskegon, Mich./Orchard View HS) and defensive back Bryan Garbarino (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica) rounded out the group of First Team selections.
The Bulldogs also had four players who were named Second Team All-MIAA including three guys on offense and one on defense. Senior wide receiver Isiah Cross (Atlanta, Ga./Flowery Branch HS), junior tight end Derek Shell (Manitou Beach, Mich./Onsted HS) and senior offensive lineman Spencer Whittington (Paw Paw, Mich./Lawrence HS) were the offensive picks while senior defensive back Keman Jacobs (New Orleans, La./Hahnville HS) got the lone defensive nod.
Hemm has made a smooth transition from quarterback to wide receiver and for the first time was strictly a wideout in 2011. He hauled in 50 passes for the second straight year for a career-best 854 yards and seven touchdowns. Hemm currently has 117 receptions for 1,815 yards and 16 touchdowns in his Adrian career. He ranks number one all-time in TD receptions, second in receiving yards and second in receptions. Hemm ranked third this season in the MIAA in receptions per game (5.0) and second in receiving yards per contest (85.4). He had four 100-yard receiving games this season including a career-high 155 yards against Concordia Chicago on Sept. 24.
Ross was a bonafide superstar on the offensive line for the Bulldogs and anchored the line at right tackle. He leaves Adrian with 35 career games and 30 consecutive starts under his belt. He was a Second Team All-MIAA performer in 2010 and helped Adrian rank first in the MIAA in scoring offense (32.5 ppg), second in rushing offense (172.2 ypg) and first in total offense (393.8 ypg). Ross was also named to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District 6 NCAA Division III squad with a 3.54 GPA in biology.
Mauk made a big impact in the trenches for the Bulldogs after missing all but one game in the 2010 season due to injury. Mauk made a full recovery and posted career-highs in 2011 with 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He also was named to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District 6 NCAA Division III squad with a 3.95 GPA in exercise science. He started in all 10 games this season and ranked fourth in the MIAA in sacks and fifth in tackles for loss. Mauk saved his best for the Hope game on Nov. 5 with seven tackles including four tackles for loss and two sacks.
Walter is one of the hardest hitter on the team and finished his career with 29 games and a total of 101 tackles. He accumulated 17 tackles for a loss of 63 yards in his career with 7.5 sacks for a loss of 38 yards. Walter finished this season with 37 tackles and set a new career-best with 8.5 tackles for a loss of 33 yards. He had a season-high eight tackles against Concordia Chicago on Sept. 24.
Garbarino emerged as the team's third-leading tackler in 2011 and finished the campaign with 52 tackles (28 solo) including 7.5 tackles for a loss of 18 yards with one sack for a loss of eight yards. Garbarino showed his versatility with seven pass breakups this season ranking tied for fifth in the MIAA. He also had a career-best four interception for 38 return yards including a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown at Kalamazoo. Garbarino played in 30 career games and made 89 tackles (50 solo) including 10.5 tackles for a loss of 26 yards.
Cross spent just one year with the Bulldogs and was a nice compliment to Hemm at wide receiver for Adrian. Cross caught 20 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. He had a season-high six catches for 67 yards and a score against Albion on Oct. 29 and also had a season-high 87 receiving yards on three grabs at Trine on Oct. 1.
Shell paved the way as a blocking tight end for the Bulldogs and provided durability once again playing in all 10 games for the second straight year. Adrian had one of the best offenses in the MIAA rushing for 172.2 yards per game behind Shell and other offensive linemen. The Bulldogs also allowed just 14 sacks this season as Shell was used primarily as a blocker in those situations.
Whittington played admirably all season long for the Bulldogs and was named First Team All-MIAA in 2010. Whittington and Ross were bookend tackles for Adrian over the past two seasons as the pair started in 19 games together.
Jacobs is in his second year with the team and improved his play during the 2011 season. Jacobs equaled his tackle total from last year with 49 but increased his pass breakup numbers from seven to 14. He had 27 solo tackles and four tackles for a loss of eight yards this season. He ranks fifth all-time at Adrian with 21 pass breakups and also had three interceptions for 56 return yards this season. Jacobs also had 19 kickoff returns in his career for 373 yards (21.4 ypr). He had a career-high 10 tackles against Albion on Oct. 29.
