MIAA Announces 2010 All-Conference Football Team

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Nine members of Northwest Missouri's 2010 MIAA Football Championship team earned spots on the All-MIAA First Team to headline the all-conference team released by the league office Tuesday. The selections were made by the league's 10 head coaches, and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski was selected as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in passing with 4,150 yards (377.3 ypg) and 34 touchdowns. The senior from Montgomery City, Mo., also led the conference in total offense with 4,131 yards (375.5 ypg). He set the MIAA records for career passing yards (11,790), career total offense (11,906) and single-season passing yards (4,150). Czerniewski was also an All-MIAA First Team selection.

Northwest Missouri defensive back Ryan Jones was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after a season in which he led the league with six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and finished tops in the conference in passes defended with 15. The senior from Liberty, Mo., was also a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection, the second consecutive season he has earned a spot on the first team.

Washburn kicker Steve Ivanisevic is the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the conference in field goals made (15), field goal percentage (88.2) and PAT kicking percentage (100.0). The senior from Darien, Ill., also finished third in the MIAA in scoring with 89 points. Ivanisevic was a unanimous pick for All-MIAA First Team as well.

Pittsburg State linebacker Nate Dreiling was voted the MIAA Freshman of the Year after leading the league in tackles with 144 (13.1 per game) and tackles for loss with 20. The Hutchinson, Kan., product was also selected All-MIAA Second Team.

Northwest Missouri head coach Mel Tjeerdsma was named the MIAA Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive season and 12th time overall after guiding the Bearcats to their fifth straight undefeated conference season and MIAA title. Northwest is currently on a 46-game conference winning streak, the longest streak in MIAA history.

Central Missouri had the second-most first team selections with five, followed by Washburn with three, Missouri Western and Nebraska-Omaha with two apiece and Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Missouri Southern, Pittsburg State and Truman with one each.

Northwest Missouri earned the No. 3 seed, Central Missouri was awarded the No. 4 seed, and Missouri Western received the No. 6 seed in Super Region Four for the 2010 NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Bearcats and Griffons will face off in the first round Saturday at noon CT in Maryville, while the Mules will host No. 5 seed West Texas A&M Saturday at 1 p.m. CT in Warrensburg.

Washburn will take on Midwestern State of the Lone Star Conference in the Kanza Bowl Dec. 4 in Topeka, Kan., and Pittsburg State will play Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent Concordia St.-Paul in the Mineral Water Bowl Dec. 4 in Excelsior Springs, Mo.