WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College's explosive offense and special teams were rewarded across the board on the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference all-conference football teams, led by junior Joe Smyth being named KCAC special teams player of the year.
Smyth, from Southwestern, capped a breakout season as one of the league's most versatile threats. He finished with 1,544 all-purpose yards, averaging 140.4 yards per game. He rushed 52 times for 507 yards and four touchdowns, caught 38 passes for 607 yards and 11 scores, and added 430 yards and three touchdowns on kickoff returns. He also completed a 60-yard touchdown pass and had a 93-yard kickoff return for a score.
Southwestern finished 8–3 overall, averaging 51.9 points and 541.5 yards per game. The Moundbuilders went 6–0 on the road and piled up 5,957 yards of total offense, scoring 82 total touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Matthew Holthusen earned first-team all-conference honors on offense. Holthusen caught 63 passes for 1,263 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 114.8 receiving yards per game and 20.0 yards per catch as the primary target in Southwestern's vertical passing attack.
Offensive lineman Austin Tener joined Holthusen on the first-team offense, anchoring a line that helped Southwestern average 212.5 rushing yards per game and 6.7 yards per carry. The offense averaged 8.3 yards per play and 329.0 passing yards per game.
Kicker Preston Fansher received the Dr. Ted Kessinger Champion of Character Award in a five-way tie. On the field, Fansher went 4 for 4 on field goals with a long of 41 yards and hit 57 of 67 extra-point attempts, finishing with 72 points. Southwestern's kicking game finished at 83.3 percent on field goals and 86.1 percent on PATs.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Nelson was honored as one of the KCAC Bissell Assistant Coaches of the Year in a three-way tie. Under Nelson, Southwestern ranked among the top offenses in the NAIA, throwing for 3,619 yards and 46 passing touchdowns and rushing for 2,338 yards and 31 rushing scores. The Builders topped 60 points five times, including wins of 80–14 over Bethany, 62–0 at Avila, 74–28 at Sterling and 59–28 at Kansas Wesleyan.
Quarterback Jamie Odom headlined Southwestern's second-team selections. Odom completed 204 of 322 passes (63.4 percent) for 3,204 yards and 41 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, averaging 291.3 passing yards per game. He also rushed for 470 yards and 11 touchdowns, directing an offense that converted 53 percent of its third downs and scored on 86 percent of its red-zone trips.
Smyth added second-team recognition at wide receiver in addition to his special teams and all-purpose honors. Offensive lineman Arnold Portillo was also named to the second-team offense.
On defense, linebacker Corbin Williams and defensive back Britt Wittschen were named to the second team. Williams posted 64 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, with one interception, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry. Wittschen finished with 50 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and one interception, along with five pass breakups.
Southwestern also placed several players on the KCAC third team. Smyth added a third-team nod at running back after averaging 9.8 yards per carry and rushing for 507 yards and four scores.
Defensive linemen Elijah Moroney and Jamarion Citizen each earned third-team recognition. Moroney had 37 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and one interception returned 13 yards. Citizen totaled 46 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery.
Linebacker DreShaun Flowers was named third-team after recording 57 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Defensive back Corey McCoy joined him on the third team with 27 tackles, two interceptions for 27 return yards and five pass breakups.
On special teams, punter Cadon Clark was a third-team selection. Clark punted 18 times for 746 yards, averaging 41.4 yards per punt with a long of 66 yards. He placed 11 punts inside the 20-yard line and had six punts of 50 yards or longer.
Defensively, Southwestern limited opponents to 301.0 yards and 23.5 points per game. The Builders held foes to 141.2 passing yards per contest, collected 15 interceptions and recorded 58 tackles for loss.
Southwestern opened the season with a 61–7 win over Bethel and closed with back-to-back road wins, 53–21 at Saint Mary and 59–28 at Kansas Wesleyan, to finish 8–3 overall and 3–2 in KCAC play.
