CHICAGO --- With championships come rewards and 2021 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League co-champion University of St. Francis learned that when 16 different Saints captured 18 different awards when the league office announced its postseason honor roll on Monday.

Highlighting the group was freshman quarterback Sam Tumilty, who became the first-ever Saint to be named the MSFA Midwest League Offensive Player of the Year in his inaugural collegiate season. He finished the year ranked second in the nation and first in the conference in rushing offense averaging 152.3 yards per contest. His 1,371 yards rushing on 231 carries also ranked second-most for a single season in USF program history.

Tumilty's 14 rushing touchdowns, meanwhile, ranked first in the league and tied a school record, while his 84 total points and 9.3 scoring average were both the most on the club and tops in the conference. He also rushed for better than 100 yards in seven of the team's nine games and eclipsed the 200-yard mark four times. 

That was just half the story. Tumilty also threw for another 1,151 yards, completing 86 of his 165 attempts (52.1 percent) with ten touchdowns opposite six interceptions.  Included was his 202-yard passing, 241-yard rushing game when the Saints upset No.17 ranked Olivet Nazarene University 43-30.   

Tumilty was joined by his older brother Scott on the all-conference team not once, but twice, selected to the first team as both a defensive back and a return man. He earned the same distinction in both categories one year ago. 

The sophomore finished second on the team in total tackles (64) with one sack and another 3.5 tackles for loss in nine games. He also had five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown.

As a return man, Scott Tumilty turned in team-best averages of 19.3 yards per kickoff return and 6.8 yards on punt returns. He totaled 328 yard on 17 kickoff returns and another 102 yards on 15 punt returns.

Other Saints earning first-team status included offensive players Ravon Johnson and Derek Wentworth, defensive standouts Chris Johnson and Ryan King and special teams performer Scott Walsh.

Ravon Johnson, a first-team choice last season as well, was USF's top receiver in three separate categories. The senior accounted for 41 of the team's 86 receptions, 763 of the club's 1,151 receiving yards and eight of the squad's 10 touchdowns via the pass. In the conference, he ranked second in touchdown receptions, third in receiving yards per game (85.3), and eighth in both receptions per game (4.6) and all-purpose yardage (91.6 ypg).

Wentworth, a senior offensive lineman, helped pave the way for Tumilty, Johnson and others allowing the offense to average 367.1 yards per game, including 239.7 yards per game on the ground, which ranked first in the conference by a wide margin. The next closest team averaged 178.5 yards rushing. On the national level, the Saints ranked fifth in rushing yards per game and 12th in yards per rushing attempt (5.1).

This past spring, Wentworth was an honorable mention all-league selection.

On defense, Chris Johnson put up team-high numbers in total tackles (79), while ranking second in tackles for loss (six) over his nine games played to earn selection onto the all-league first team for the second year in a row. The senior linebacker also registered three sacks, a forced fumble, two quarterback hurries, a pair of breakups and one interception.

In terms of league numbers, Chris Johnson placed third in the conference with his 9.0 tackles per game and tied for seventh in tackles for loss.

King was a key force on the defensive line with his 39 tackles and the third-most sacks on the club (3.5). The senior also came away with two tackles for loss, a pair of breakups, two hurries, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Walsh made the first team as a long snapper. He was perfect on each of his snaps from center, which included 41 punts, 25 PATs and nine field goal attempts.

Another four Saints were recognized on the second team with Jose Sanchez gaining the offensive nod, Michael R. Johnson and Angel Mata being selected on defense and Brian Maday representing the Saints on special teams.

Sanchez, like Wentworth, was a key reason behind the Saints' placing first in the league and 12th in the nation in rushing from his offensive line position. The senior also helped the offense garner a top 12 national rating in yards gained rushing per attempt.

Not to be outdone by the Tumilty brothers, Michael Johnson joined his brother Chris on the all-conference squad by producing the fourth-most tackles on the team with 51.  Included among that count were 2.5 sacks and one other tackle for loss. The junior down lineman also forced one fumble.

This past spring, Michael Johnson was an honorable mention selection. 

Mata was right behind Michael Johnson on the tackle charts with his 49 stops. The junior defensive back also finished third in tackles for loss with four to go along with one sack. 

Mata's biggest value came on USF's pass defense, where he led the team in both breakups (six) and interceptions (four), many of which came in crucial parts of the contest.  The four interceptions also tied him for third most in the league.

Rounding out the second team was Maday, USF's placekicker and punter, who was recognized as the league's second-best punter for the second season in a row. The sophomore averaged 32.5 yards per punt with three going for 50-plus yards and 16 landing inside the 20-yard line.

As a placekicker, Maday finished third on the team in scoring. He converted 23 of his 25 PATs, while also making four field goal for a total of 35 points.

The Saints also gained three spots on the honorable mention squad with tight end Daniel Goetsch, offensive lineman Matt Knudtson and defensive lineman Cameron Holman earning the plaudits.

Goetsch ended his season as USF's third-leading receiver. The sophomore finished his second campaign totaling 11 catches for 76 yards.

Knudtson was the third Saint from Willowbrook High School – joining the Tumilty brothers – being an awards recipient. The sophomore was part of the offensive line that ranked tops in the conference and fifth in the nation in rushing yardage.

Holman finished his second season ranking second on the squad and tied for ninth in the league with four sacks. For the season, he totaled 28 tackles.

USF's success was guided by head coach Joe Curry, who was named as the league's Coach of the Year for the second time in his ten seasons directing the fortunes of the Saints. He led St. Francis to its most wins since the 2015 campaign, its most conference victories (six) since the 2011 season and its first share of the league title since the 2015 campaign. 

Curry also became USF's all-time winning coach in the history of the program in 2021 with his 50 career victories.

Joining Curry on the coaches' award stand was defensive coordinator Thomas Miller, who was named the MSFA Midwest League Assistant Coach of the Year. The second year Saint coach led a resurgent St. Francis defense that led the league in points per game allowed (17.4), total defense (295.2 ypg) and passing defense (172.6 ypg) and placed second in rushing defense (122.7 ypg).

The national rankings had the Saints 16th in points per game allowed, 17th in passing yards per game allowed and 18th in total defense.

USF also registered two shutouts in the same season for the first time since 1988, a span of 33 seasons.

For the complete list of MSFA Midwest League award winners, go to MSFA.