UPLAND, Ind. --- For the second year in a row, the University of St. Francis boasts the top offensive player in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League after the league office announced its 2022 postseason honor roll on Monday afternoon.

Sam Tumilty headlined a group of 15 Saints that collected 17 total awards by claiming his second straight MSFA Midwest League Offensive Player of the Year award as St. Francis' quarterback.  USF also gathered in the most first-team all-conference selections (nine) among its 15 total all-league picks.  Of the 15, seven made either the first or second team or gained honorable mention status for the first time, while another four moved up a level.  Four more repeated on the first team.



Interestingly enough, Scott Tumilty nearly helped the Saints pull off the first-ever brother duo to capture both the league's top offensive and defensive player honors.  The older Tumilty was a finalist for the latter award, which eventually went to Saint Xavier University's Joey Markasovic.  Nonetheless, he still three-peated by earning the first-team spotlight as both a defensive back and return man for the third time in as many seasons at St. Francis. 

Besides Tumilty, first team defensive plaudits went to linemen Michael R. Johnson and Ryan King, linebacker T.J. Neal and back Angel Mata.  Of the five, only Neal was a first-time recipient, while Johnson and Mata moved up from the second team to the first squad.  King earned his second straight first-team award.

Joining Sam Tumilty on the first-team offense were tight end Daniel Goetsch and lineman Matt Knudtson, both of whom were honorable mention choices last fall.

Sam Tumilty had another banner season highlighted by setting a new school record with his 16 rushing touchdowns.  That also tied for the top spot in the league as well as the fourth spot nationally in 2022.  The 30 rushing touchdowns over his first two seasons are the second most of any Saint to ever don the brown & gold.

Tumilty also holds the No. 2 spot for total touchdowns in a season (16) and the No. 3 slot for a career (30).  He recorded the second-highest point total for a season (96 points) and the fourth most in a career (180), as well, this fall.  On the national level, Tumilty's 9.6 points per game this season ranked him tied for eighth in the nation.

Other conference Top 10 rankings had Tumilty fourth in rushing yards per game (85.6) and passing efficiency (124.9), fifth in passing touchdowns (11) and eighth in passing yards per game (124.9).

A league Player of the Week earlier this year for the second time in his career, Tumilty finished the season with 847 yards on 244 carries, while completing 94 of his 181 pass attempts (51.9 pct.) for 1,259 yards.

Goetsch and Knudtson – the latter a senior – helped spring Tumilty and the rest of USF's runningbacks free with their blocking as the Saints averaged the third-most rushing yards per game in the conference with their 166.1-yard average.  Goetsch, a junior, also caught ten passes for 122 yards, including one for a touchdown.

USF's defense was led by Scott Tumilty, who totaled a team-best 75 tackles, three of which went for loss.  His 7.5 stops per game ranked sixth in the conference.  The junior also had one interception and forced one fumble.

On special teams, Tumilty placed third in the league with his 23.2 yards-per-return average, while also averaging 5.5 yards on 13 punt returns.  Included among his kickoff returns was a 78-yarder for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown in a 19-14 victory over Siena Heights University (Mich.) on Sept. 24.  That led to him earning MSFA Midwest League Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Johnson was selected for the third year in a row.  An honorable mention pick in 2020 and a second-team choice last year, the junior made it to the top squad this fall after producing 59 tackles (third on USF's team), 11 of which went for loss, including five sacks.  The two-time MSFA Midwest League Player of the Week also registered three fumble recoveries, forced another two and had one interception.

Johnson's three recovered fumbles led the conference, while his two forced fumbles ranked tied for third in the league.  He also tied for sixth in sacks and was seventh in tackles for loss.

Neal was right behind Johnson on the tackle count with his 50 stops.  The junior's 12 tackles for loss led USF and placed sixth in the conference, while his five sacks tied him with Johnson for the No. 6 spot in the league.      

Mata closed out his career ranking first in the nation with his seven interceptions on the campaign.  That total was the second-highest figure in school history, while his 13 career picks moved him into a tie for third place all-time. 

Mata delivered 32 tackles on the season with one for loss.  He also produced four pass breakups and one blocked kick.

King rounded out the list of first-team recipients with his 25 tackles, seven of which went for loss with four being sacks.  He also recovered a pair of fumbles to rank second in the MSFA and had one blocked kick.

As for the second team, all three recipients – tight end De'Whon Gavin, offensive lineman Ashtin Sorgea and linebacker Michael Whitney – were all first-time honorees.
Gavin had his most productive season as a Saint.  After missing all of last year due to injury, the redshirt sophomore caught the third-most passes (14), while having the second-most yards receiving (245) on the team.  He also had a pair of touchdown receptions.

Sorgea, like Knudtson, was one of the main reasons for the Saints having a strong running game.  The sophomore helped USF's offense rank third in the league with its 166.1 yards per game on the ground.

Whitney finished his time as a Saint with a career-best 63 tackles, which gained him runner-up honors on the club.  Eight of those went for loss with three being sacks.  He also secured one of USF's interceptions with his coming on Senior Day.

Gaining honorable mention recognition for the first time in their careers were defensive backs Jalen Cooper and Nick Mabutas and wide receiver Dezzion Jordan.

Just a freshman, Mabutas was a big reason for the Saints' highly-regarded defensive backfield.  He totaled four interceptions to rank third in the conference to go along with his 46 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.

Cooper provided another two picks to the cause with the senior also having the most pass breakups (seven) on the team.  He provided 42 tackles, two for loss, as well.

Like Gavin, Jordan had a breakout year, leading the team in reception yardage and receiving touchdowns (three).  The latter number ranked tied for tenth in the MSFA.  His 291 receiving yards came on 16 catches, second best on the squad.   

As a defensive unit, the Saints ranked first in the conference and tied for sixth nationally with their 18 interceptions.  They also had the second-most sacks (29) and second-fewest points allowed (19.9) in the conference and were third in both yards allowed rushing (98.6) and overall (287.5).

Rounding out the list of award recipients was head coach Joe Curry, who repeated as the MSFA Midwest League Coach of the Year, sharing the honor with Saint Xavier head coach Mike Feminis.  Under the direction of Curry, the Saints set a new school record for consecutive wins (seven) in a season.  The seven-victory campaign was also the highest win total since the 2015 campaign.



USF went 7-3 overall and 6-1 in league play to finish second in the conference.  Nationally, they earned a final ranking of No. 19.

For the complete list of award winners, got to MSFA Awards.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on Twitter @USFSaints.