UPLAND, Ind. --- For the fourth year in a row, the University of St. Francis football program boasts a Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Player of the Year after the league office announced its 2024 honor roll on Monday afternoon.  One year after Kemon Reese claimed the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, Sam Tumilty regained his status as the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year for the third time in his career.

Sam Tumilty headlined a group of 14 Saints that collected All-Conference recognition by claiming his third MSFA Midwest League Offensive Player of the Year award in four years as St. Francis' quarterback.  St. Francis has now received the recognition a total of five times, including Tumilty's back-to-back showings in 2021 and 2022, as well as in 2017 and 2011 when Lexus Jackson and E.J. White collected the accolades, respectively.  Tumilty was one of 14 Saints honored on Monday with five players being named to the first team, six garnering second-team honors and three collecting honorable-mention recognition.

A total of 32 players were named to both the first and second teams, while another 18 picked up honorable-mention plaudits.



Sam Tumilty had another stellar season highlighted by setting a new school record with his 23 rushing touchdowns.  That also was impressive enough for the top spot in the league as well as the third spot nationally in 2024.  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 second in rushing yards per game (86.0), third in passing yards per game (217.1) and fourth in passing touchdowns (15).

He closed out his career rushing for 3,436 yards and 61 touchdowns, while throwing for another 5,729 yards and 45 scores.  He also scored 368 points.  In all, he set seven school single-season or career records, while also finishing fourth in both career passing yards and passing touchdowns.  His 2,171 yards passing this year are the fifth-best single-season mark.  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.

A four-time league Offensive Player of the Week honoree this year, upping his total to eight in his career, Tumilty finished the 2024 season with 931 yards on 149 carries, while completing 169 of his 265 pass attempts (63.7 pct.) for 2,171 yards.

Joining Sam Tumilty on the first-team offense were Joey Tumilty and Ashtin Sorgea, while decorated first-team players on the defensive side of the ball were Pat Strocchia and Scott Tumilty.

Joey Tumilty represented USF's offense on the first team for the second time in as many years.  The sophomore led the Saints in no fewer than six categories highlighted by his five total touchdowns and 27 points.  He also led the squad in catches (56), yards receiving (763), touchdowns receiving (4), and receiving yards per game (84.7) - the last of which also placed him third amongst league receivers.

Sorgea, a senior tackle, helped make the Saints the No. 4 rushing team in the league at 184.1 yards per game, while finishing fifth in total offense at 406.6 yards per game.  A first-time honoree on the first team this season, Sorgea received second team honors in both 2022 and 2023.

Defensively, Strocchia and Scott Tumilty collected first-team all-conference awards by leading a USF defense to a second-place league ranking in points per game (20.9), fourth in total yards per game (334.3), passing yards per game (200.5), and rushing yards per game (133.8).  Strocchia collected second-team honors one year ago, while Scott Tumilty becomes the first player in USF football history to earn his fifth first-team recognition.

Strocchia finished fourth in the league in total sacks (7), while placing second on his team in assisted tackles (26) among his 47 stops.  The junior defensive end also placed second in total tackles yards for loss (47 yards).  His other numbers included three pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, and 21 solo tackles. and one forced fumble.

Despite battling injury for much of the season and missing two of the last four weeks of the campaign, Scott Tumilty still totaled 30 tackles in his eight games played with two pass breakups and two interceptions.  His 3.75 tackles per game ranked him eighth on the USF charts.

Scott Tumilty also served as the Saints' main return man again, averaging 22.0 yards on kickoff returns and another 18.64 yards on punt returns.  He was named both league Defensive Player of the Week – second of his career - and Special Teams Player of the Week – fifth of his career - one time each this season.

As for the six members named to the second team, four recipients – offensive linemen Matthew Alston and Anthony Niecikowski, linebacker Karsen Hansen, and defensive back Trey Sayers – were all first-time honorees, while defensive back Matthew Perry repeats on the second team in as many years, and wide receiver Dezzion Jordan completed his career with his first second team nod. 

Jordan was named to all-conference for the third year in a row after receiving honorable mention honors in 2022 and first team honors in 2023.  The senior wide receiver tied for first on the team with the most receiving touchdowns (4), while leading the way in yards per catch (19.88).   His 497 total receiving yards and 49.7 yards per game ranked second on the team.

Perry held his second team status from one year ago after finishing the 2024 season as the Saints' leading tackler.  Ranking third in the league in tackles per game (7.9), Perry led the Saints in totaling 78 tackles, which included 42 solo tackles and 36 assisted stops.   Along with his tackles, the junior defensive back also had three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery.

Hansen received to his first all-conference accolades this season after producing 54 tackles (third on USF's team), 21 of which went for loss, including team-leading nine sacks.  His nine sacks also ranked him first in the league in that category.  The redshirt sophomore linebacker also led the team with seven quarterback hurries, while authoring one pass break up, one fumble recovery, and had one interception.

Sayers, a transfer from University of New Haven (Conn.), led the USF defense in forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (2), and placed second in four categories – tackles per game (6.5), total tackles (52), solo tackles (29), and assisted tackles (23).  Missing two games on the year due to injury, the junior defensive back also collected two interceptions and had one pass breakup.  He received his first league Defensive Player of the Week award in 2024.

Alston, a redshirt sophomore tackle, and Niecikowski, a junior tackle, both helped make the Saints the No. 5 rushing team in the nation with 34 total rushing touchdowns, while finishing 14th in red zone touchdown percentage (76.0 percent), 15th in red zone touchdowns (38), and 22nd in points per game (37.9).

Gaining honorable mention recognition for the first time in their careers were linebacker Allan Richards and defensive lineman Curtis Reeves, while defensive back Nick Mabutas repeated with his second honorable mention selection after collecting his first one from the 2022 season.

Right behind Perry on the defensive leader board was Richards, who had a breakout season for the Saints.  The redshirt sophomore finished the 2024 season ranking second on the team in total tackles (56), solo tackles (32), tackles for loss (10.5), and forced fumbles (2).  His 24 assisted tackles and four sacks placed him third amongst USF defenders.

Reeves joins Richards as a first-time honorable mention honoree after registering 31 total tackles, including 13 solo and 18 assisted in 2024.  He ranked fourth on the team with his 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while also posting one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup on the year.

In his junior season, Mabutas was a big reason for the Saints' successful defensive backfield.  He totaled an impressive five interceptions to rank first in the conference to go along with his 46 tackles, two pass breakup, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick.

USF went 7-3 overall and 3-2 in league play to finish second in the conference.  Nationally, they earned a ranking as high as No. 19 in early November.

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

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