Pioneer Football earns 19 all-WIAC selections; Emendorfer named Coach of the Year

MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football garnered a program record 19 all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) selections and head coach Mike Emendorfer was named George Chryst Coach of the Year on Thursday, announced by the league office. 

Emendorfer is in his 15th season at the helm of the Pioneers and has led UW-Platteville to its first NCAA Division III playoff berth with a 9-1 record. 

The Pioneers received seven first team, six second team and six honorable mention accolades. 

The seniors Ryley Bailey and John Kelly as well as juniors Jayson Eddy and Trevor Whitehead were offensive first team selections. Bailey earned his second straight first team honor and led the WIAC wide receivers with 78 receptions for 918 yards. Kelly led the conference in passing yards per game (295.5), passing efficiency (152.9) and total offense (3,184 yards). Eddy anchored the offensive line that has only allowed seven sacks all year and ranks first in the country with 3.20 tackles for a loss allowed per game. Whitehead led all league receivers with 12 touchdown catches and added 64 receptions for 785 yards.

Juniors Rob Austin and Jacob Zilbar and sophomore Andrew Robinson garnered defensive first team honors. Defensive back Austin led the WIAC with 16 total passes defended, including three interceptions and 13 break ups. Middle linebacker Zilbar led the Pioneers and ranked fourth in the league with 86 total tackles, including 46 solo tackles. Defensive end Robinson totaled 8.5 sacks and 14.5 of his 38 tackles went for a loss. 

Seniors Zach Litchfield, Paul Reit, Alex Schaefer, and Lee Vlasak, junior Brian Johnson and sophomore Devon Vance earned second team honors. Litchfield has been automatic making 50 of his 51 extra point attempts and was name special teams Player of the Week three times. Reit ranked third in the conference behind Bailey and Whitehead, with 57 receptions for 691 yards. Defensive end Schaefer had four of his 19 tackles be for a loss. Vlasak's honor comes as an all-purpose back as he rushed for 517 yards and caught 19 passes for 154 yards. He averaged 6.7 yards on 77 rushes with nine total touchdowns. Johnson helped secure Kelly's blindside, starting nine games at left guard, and led the offensive line that only gave up seven sacks. Free safety Vance ranked second on the Pioneers with 73 tackles, averaging 7.3 per game. 

Offensive linemen Ethan Fiene and Brian Lurquin, running back Andy Puccini, linebacker Andrew Belken, defensive tackle Bronzun Kyles and defensive back Kevin Ybarra all earned honorable mention honors. 

The seventh-ranked Pioneers host Concordia (Wis.) on Saturday at noon in the first-round of the 2013 NCAA Division III Football Championship.