2016 Football Award Winners Announced
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech football program recently announced the 2016 team awards at the annual postseason meeting. Headlining the list of honorees was senior quarterback Brandon Cowie who was named the Alan Bovard Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.
Cowie, a senior from West Bend, Wisconsin who also earned the Offensive Back of the Year award, completed 174 passes for 1,888 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior in 2016. He also rushed for an additional two touchdowns for the Huskies. Cowie wrapped up his career at Tech completing 368 passes for 4,067 yards and 29 touchdowns. His career completion percentage is 66.2 percent, he ran for six touchdowns, and caught 117 passes for 1,738 yards and 12 touchdowns as a receiver his first two years.
Ben Tauchen was selected for the Fred Baird Memorial Outstanding Defensive Player Award. Tauchen, a native of Bonduel, Wisconsin, finished the 2016 season with 67 total tackles, which included a sack and three tackles for a loss. He also broke up three passes this past season. His total tackles ranked second on the team and his tackles per game average (6.7) was also second for the Huskies' defense. Tauchen finished his four-year collegiate career with 201 total tackles.
Senior Evan Mayer was chosen as the Defensive Lineman of the year and earned the Harold Meese Sportsmanship award. Mayer, a senior defensive lineman from Wausau, Wisconsin, tied for the team lead in sacks (3.5) and led the Huskies in tackles for a loss (7.5) while registering 35 total tackles.
Defensive Back and Freshman of the Year honors were given to Travis Tidwell. Tidwell, a native of Detroit, Michigan, had a great freshman season for the Huskies and emerged as one of the teams' leaders on defense. Tidwell led Tech with four interceptions (tied for 3rd in the GLIAC) and was third on the team with 62 total tackles. He averaged 6.2 tackles per game and ended the year with 12 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Tidwell led the conference in passes defended per game and ranked ninth in all of NCAA Division II in that category during the regular season.
The Daniel Dopp Memorial Outstanding Special Teams Player Award was given to senior punter Ryan VanGoethem for the second consecutive season. VanGoethem, a senior on the field and graduate student in the classroom, had another outstanding season punting the football for the Huskies. The West Branch, Michigan native averaged 39 yards per punt with 17 of his 50 kicks landing inside the 20-yard line. He forced opponents to make 14 fair catches and on October 15th at Tiffin, he launched a career long 72-yard kick. VanGoethem was also named to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention squad along with being a 1st Team CoSIDA Academic All-American for the second year in a row.
Senior wide receiver David Walter garnered a pair of awards by being named the Outstanding Offensive Player and the Ted Kearly Award honoree. The Ted Kearly Award goes to a player who exhibits passion, pride, and integrity on and off the field. Walter, a native of Midland, Michigan, hauled in 52 passes for 627 yards and two touchdowns during the course of the 2016 season. Walter averaged 5.2 receptions and 62.7 receiving yards per game to go along with 12.1 yards per catch. Walter also completed two passes on the season, including a 26-yard touchdown pass at Tiffin on October 15th. Walter wrapped up his career at Tech with 1,262 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His total catches and yards per game in 2016 were career highs.
Senior Joe Vieau was named the Offensive Lineman of the year. Vieau, a senior from Midland, Michigan, helped anchor the front five which paved the way for 1,477 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns this season for Tech.
Junior wide receiver David Falish garnered the Omer LaJeunesse Award for scholastic achievement and senior quarterback Isaiah Hackney was chosen for the Iron Man Award. The scout team players of the year were freshman quarterback Garrett Young on offense and freshman lineman Jimmie Cannon on defense.
Michigan Tech wrapped up the season 4-6, but had huge wins over Ashland and another Miner's Cup victory in overtime at Northern Michigan. The Huskies are now making preparations for the 2017 campaign under first year Head Coach Steve Olson.