By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The MIAA announced its postseason awards and All-MIAA teams for the 2022 football season Tuesday.
Northwest Missouri’s Elijah Green was voted the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Green led the MIAA with 21.0 tackles for loss and 11 total sacks on the season. A native of Maryville, the senior defensive tackle finished the season with 49.0 total tackles – 36 solo and 13 assisted. His 21.0 tackles for loss currently ranks sixth in Division II, while he dominated the MIAA with 89 total yards for loss.
Leading the way for Missouri Western was senior corner D.J. Stirgus, who earned first-team accolades. Stirgus finished the season with 26 total tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.
Receiver Traveon James was one of four Griffons to receive second-team honors. James was top five in the league with 52 catches for 700 yards. He's one of just three Griffon receivers to finish with at least 700 receiving yards in a single season in program history.
First-team selections
All-Purpose Back – Jamar Moya – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Line – Elijah Green – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Line – Zach Howard – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Back – Cahleel Smith – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Back – D.J. Stirgus – Missouri Western
Second-team selections
Wide Receiver – Traveon James – Missouri Western
Tight End/Fullback – Cam Grandy – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Evan Clark – Missouri Western
Offensive Line – Mitch Goff – Northwest Missouri State
Kick/Punter Returner – Kashan Griffin – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Line – CJ Ravenell – Missouri Western
Linebacker – Sam Phillips – Northwest Missouri State
Linebacker – Isaac Vollstedt – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Back – Kobe Cummings – Missouri Western
- Cummings finished his Griffon career with 282 total tackles to rank fifth all-time in school history. He also logged nine career interceptions.
Third-team selections
Offensive Line – Keith Russell – Missouri Western
Kicker – Cole Lammel – Northwest Missouri State
Defensive Line – Jake Fisher – Northwest Missouri State
Linebacker – Isaac Wallace – Missouri Western
- Wallace led the Griffons with 86 total tackles this season, which tied for eighth most in the league.
Honorable mention
Missouri Western: Jared Scott – RB, Jonas Bennett – APB, Brenden McClure – OL, Noah Price – OL, Brandon Johnson – DL, A.J. Crayton – DL, Tylen Wallace – DL, Anthony Villanueva - LB
Northwest Missouri State: Mike Hohensee – QB, Shane Fredrickson – DB
