By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Twenty Missouri Western football players received all-MIAA honors Tuesday for their efforts during the 2023 season.
Senior defensive end Dakari Streeter was voted the 2023 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. At 6-2 and 270 pounds, Streeter dominated with a MIAA-leading 12.5 sacks (11 solo, three assisted). He also led the league in tackles for loss (14.0) and yards tackled (91). He's the first MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in Griffon history.
Elsewhere, Missouri Western running back Seth Cromwell was voted MIAA Freshman of the Year. A redshirt freshman from Littleton, Colorado, Cromwell rushed for the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league with 16. In 125 rush attempts, Cromwell rushed for 716 yards on 5.7 yards per carry.
Streeter, senior left tackle Keith Russell and junior kicker Cody Watson all garnered first-team all-MIAA accolades.
Russell was a third-team all-conference selection last season. Watson, meanwhile, led the MIAA in points by a kicker with 94, leading the league with 14 made field goals.
Senior right guard Evan Clark was named second-team all-MIAA. Clark is now a three-time all-MIAA honoree.
Three Griffon defenders earned second-team all-MIAA honors - linebacker Anthony Villanueva, safety TreVon Holmes and defensive linemen C.J. Ravenell.
Ravenell ends his Griffon career having been named an all-MIAA performer four times. He had 11 tackles for loss this year - third most in the conference.
On the offensive side, four Griffons earned third-team honors - running backs Cromwell and Brandon Hall, receiver Jonas Bennett and offensive lineman Brenden McClure.
Bennett, who switched positions from running back to receiver this year, led the Griffons in 2023 with 54 catches for 725 yards and five touchdowns.
McClure was an honorable mention pick last season, while Hall himself was named MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2021.
Defensively, corner Taylor Williams snagged third-team all-conference honors, snagging a team-best four interceptions in 2023. Punter Evan Williams was a third-team honoree on special teams after pinning 13 kicks inside the 20-yard line while averaging 42 yards per punt.
Honorable mention picks for Missouri Western include quarterback Armani Edden, tight end Will Schwartz, center James Lucio, kick and punt returner Jalen Lampley, defensive lineman Brandon Johnson (now a 3x-all MIAA selection), linebacker Kienen Gaskin and safety Brayden Wright.
Missouri Western football ended the 2023 season at 8-3 overall - their best season record since 2019. The Griffons just missed the playoffs, but are expected to announce a bowl game destination this Wednesday morning.
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.