Football Places Eight On All-GLIAC Teams
MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University football team placed a total of eight players on the All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) teams, the league announced Thursday (November 18).
Junior punter Parker Blust was named First Team All-GLIAC. Sophomore running back Cashual Goldsmith and junior kick/punt returner Tajae Leslie each earned Second Team All-GLIAC. Five Timberwolves were named to the Honorable Mention team: sophomore wide receiver Noah Koenigsknecht, sophomore defensive back Erik Santiago, junior linebacker Mahlon Slaughter, senior offensive lineman Damon Sutton and redshirt freshman linebacker Mbaimba Tunkara
Blust was a force for the Timberwolves in the punting game, averaging 41.2 yards per punt. He led the conference in punting in league games at 41.7 yards. Blust was second in league games in punts downed inside the 20 and third with eight punts that were fair caught. He finished the year ranked 25th in division II in punting average.
Goldsmith finished the year ranked fifth in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game, averaging 54.3 yards a contest. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry and ended the year with four rushing touchdowns and 543 yards overall. Goldsmith had two games with over 100 yards rushing and three games with at least 94 yards on the ground.
Leslie ranked third in the GLIAC in kick return average, ended the year at 23.2 yards per return. His long return of 56 yards was the third-longest of the season in the conference. Leslie also returned punts for NU this season and finished the season with 67 rushing yards as well.
Koenigsknecht led Northwood in receptions (23), yards (413) and receiving touchdowns this season. He saved his best game for the season-finale at Northern Michigan, where he finished with seven catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. He TD against NMU was an 80-yard reception, which was NU"s longest play from scrimmage this season.
Santiago emerged as one of the top defensive backs in the conference this season. He finished the year with a team-best 86 tackles. His 8.6 tackles per game was good for sixth in the GLIAC. He also added two interceptions, five pass breakups and a blocked kick.
Slaughter appeared in nine games at linebacker for the Timberwolves this season. He ended the year with 39 tackles, which was good for fifth on the team. Slaughter added six tackles for loss, which was good for second on the team as well as 1.5 sacks.
Sutton has been a mainstay at tackle for the Timberwolves in his career. He has made 32 starts for Northwood the last four seasons, including seven this season. Sutton has been a starter over the final three years of his career.
Tunkara opened his Northwood career with a strong redshirt freshman season. He finished with 54 tackles and a team-best 9.5 tackles for loss. He tied for sixth in the conference in tackles for loss. Tunkara also had four sacks and a fumble recovery.