Spartans Named D3football.com All-Region

AURORA, Ill. December 10, 2008 - D3football.com announced the 2008 Football All-Region teams, which include members of the Spartans football program on the North All-Region team. AU finished the season with a 9-2 overall and 7-0 record in the Northern Atheltics Conference.

The Spartans, winners of the inaugural Northern Athletics Conference football championship and a bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship, lost to Monmouth College (42-13) in the first round of 2008 NCAA Division III Football Championships on Saturday, November 22, 2008.

First-Team All-North Region honors went to three Spartans: senior defensive lineman Marcus Goedken (Sugar Grove, IL/Kaneland H.S.), senior defensive back Matt Meyer (Yorkville, IL/Yorkville H.S.) and senior offensive lineman Collin Smith (Charleston, IL/Charleston H.S.). The three Spartans now move on to the All-American ballot and a chance to be selected as D3football.com All-America (announced during the Division III National Championship weekend, December 20, 2008).

Third-Team All-North Region selections went to four Spartans: junior running back Ryne Reder (Aurora, IL/Marmion Academy), junior linebacker Mike Budzinski (Minooka, IL/Minooka H.S.), junior defensive back Tony Musaraca (Sugar Grove, IL/Kaneland H.S.) and junior defensive lineman Pat Funk (Morris, IL/Morris H.S.).

The Spartans finished the 2008 season averaging 350.3 yards per game of total offense, 183.6 on the ground, 166.6 through the air and scored 33.5 points per game, while the defensive unit (ranked No. 3 in Division III in total defense) allowed 15.1 points per game, 237.8 yards of total offense, 63.4 on the ground, 174.5 through the air and average 3.7 turnovers per game with a 1.8 turnover margin per game, which led Division III.

The Spartans were led defensively by Meyer (60 tackles, 10 interceptions [led Division III] and 12 pass break-ups), Goedken (56 tackles, 13-1/2 for loss, six quarterback sacks), Budzinski (77 tackles, three interceptions and one quarterback sack), Musaraca (48 tackles, six interceptions and six pass break-ups) and Funk (49 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, nine quarterback sacks, one interception, three pass-break-ups and two forced fumbles). Offensively, AU was led by Reder (172 rushes for 838 yards and seven touchdowns) and Smith, who anchored the offensive line.

AU has set or tied numerous individual and team records this season including wins (nine); points scored (369); fewest yards rushing per game (63.4); lowest yards per carry (2.0); fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (four); interceptions in a season (31); interceptions in a game (seven vs. Wisconsin Lutheran); touchdown passes in a season (21 by Nate Peterson); total offense (1,907 by Peterson); pass completions in a game (26 vs. Monmouth) and season (137 by Peterson); pass attempts in a game (44 vs. Monmouth) and season (268 by Peterson); interceptions in a game (four by Musaraca); interceptions in a season (10 by Meyer); extra points in a game (nine by Ryan Subick) and season (49 by Subick); and consecutive extra points made (35 by Subick).

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