BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2022 football awards Monday and 13 Gustavus student-athletes received All-Conference recognition. Zach Jakes (Sr., North Mankato) highlighted the postseason awards for Gustavus by winning the MIAC Mike Stam Lineman of the Year award for the second consecutive season.
Gusties earning All-Conference Offense include Rohee Konde (Jr., Hopkins), Jake Breitbach (Jr., Golden Valley), Dalton Thelen (Sr., Cold Spring), Mitchell Borchardt (Sr., Le Sueur), and Sam Stafsholt (Sr., Andover), All-Conference Defense honors went to Javier Gratacos (Jr., Orlando, Fla.), Jakes, Carson DeKam (Jr., Owatonna), William Hawkins (So., New Orleans, La.), Isaak Knutson (Sr., Dodge Center), Isaiah Chambers (Jr., Houston, Texas), and Ezekiel Sundberg (Sr., Lakewood, Colo.), while River Wood (Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla.) was named All-Conference Special Teams.
Earning his second consecutive Mike Stam Award, Jakes proved to be a disruptive force on the defensive line all season. Jakes accumulated 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss (2nd/MIAC), a sack, interception, forced fumble and recovery. He also led the team with nine quarterback hurries and had a blocked kick return. Jakes is the first person to earn the Mike Stam Award twice. The award was first recognized in 1990. Jakes also makes his third appearance on the All-Conference Team, becoming the first three-time All-Conference selection for Gustavus since Brayton Finch (2017, 18, 19). Gustavus now has eight three-time All-Conference selections and one four-time All-Conference member.
Konde led the Gustavus rushing attack this season with 118 carries for 688 yards (4th/MIAC) and three touchdowns. Konde averaged 68.8 yards per game and 5.8 yard per carry with a long of 37 yards after playing all 10 games.
Breitbach, a 2021 All-MIAC Second Team selection, posted the most receiving yards on the team with 719 (10th/MIAC), including a team-high 10 touchdowns (3rd/MIAC). Breitbach hauled in 46 catches, averaging 15.6 yards per receptions and 71.9 yards per game.
Thelen, now a two-time All-Conference pick, led the team team with 54 catches (8th/MIAC) this season. Thelen amassed 690 yards and six touchdowns in the receiving game, averaging 12.8 yards per catch and 69.0 yards per game. Thelen also handled return duties with 16 kickoff returns for 447 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown marking the only kickoff return touchdown in the conference this season. He also made 10 punt returns for 93 yards, totaling 1,230 all-purpose yards.
Borchardt, also a two-time All-MIAC selection, and Stafsholt blocked for an offense that averaged 434.1 yards and 39.6 points per game, ranking first and second, respectively, in the league. In the passing game, the Gusties averaged 286.9 yards per game and posted a 173.0 efficiency, ranking first in the MIAC and 10th in NCAA Division III.
Gratacos started in all 10 games with 25 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Gratacos also had a pass breakup, quarterback hurry, fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.
DeKam earns his second All-Conference nod after leading the team and ranking second in the MIAC with 92 tackles. DeKam also had five tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and one quarterback hurry.
Hawkins posted 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and two pass breakups in 10 games this year.
Knutson tallied 36 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries.
Chambers added 20 tackles, four interceptions, and six breakups.
Sundberg captured his second straight All-MIAC honor after leading the MIAC with five interceptions (21st/NCAA) for 151 return yards (4th/NCAA) and two touchdowns (3rd/NCAA). Sundberg also had 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three pass breakups. His 12 passes defended led the league.
Wood was second on the team in kickoff returns with 10 for 300 yards. Wood averaged a league-best 30.0 yards per return with a long of 70 yards.