Rochester, MN-
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) football season opens on Saturday, and the seven programs are excited to showcase their talent. The head coaches of each program took time to cast their preseason poll ballots and share their thoughts about the upcoming season.
North Dakota State College of Science was selected to win the MCAC regular season title this year after claiming the regular season title following the 2021 season. Eric Issendorf returns for his 5th year as head coach and has compiled a 26-5 record at NDSCS. With the return of many key players, including quarterback Graedyn Buell, the Wildcats will work to duplicate the 2021 season in which they went undefeated through conference play.
Central Lakes College was selected 2nd in the preseason coaches poll. Greg Medeck, in his 15th season, brings a 107-34 record into the 2022 season. The Raiders return a strong offensive line led by All-American James Gedde and Luke Olson, an All-Region XIII lineman. Experience and depth should put the Raiders in a strong position to contend for the MCAC regular season title.
Minnesota State - Fergus Falls was picked to finish 3rd in the regular season following a strong post-season run in 2021 that placed the Spartans in the MCAC/Region XIII Championship Game before it was cancelled due to COVID issues. Cory Miller (7-10) will lead the team in his 4th season, and sophomore running back Rondarius Gregory should make another huge impact on the Spartans offense.
Rochester Community and Technical College has been slotted to finish 4th in the MCAC regular season. The Yellowjackets finished the 2021 campaign with a 4-4 record, and return several All-MCAC players. Terrence Isaac Sr. will take over coaching duties for the Yellowjackets following a one-year head coaching stint for Vermilion Community College. With several transfer players, including All-American WR Terrence Isaac Jr., RCTC should be a physical team that finishes the season strong.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College was selected as the #5 team in the preseason coaches poll, which is just above where the Bluejays finished the 2021 regular season. In his 28th year as head coach, Jeff Linder has put together a 123-118 record. With the return of several impact players, including All-American TE Tommy Lais, the Bluejays will still be young and are expecting to see constant improvement as the season goes.
Minnesota North - Mesabi Range was voted to finish the regular season in the 6th spot. Tom Inforzato returns to Mesabi Range for his 6th season, 10th overall in the MCAC. He has compiled a 22-19 record and should improve upon that with several strong transfer players that will add experience to the team.
Minnesota North - Vermilion has been picked to finish the season in 7th following the departure of the 2021 coaching staff and several key players. However, the Ironhawks hired a dynamic experienced coach to take over the reigns in Dickie Brooks. Coach Brooks, and his staff, should have a team that will be very competitive this season.
MCAC Football competes at the NJCAA DIII (non-scholarship) level.
Read on for the season preview as the MCAC football coaches share their thoughts on the 2022 season. Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAAFootball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college football news, rankings and season information.
For the MCAC Sports home page, click here or go to https://www.mcacsports.org/sports/fball/index for the MCAC Football home page.
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2022 Football Preview(listed in order of predicted finish based on coaches' poll)
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North Dakota State College of Science
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Head Coach: Eric Issendorf, 5th year Overall Record: 26-5 Coaching Staff: John Freeman, Matt Fellows, Trevor Keller, Bob Jerdee, and Fernando Reese 2021 Records and Finish: 9-1 overall, 7-0 in the MCAC, 1st place finish, MCAC Regular Season Champs Top returning players: Nik Hunchak, P Graedyn Buell, QB Marcellio Mendez, WR Ethan Lyons, OL William Katchmark, DL Karter Wensmann, LB Manny Garcia, OLB Top incoming/new players: Porter Howey, RB Chandler Ross Jr., RB Tamori McPherson, LB Caleb Sadlemyer, LB Coach Issendorf on the 2022 Wildcats team: "The 2022 NDSCS Wildcats look for another exciting season of competition within the MCAC. Our Offense will be the most experienced unit coming into the season. Our Special Teams unit will be led by All-American punter Nik Hunchak. The Wildcat Defense will have a lot of new players and look to get better every contest." 2021 Student-Athletes who will be playing at a 4-year college program this fall: Jadarian Johnson - Lock Haven University TJ Owens - Waldorf University Demetrius Coleman - St. Ambrose Tavion Wells - New Mexico Highlands Adam Chudecke - St. Scholastica Isaiah Henderson - University of Minnesota - Morris Reggie Morrow - University of Mary Isaiah Issendorf - University of Mary Mood Jihad - Judson University Tony Hall - Judson University Cody Miller - Judson University Antoine Jackson - Virginia Union - Lynchburg Manny Cruse - William Penn Additional comments from Coach Issendorf: "The 2022 NDSCS Wildcats Football team will strive to be a team of high-character and standards, and will compete with the highest standards in the MCAC." |
Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: Greg Medeck, 15th year Overall Record: 107-34 Coaching Staff: Shane Jordan, OL Coach; Riley Atkinson, Off. Coordinator; Dave Bostrom, RB Coach; Jordan Getty, WR Coach; Troy Schreifels, DL Coach; Donovan Tiberg, Athletic Trainer; Alex Lund, Manager 2021 Records and Finish: 3-6 overall, 3-4 in the MCAC, 5th place finish Top returning players: James Gedde, OL, Dassel, MN Joey Hoeschen, DL, Sauk Rapids, MN Luke Olson, OL, Cambridge, MN Ryan Edquist, DB Jackson Owens, WR, Minnetonka, MN Nick Korom, DL, Bismarck, ND Paul Meyer, TE, Annandale, MN Ethan Guerra, WR, Andover, MN Top incoming/new players: Adam Kiatamba, DB, Anoka, MN Rashad Sherwood, DB, Minneapolis, MN Zach Neutz, OL, Annandale, MN Anthony Lewis-Royal, RB, White Bear Lake, MN Kevin Flippin, DL, South St. Paul, MN Brady Vendeweerd, DL, Antigo, WI Coach Medeck on the 2022 Raiders team: "Expecting a more experienced team overall with a stronger number of returners than last season. Quality depth on the offense holds promise for more scoring. Defense has added some key newcomers that should be exciting to watch. Looking for solid special teams play with a number of strong candidates to contribute." 2021 Student-Athletes who will be playing at a 4-year college program this fall: Vito Richards - Minnesota State - Mankato Tucker Schultz - UW-River Falls Jared Goodman - UM-Morris Notable Information: Central Lakes recently completed an extensive weight room renovation that is sure to serve student-athletes at CLC very well. |
Minnesota State - Fergus Falls
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Head Coach: Cory Miller, 4th year Overall Record: 7-10 Coaching Staff: Rick Harig, Rick Harig Jr., Anthony Puluso, Freddie Smith, Jawanza Holmes, John Thomas, and Sherman Kurtz 2021 Records and Finish: 6-4 overall, 3-4 in the MCAC, 4th place finish Top returning players: Rondarius Gregory, RB, Nashville, TN Rudy Glancey, OL, Moline, IL Cheo Trotter, Edge, Brooklyn Park, MN Alieu Conteh, DB, Somerset, NJ Carson McKnight, K/P, Coalville, UT Top incoming/new players: Keondre Hodges, Edge, Portsmouth, VA Jacob Drietz, LB, Brainerd, MN Darius Johnson, OL, Minneapolis, MN Walter Quick, WR, North Bergen, NJ Coach Miller on the 2022 Spartans team: "We have six returning starters on both sides of the ball. We are returning our kicker as well. Three of our returners were All-American last year. With this strong core of returners, we feel really good about our team. We will have to replace several good offensive skill players. We feel our offensive line is going to be the strength of our team this year." 2021 Student-Athletes who will be playing at a 4-year college program this fall: Nate Hayden - Presbyterian Jallah Zeze - Wagner Frederick Brown - Tarleton State Eric Williams - Benedictine University Preston Puni - Utah Tech Josh Mitchell - Waldorf Wes Hollie - Lincoln University Kyangelo Robinson - Waldorf |
Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Terrence Isaac, 1st year Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Antonio McKinney, defensive coordinator; Christian Wilkerson, run game coordinator; Dustin Beard, receivers coach 2021 Records and Finish: 4-4 overall, 3-3 in the MCAC, 3rd place finish Top returning players: Johnathan Douglas, NG, McDonough, GA Joseph Tarnue, DB, Osseo, MN Yaach Chuol, RB, Coon Rapids, MN Top incoming/new players: Terrence Isaac Jr., WR, Desoto, TX Devont Roberts, SS, Quincy, FL Andrew Eriks, LB, Valparaiso, IN Sylvester Ware IV, Bandit, Sun Prairie, WI Coach Isaac on the 2022 Yellowjackets team: "We expect to be very physical on both sides of the ball. We are looking to keep improving every day." |
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jeff Linder, 28th year Overall Record: 123-118 Coaching Staff: Ben DeVries; Connor Kunkel; Brad Holinka; Mike Preuss; Jake Olson; Tim Coleman; and Houston Coleman 2021 Records and Finish: 4-6 overall, 3-4 in the MCAC, 6th place finish Top returning players: Tommy Lais, TE, Worthington, MN Izaya Atkinson, DE Ian Stamer, WR, Adrian, MN Isaiah Trago, OT, West Winfield, NY Rashard Anderson, RB, Jacksonville, NC Mike Peralta, K/P, Racine, WI Bailey Cowell, WR, Luverne, MN Scot Edwards, DT, Adrian, MN Ke'untay Felton, LB, Clewiston, FL Top incoming/new players: Darrick Baartman, WR, Pipestone, MN Tyson Danner, DT, Omaha, NE Teyel Lowe, DE, Worthington, MN Stephen Lewis, WR Octavio Flores, OL, Worthington, MN Coach Linder on the 2022 Bluejays team: "We have a solid core of returning sophomores on all sides of the ball but are still extremely young. Our goal is to improve at least 1% each day." 2021 Student-Athletes who will be playing at a 4-year college program this fall: Kwesi Hooks - William Jewell College Josh Okere - William Jewell College Derrick Spencer - Grambling State University Additional comments from Coach Linder: "We are excited for year two for the turf field and remodeled fieldhouse." |
Minnesota North - Mesabi Range
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Head Coach: Tom Inforzato, 6th year Overall Record: 22-19 Coaching Staff: Antavius Thomas, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator; David Wilson, Offensive Coordinator & QB's; Gary Cornell, LB Coach; Kyle Inforzato, OL Coach; Kane Walner, OL Coach; Montana Coates, OL Coach; Quan Wilson, DL Coach; and Gerald Robinson, DL Coach 2021 Records and Finish: 0-9 overall, 0-7 in the MCAC, 8th place finish Top returning players: Aundreus Griffin, WR, Milwaukee, WI Cameron Tibbetts, LB, Cleveland, TX Top incoming/new players: A number of transfer students from MCAC and other conferences will add experience to the roster. Coach Inforzato on the 2022 Norsemen team: "We look to bounce back to our program's previous year's identity after a disappointing 2021 campaign." 2021 Student-Athletes who will be playing at a 4-year college program this fall: Montrellis Wilson - University of North Dakota Mike Fleming - Alcorn State University Tyrin King - Colorado Mesa University Hunter Pierce - Rockford University Additional Comments from Coach Inforzato: "We are excited to compete and improve each week!" |
Minnesota North - Vermilion
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Head Coach: Dickie Brooks, 1st year Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Willie Trotten, Offensive Coordinator; Tyree Johnson, DL Coach; and Matthew Collins, OL Coach 2021 Records and Finish: 2-6 overall, 2-4 in the MCAC, 7th place finish Coach Brooks on the 2022 Iron Hawks team: "Iron Hawks expect to be competitive. " Notable Information: Offensive coordinator, Willie "Satellite" Trotten, is the famed quarterback in the Mississippi Valley State University "Satellite Express" duo of Trotten and NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Trotten threw for 58 touchdowns during the 1984 season and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. |
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.
