Rochester, MN-
The 2023 Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) football season kicks off on Saturday, and following a 2022 season in which North Dakota State College of Science was the DIII National Championship Runner-Up and several MCAC teams earned national top-5 rankings, the seven programs are looking forward to another successful season. 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 playing in the 2022 NJCAA DIII National Championship Football Game and bringing home the runner-up trophy. Eric Issendorf returns for his 6th year as head coach and has compiled a 35-7 record. Running back Chandler Ross Jr. returns in the backfield after averaging 5.1 yards per carry last season, and with a veteran offensive line, the Wildcats will look for a return trip to the NJCAA DIII National Championship Game.
Rochester Community and Technical College was selected 2nd in the coaches poll. With the return of All-Americans Gavin Layton and Terrence Isaac Jr., the Yellowjackets look to improve on their 2022 overall record of 5-5. Terrence Isaac Sr. returns for his second season at RCTC, and along with his strong group of All-MCAC sophomores, Coach Isaac will have his team playing fast and physical. After playing their tough regular season schedule, the Yellowjackets should be well-prepared to make a national title run.
Central Lakes College was selected 3rd in the preseason coaches poll. Greg Medeck, in his 16th season, brings a 111-38 record into the 2023 season. With the return of All-American defensive back Rashad Sherwood, the Raiders' defense should wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Although young, this Raiders' team will get better each week and should contend for a regular season title and a deep run in the MCAC playoffs.
Minnesota North - Mesabi Range was voted to finish the regular season in the 4th spot. Tom Inforzato returns to the Mesabi Range sideline for his 7th season, 11th overall in the MCAC. He has compiled a 24-23 record and finished the 2022 campaign as the 5th-place team in the MCAC. With the addition of several new players, the Norse have improved their speed on both offense and defense, and if their kicking game can become consistent, this is a team that could quickly move to the top of the conference standings.
Minnesota State - Fergus Falls has been slotted to finish 5th in the MCAC regular season following a strong 2022 season which saw the Spartans hold the national #1 ranking for a good portion of the season. As the returning MCAC regular season champions, a new face will be patrolling the sideline for the Spartans. Austin Jones will begin his first season in Fergus Falls and has several experienced players back in the blue and gold. With strong leadership from the returning players and enthusiastic play from the new ones, the Spartans should again be very competitive.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College was selected to finish 6th in the preseason coaches poll, which is exactly how the Bluejays finished the 2022 regular season. Following the retirement of longtime head coach Jeff Linder, Minnesota West will begin a new era of Bluejays football under the tutelage of first-year coach Connor Kunkel. Although Kunkel's team will be young and small in numbers, they promise to be extremely talented on offense and in their kicking game. With a defense led by veterans, the Bluejays have ambitions of a strong post-season run.
Minnesota North - Vermilion has been picked to finish the season in the 7th spot. Following the recent departure of former head coach Dick Brooks, the Ironhawks should regroup quickly and have a competitive season. Earnest Wilson will take over the head coaching duties for 2023, and his biggest challenge will be keeping his team with low numbers healthy and on the field. The predominantly freshmen team is competitive, and the players have great attitudes, which should bring about a bright future for Ironhawk football.
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 2023 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 Conference2023 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, 6th year Overall Record: 35-7 Coaching Staff: John Freeman, Matt Fellows, Billy Jarvis, and Fernando Reese 2022 Records and Finish: 9-2 overall, 5-1 in the MCAC, 2nd place finish, MCAC Post-Season Champs Top returning players: Chandler Ross Jr., RB, Shakopee, MN Drew Boxwell, QB, Scottsdale, AZ Eric Lumpkin, LB, Madison, WI Lane Kautzman, OL, Hannaford, ND Spencer Egeland, OL, East Grand Forks, MN Jaylin Nieman-Burnett, DL, South St. Paul, MN Caleb Sadlemeyer, LB, Turnwater, WA Top incoming/new players: Trevion Carothers, Racine, WI Carter Bowen, TE, Dawson, MN Grant Lyons, OL, Lisbon, ND Victor Espinosa, DE, Zion, IL Mason Pagel, Northfield, MN Coach Issendorf on the 2023 Wildcats team: "NDSCS will continue to play their brand of physical, hard-nosed football. The bar is set high and the expectations remain the same: play with relentless effort, make plays, and have fun. If we can do those things, we'll get back to where we want and expect to be." Additional information: Billy Jarvis has joined the coaching staff as the offensive line coach. |
Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Terrence Isaac, 2nd year Overall Record: 5-5 Coaching Staff: Antonio McKinney, Christian Wilkerson, Brian Villanueva, LeBrandon Tatum, Demarius Pitts, Dustin Beard, Karlus Dobbin, and Patrick Healy 2022 Records and Finish: 5-5 overall, 3-3 in the MCAC, 3rd place finish Top returning players: Gavin Layton, OL Terrence Isaac Jr., WR, Desoto, TX Keshawn Johnson, LB, Demopolis, AL Martell Williams, LB, Chicago, IL Sylas Christie, QB, Spanaway, WA Top incoming/new players: Devin Watson, QB, West Jordan, UT Maddux Allen, QB, Cumberland, WI Coach Isaac on the 2023 Yellowjackets team: "We expect to play fast on offense and physical on defense." Additional information: Gavin Layton is committed to the University of Colorado. |
Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: Greg Medeck, 16th year Overall Record: 111-38 Coaching Staff: Shane Jordan, OL Coach; Riley Atkinson, Off. Coordinator; Kent Janicke, Linebackers Coach; Dave Bostrom, WR Coach; Jordan Getty, RB Coach; Troy Schreifels, DL Coach; Donovan Tiberg, Athletic Trainer; Alex Lund, Manager 2022 Records and Finish: 4-4 overall, 2-3 in the MCAC, 3rd place finish Top returning players: Rashad Sherwood, DB, Minneapolis, MN Adam Kiatamba, DB, Anoka, MN David Hurst, LB, Minneapolis, MN Ashton Hanan, LB, Kimball, MN Mike Tveitbakk, QB, Anoka, MN Andrew Gottwalt, WR, St. Cloud, MN David Boyd, WR, St. Cloud, MN Top incoming/new players: David Collins, RB, St. Michael, MN Jack Shoenborn, RB, Milica, MN Riley Larson, WR, Pequot Lakes, MN Will Meyer, OL, Crosby, MN Shawn Skrip, OL, St. Michael, MN Coach Medeck on the 2023 Raiders team: "Great group of enthusiastic teammates that are fun to coach! Expect to see this group get better each week and compete all season long." |
Minnesota North - Mesabi Range
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Head Coach: Tom Inforzato, 7th year at MNC-MR, 11th overall Overall Record: 24-23 Coaching Staff: Antavius Thomas, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator; David Wilson, Offensive Coordinator; Gary Cornell, LB Coach; Quan Wilson, Defensive Line Coach; Kane Walner, Offensive Line Coach; Mike Ritacco, WR Coach; Gerald Robinson, Defensive Line Coach; and Zlanpo Wehye, WR Coach 2022 Records and Finish: 3-6 overall, 2-4 in the MCAC, 5th place finish Top returning players: N/A Top incoming/new players: N/A Coach Inforzato on the 2023 Norsemen team: "Lots of new faces for the Norse for the 2023 season. Very good team speed on offense and defense. Looking for more consistency in the kicking game." |
Minnesota State - Fergus Falls
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Head Coach: Austin Jones, 1st year Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Bernard Holsey, Dante Wright, Steve King, Todd Hendricks, and Eric Price 2022 Records and Finish: 9-1 overall, 6-0 in the MCAC, 1st place finish, MCAC Regular Season Champs Top returning players: KJ Cooper, QB, El Paso, TX Ian Stanton, TE, Northfield, MN Sam Tagg, LB, Mt. Morris, MI Keondre Hodges, DL, Chesapeake, VA Top incoming/new players: Marquan Tucker, WR, New Hope, MN Jaden Reed, DB, Minneapolis, MN Taufa'asau Siaki, DL, Mesa, AZ Kamm Blackmon, DB, Fort Lauderdale, FL Coach Jones on the 2023 Spartans team: "We return some guys, but there are a lot of new faces. We're hoping to be competitive." Additional information: The Spartans are fundraising for field improvements. |
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Connor Kunkel, 1st year Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Benny DeVries; Michael Preuss; Billy Trees; Wayne Lais; Brad Holinka; Joel Krekelberg; Dave Workman; Faith Drent; and Trisha Heidebrink 2022 Records and Finish: 2-6 overall, 1-4 in the MCAC, 6th place finish Top returning players: ReJiwon Dupree, RB, Champlin, MN JayVerion Peters Johnson, LB, Mount Morris, MI Aidan Bradshaw, LB, Chicago, IL Teyel Lowe, DL, Worthington, MN Ryan Woodbury, DB, Pipestone, MN Darrick Baartman, DB, Ruthton, MN Top incoming/new players: Breyer Hieronimus, QB, Adrian, MN DeShawn Clark, DL, Kenner, LA DaShawn Clark, OL, Kenner, LA Rashaye Rodgers, WR, Brookings, SD Tyler Lange-Baillie, LB, Kissimmee, FL Coach Kunkel on the 2023 Bluejays team: "Tight-knit small team. Young, but talented on offense. Veteran-led defense with key returning players at each level. Incoming K/P from Worthington, MN, that we are excited about." Additional information: Billy Trees was added to the coaching staff as the offensive line coach. |
Minnesota North - Vermilion
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Head Coach: Earnest Wilson, 1st year Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Mister Askew and Matthew Collins 2022 Records and Finish: 0-6 overall, 0-4 in the MCAC, 7th place finish Top returning players: Kristrin Alexander, DB, Haney, IL Alexander Briggs, SS, Columbus, OH Yusuf Farah, QB, Beaverton, OR Reggie Ross, RB, Crosslake, MN Brennan Bondhus, K/P, Mantorville, MN Top incoming/new players: Marcuson Taylor, WR, Chicago, IL Cameron McBride, DB, Las Vegas, NV Mark Cox, OLB, Denver, CO Ulysses Charvarria, OL, Dallas, TX Quintin Daniels, LB, Aberdee, MD Comments on the 2023 Iron Hawks team: Only five returners come back from last year. The freshman class has great attitudes and will be expected to set the future for Ironhawks football. |
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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.