Conference Champion Franklin Headlines All-HCAC Football Selections
November 14, 2007
GREENWOOD, IN – Franklin College placed ten players on the 2007 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team. Franklin’s Chad Rupp (Evansville, Ind./Memorial) and Defiance’s Luke Dillon (Temperance, Mich./Missouri Military) have been named the HCAC Co-Offensive Most Valuable Players for 2007. Rose-Hulman’s Paul Spreen (Williams, Ind./Bedford-North Lawrence) has been selected as the HCAC Defensive Most Valuable Player and his teammate Reed Eason (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) received Freshman of the Year honors. Rupp’s teammate Machy Magdalinos (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) and Anderson’s Denny Kimmel (Markleville, Ind./ Pendleton Heights) were honored as Co-Special Teams Most Valuable Players for their efforts this season. Grizzlies’ head coach Mike Leonard garnered Coach of the Year honors.
Rupp, a junior quarterback for the Grizzlies, threw for 2,850 yards this season, helping his team to its first HCAC football championship and first trip to the postseason since 1972. The junior racked up a conference-best 31 touchdowns and averaged 285.0 yards per game this season. In seven conference games, Rupp led the league in passing with 2,153 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 285.0 yards per game ranks tenth nationally and he ranks third nationally in passing efficiency (192.5). Included among his efforts this season, Rupp was selected three times as the HCAC Offensive Player of the Week and recorded 300 yard passing performances in three of the seven conference games.
Dillon, a senior wide receiver for Defiance, led the Jackets to a third place finish in the conference standings. He was the leading receiver in the HCAC in all categories this fall, catching 93 passes for 1,241 yards and 14 touchdowns. In seven conference games, Dillon caught 57 balls for 740 yards and a conference record 12 touchdowns. Dillon was selected three times as the HCAC Offensive Player of the Week and ranked sixth nationally in receptions per game (9.3 rpg) and yards per game (124.1 ypg).
Spreen, a junior defensive lineman for the Engineers, led the Rose defense and instilled fear in many opposing coaches in the HCAC. He was second on his team with 67 tackles, and led the conference with 19.0 tackles for loss. The junior ranked fourth in the HCAC with 7.5 sacks and also added four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one blocked kick this season. As a team, Rose ranked third in the HCAC in team defense, allowing 331.9 ypg.
Magdalinos, a sophomore kicker for Franklin, was nearly perfect this season in splitting the uprights for the Grizzlies. The Indianapolis native converted all seven of his field goal attempts this season and made 56 of his 58 extra point attempts, including a school record 50 straight. Machy ranked fourth in the HCAC with 77 points this season and ranked first among kickers. The sophomore was a two-time HCAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Kimmel, a senior running back and return specialist for Anderson, set many school records in a Ravens uniform. This season, Kimmel set school record’s with 216.5 all-purpose yards per game, 821 kickoff return yards, and 25.7 average yards per kickoff return. The senior ranks third nationally in all-purpose yards and 25 th nationally in average yards per kickoff return. He was named Special Teams Player of the Week for his effort in the Rose-Hulman game, which included a 79-yard kickoff return for touchdown.
Eason, a freshman tight end for Rose-Hulman, was an instrumental part of the Engineer offense all season long. The freshman led the Engineers with 47 receptions and five receiving touchdowns this season and ranked second on the squad with 534 yards receiving. Eason ranked third in the HCAC in receptions per game (4.7 rpg) and touchdowns (5), while ranking sixth in receiving yards per game (53.4 ypg).
Franklin head coach Mike Leonard has been selected as the HCAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. He guided the Grizzles to a second straight 9-1 overall record and led the team to their first conference championship. Franklin finished alone in first place in the HCAC with a perfect 7-0 record. The only loss this season for Franklin was a 35-33 defeat at nationally ranked Wabash in week number two. Leonard completed his fifth season as Franklin’s head coach this season and will guide the Grizzlies into the postseason for the first time since 1972.