Gatz, McKay and White highlight Football All-NACC Awards

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Seniors Andrew Gatz (Adell, Wis.), Ben McKay (Herbon, Ill.) and Tyler White (Milwaukee, Wis.) all earned First Team All-NACC selections as the league released its postseason awards Friday. The seniors were three of 12 players to earn All-NACC honors.

Gatz rushed for a team best 656 yards which ranked second in the conference and found the end zone three times this season. The senior running back had a career long and program record 87 yard touchdown run on Concordia's first drive of the game against Lakeland (Oct. 31, 2015). He also added a 65 yard touchdown run against Olivet, the following week.

McKay was the only returning starting offensive lineman to this year's young offensive line. He helped lead the way for an offensive unit that ranked second in the NACC with 412.3 yards per game. The Falcons ranked third in rushed for 1,313 yards, while throwing for 2,810 yards which ranked third and second in the conference, respectively.

White was  a key part of the Falcons special teams unit as he led the conference with 24.1 kick return yards per game and scored the only the kick return touchdown in the conference this season. His only return for a touchdown was a season long, 76 yard return against Lakeland (Oct. 31, 2015) on the team's second possession of the game.

Four players earned Second Team selections which included sophomore quarterback Aaron Nixon (North Prairie, Wis), junior wide receiver Derrick Estfan (Phoenix, Ariz.), senior defensive lineman Austin Kaatz (Pewaukee, Wis.), and freshman punter Jacob Mason (Slinger, Wis.).

Nixon had a very impressive sophomore campaign passing for 2,760 yards and 24 touchdowns which both ranked second in the conference. He was also very effective using his legs as he ranked first in the conference in rushing attempts with 186 and also ranked third in the conference in rushing touchdowns with eight. Nixon set the program's single season record for completions with 260 and was also one touchdown shy of tying the program's single season record.

Estfan was Nixon's go to receiver this year as he led the team with 54 receptions, 473 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns which also ranked third in the conference. His eight receiving touchdowns was a new career-high for the junior. Five of those touchdowns came in the final two games of the season.

Kaatz was disturbance in the opponent's backfield this season as the senior defensive lineman recorded three sacks and 13 tackles for loss which ranked second on the team. He had his best statistical game of the season in 49-14 win at Concordia Chicago (Oct. 3, 2015) where he recorded 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Mason finished the year leading the NACC with a 38.8 yards per punt average which is also a program record. He boomed 49 punts for 1,903 yards, including a long of 69. Six of those 49 punts pinned opponent's inside their own 20-yard line.

Five players rounded out the CUW All-NACC selections with honorable mention tags. These selections included sophomore defensive back, Richie Guess (Homer Glen, Ill.), junior defensive linemen Kevin Kern (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Michael Ledesma (Glendale, Ariz.), freshman kicker Jacob Mason, and junior linebacker James Thomsen (Mount Prospect, Ill.) rounded out the CUW All-NACC selections.

Guess ranked fourth on the team with 51 tackles on the year, he forced two fumbles and recorded one interception. Kern was very impressive on the defensive line as recorded 5.5 sacks which ranked second on the team and led the team with 16 tackles for loss. Ledesma ranked third in the conference with seven sacks and recorded 12.5 tackles for loss which ranked third on the team.

Thomsen led the Falcons defense with a career-high 74 tackles; he also tallied 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble. His 74 tackles ranked seventh in the conference. Mason was also recognized for his field goal kicking efforts as he made 31-of-37 of his extra point attempts in his rookie season.

The Falcons finished the year with a 3-7 record, including a 3-3 mark in NACC play.