Dustin Beurer, Ethan Hamby Highlight Northwood Honorees On G-MAC Postseason Awards
MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University football team earned a number of awards in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Awards, which were announced Wednesday (November 25).
Head Coach Dustin Beurer was named the G-MAC Coach of the Year. Redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Hamby earned the G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Six Timberwolves were named First Team All-Conference: Hamby, senior defensive back Cole Simpson, junior linebacker Joe Lathers, junior offensive lineman Kevin Brown, senior offensive lineman Gavin Wisniewski and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Case Boos. In addition, seven Timberwolves were placed on the Second Team All-Conference: redshirt junior defensive back Aviere Thomas, freshman kicker Drew Cady, senior running back Devin Brown, junior offensive lineman Ty Mead, senior linebacker Jalin Pitchford, redshirt freshman kick returner Carter Minix and senior defensive lineman Jaden Green.
Beurer is the second coach in Northwood football history to earn a conference Coach of the Year award, joining Pat Riepma, who won four times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000). Northwood went 9-3 this season, its most wins in a season since 2005. The Timberwolves also made their first appearance in the NCAA Championship since 2006 this year.
Hamby is the first player in program history to earn a conference Offensive Player of the Year award. He is the first Northwood football player to earn a conference individual award honor since Charleston Hughes, who won GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year in 2006. Hamby set numerous school records this season, finishing the year with 2,312 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and one interception. He finished the regular season without throwing an INT. Hamby set program-bests in completion percentage (63.5), completions (190), touchdown passes (23) and passing yards (2,312).
The Timberwolves' total of 13 players on the All-Conference team is the most for Northwood since the 2006 season, when NU also had 13 make the All-GLIAC team. This year's honorees features six players from offense, five players from defense and two special teams performers.