Putting up some of the best quarterback statistics in all of Division III has earned Monmouth College’s Alex Tanney (Normal, Ill./Lexington) the Melberger Award, given annually since 1993 to the nation’s top Division III player.

Sponsored by Diversified Information Technologies, the Melberger Award is selected by a nationwide panel based solely on a player’s performance on the field. In other words – “The best player, period.” The award also brings with it a $2,500 check for the college’s general scholarship fund.

Tanney was named to the All-American second team by the Division III football Web site. The 6-foot-4 signal-caller had earlier this season been named the West Region winner in the competition for the Gagliardi Trophy, given to the nation’s top player. Last summer, he was named a preseason All-American by Consensus Draft Services, Lindy’s Sports Magazine and D3football.com.

A junior business major, Tanney was all business on the field, where he has thrown for a school-record 10,158 yards and 118 touchdown passes over his three-year career. He led Division III this season with 3,856 passing yards and his 350.55 passing yards and 348.73 total yards per game rank him fourth in both categories. He had a 132.10 pass efficiency rating with just 20 interceptions.

Goranson, a senior, was the only player from the Midwest Conference named to the 25-man squad. AFCA has named All-American teams since 1945 and currently selects the nation’s top players in five divisions.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Goranson led the Scots in two defensive categories, tackles for loss (21) and sacks (7.5). He also earned the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year honor and was named all-conference for the fourth time. He is the Scots’ all-time leader in tackles for loss (76.5) and is second all-time for sacks (32.5). Goranson holds the distinction of playing on all three of Monmouth’s NCAA playoff teams.

“Anthony has had a tremendous impact on our success at Monmouth College,” said head coach Steve Bell. “It is only fitting that he ends his career as an All-American. I told him throughout the recruiting process that he had the ability to achieve All-American status if he wanted it.”

Tanney – the only junior in the field of four finalists – was edged in the voting by the Gagliardi Trophy committee by Augustana (Ill.) offensive lineman Blake Westemeyer. A four year starter at tackle, Westemeyer is the first offensive lineman to receive the award in its 16 year history.

Monmouth’s Tanney can appreciate the talent of an offensive lineman. The 6-4, 200 pound signal-caller took snaps this season behind a line that featured four all-conference players – Josh Kotecki, Dan Schwindehammer, Seth Hill and Nick Hoffman. Kotecki and Schwindenhammer – along with Tanney – were also named preseason All-Americans.

Tanney, who holds the Monmouth career passing record of 10,158 yards and led Division III with 3,856 passing yards, was also appreciative of originally making the field of the top 10 finalists, nine of which were seniors. Being named to the final four was a bonus.

“Being compared with the top seniors in the country and making the top 10 was rewarding,” said Tanney. “Making the final four was icing on the cake. It’s really a great honor to be recognized by the entire country and is great for our program.”

The Scots’ program has rolled to a 28-5 record in Tanney’s three seasons at quarterback. Since 2004 with a Tanney at quarterback (older brother Mitch was a Gagliardi top 10 finalist in 2005 and a two-year starter at QB) the Scots have had two Gagliardi top 10 finalists and won three conference titles. That’s the highest concentration of league crowns since the Fighting Scots won conference titles in 1931, ’32 and ’34.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Tanney already holds numerous MC career records, including touchdown passes (118) and passing yards (10,158). He has passed for 200 or more yards in 30 of his 33 games – also a school record – and he had four games this season of more than 400 yards.

The Fighting Scots were ranked as high as No. 8 this season and finished with their second consecutive 10-0 regular season, winning back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1971-72. Monmouth has also played three of its four NCAA playoff games with Tanney under center. He leads Division III quarterbacks this year with 3,856 yards, while his 350.55 passing yards and 348.73 total yards per game rank him fourth in both categories. Tanney’s 164.07 pass efficiency rating places him ninth.

COMPLETE STORY

Bell earned the Coach of the Year honor for the second consecutive season and fourth time overall. His 78-25 career record ties him with Bill Reichow as the winningest football coach in Fighting Scots’ history. His teams have compiled a 21-1 record over the last two seasons.

Tanney repeated as the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and picked up his third all-conference selection. His 3,495 passing yards leads Division III, and he has set career records at Monmouth with 116 touchdown passes and 9,797 yards. The junior’s 451 yards against Knox in the regular season finale broke his own single-game record for the second week in a row.

Goranson, the Fighting Scots’ leader in tackles for loss (19) and sacks (7.5), earned the Defensive Player of the Year honor and was named all-conference for the fourth time. The senior defensive end is just 1.5 sacks shy of the career mark of 34 set by Greg Bennett from 1987-90.

In all, a school-record 22 players were selected all-conference in a vote of the league’s coaches. Monmouth, ranked No. 8 in the D3football.com and American Football Coaches Association polls will host St. Thomas (Minn.), which is ranked as high as No. 10, in the first round of the Division III playoffs Saturday at Monmouth’s April Zorn Memorial Stadium.

Shepherd sets record, earns conference award
November 9, 2009

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Wide receiver Matt Shepherd (Leesburg, Fla./Leesburg) exploded for three touchdowns in the Fighting Scots’ final regular season game and earned the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honor.

Shepherd scored three times as the Scots pulled away for a 42-0 win over Knox in the 121^st meeting between the two teams. The junior caught a game-high 14 passes for 141 yards, averaging over 10 yards per catch. His 948 receiving yards this season broke the previous high-water mark of 911 set by Evan Haffner in 2004.

For the second consecutive year, the Fighting Scots completed a 10-0 regular season, while winning their third Midwest Conference title since 2005. They will be making their second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs on Sat., Nov. 21.

Tanney earns thirds conference award
November 2, 2009

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Quarterback Alex Tanney (Lexington, Ill./Lexington) picked up his third Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honor after yet another record-breaking day in a 44-17 win over Illinois College Saturday.

Tanney threw for a school-record 437 yards Saturday to break the record of 405 yards he shared with his older brother, Mitch. Alex, a junior, had tied the previous record his freshman year against St. Norbert. He completed 33 of 46 passes with three touchdowns and one interception against Illinois College for an efficiency rating of 168.71. With more than a season left, he has thrown for a school-record 9,346 yards and 110 TDs, including 36 scores and 3,044 yards this season.

The win clinched no worse than a tie for the Midwest Conference title and guaranteed Monmouth their second consecutive berth in the NCAA playoffs. It will be their third trip to the playoffs since 2005.

Goranson's eight tackle, three sack performance earns honor
October 26, 2009

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Defensive end Anthony Goranson (Bartlett, Ill./Belvidere) had one of his best games this season and earned this week’s Midwest Conference Defensive Performer of the Week honor.

Goranson played a big role in shutting down the Lake Forest offense in the Fighting Scots’ 51-14 win over the Foresters Saturday. The senior stuffed the Foresters with eight tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for 20 yards. For the season, he leads the team with six sacks for 46 yards and 14.5 tackles for loss for 74 yards. He is tied for fifth with 40 total tackles and is just three sacks from tying Greg Bennett’s career sack record of 34 set from 1987-90.

With the win, Monmouth maintained sole possession of first place in the Midwest Conference.

Marcus is rough on Ripon, earns weekly honor
October 19, 2009

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Linebacker Marcus Ruff (Avon, Ill./Bushnell-Prairie City) led the charge defensively in last week’s 35-13 win over Ripon and was named the Midwest Conference Defensive Performer of the Week.

Ruff made an impact early as the Fighting Scots took over sole possession of first place in the Midwest Conference. The junior started the game with a bang, recovering a Red Hawk fumble at the Ripon 16-yard line to set up Monmouth’s first score. Ruff when on to record 16 tackles, including a team-high 12 solos, and broke up two passes. His 16 tackles in the game was more than half his season total.

Tanney breaks another record, earns conference award
October 12, 2009

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Quarterback Alex Tanney (Lexington, Ill./Lexington) had yet another record-setting performance last weekend and picked up his second Midwest Conference Offensive Performer of the Week award this season.

Tanney broke Rob Purlee’s career passing yardage record in a 52-24 win over previously unbeaten St. Norbert Saturday. The junior threw for 361 yards to give him 8,188 passing yards in his career. With a season-and-a-half remaining in his career, Tanney surpassed Purlee’s mark of 8,017 yards set from 2000-03 as the Fighting Scots’ all-time leader. He connected for five aerial scores to five different receivers and completed 34-of-47 attempts (72 percent) with one interception to finish the game with a pass efficiency rating of 167.71. Playing in his 28^th career game, Tanney scored his first collegiate touchdown on a quarterback sneak with 8:44 left in the third quarter to put the Scots up 45-17.

For the year, Monmouth’s QB has completed over 70 percent of his passes for 1,886 yards and 23 TDs with just two interceptions for a rating of 166.80.

Monmouth moved up to No. 11 in the D3football.com poll and stayed put at No. 12 in the American Football Coaches Association rankings.