ATLANTA- The two-time Southern Athletic Association champion Millsaps Majors football team dominated the post-season conference awards, grabbing the offensive player, defensive player, special teams player and coach of the year awards as voted on by the conference coaches.
Mike Barthelemy won the offensive player of the year and was named first team all-conference as he re-wrote the school and conference record books. Barthelemy led the conference with 1400 yards rushing and a school-record 21 rushing touchdowns. Of those 1400 yards, 884 were in conference games, as were 14 of his 21 touchdowns. Barthelemy ran for 264 yards and four scores in the win over Birmingham Southern and five scores in the win over Berry. The junior averaged nearly 150 yards rushing (147.7) in the six conference games.
Zach Bell won the defensive player of the year award and was named first-team all-conference for the second straight season. The junior defensive end was a terror on backfields all season long, leading the SAA with 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Both totals had him in the top-15 in the nation in both categories. Bell had six of his sacks and 10 of his tackles for loss in conference including a two sack effort against Centre and a three sack performance against Hendrix.
Beau Brady was named the special teams player of the year and was named first-team all-conference, after leading all conference place kickers in scoring. Brady led the way with 66 points, 33 of them in conference play. Brady was 10-13 on the year in field goals with a long of 44, kicked against Rhodes in the season finale. Brady hit the game-winner against Trinity and the game-tying 39-yard field goal against Centre. Brady also was pivotal in the kickoff game, none bigger than the on-side kick that the Majors recovered in the comeback win over Centre.
Aaron Pelch was named the conference coach of the year after leading the Majors to a 9-1 record, their best since 2008. The Majors also went 5-1 in conference and won their second straight share of the SAA crown. In two years, Pelch has led the Majors to a 8-2 mark in conference play, easily the best mark in the SAA.
In addition to the players of the year, Millsaps placed several more on the first and second all-conference teams.
David Carter and Kyle Skene were named first-team All-SAA as they anchored the offensive line of the Majors. Millsaps ran for over 2100 yards and 27 scores behind the offensive line and allowed just six sacks on the season.
Jeff Milner, Jonathan Moore, and Alex Jackson also were named to the first team defense. Milner was second to only teammate Zach Bell in sacks in the conference, finishing with 8.5. Milner also was second with 14 tackles for loss, forced four fumbles and recovered one.
Jonathan Moore was a shutdown corner for the Majors this season. He broke up three passes, intercepted one more and recovered a pair of fumbles. Teams did not throw his way during the year, and when they did Moore made them pay. Additionally, Moore had the exclamation point play in the win over Mississippi College, returning an on-side kick 47 yards for a touchdown.
Alex Jackson led the Majors with 65 tackles on the season. The hybrid safety/linebacker had three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, picked off two passes and broke up four more. Jackson was a play maker for a defense that led the conference with just 22 points allowed per game.
Making the second team for the Majors were Zander Romano, Matt Wahl and John Hartmangruber on offense and Joiner Stewart and Dustin Harscher on defense.
Romano led the Majors with 462 yards receiving on 34 receptions. Romano had a huge 11 catch 152-yard day with a touchdown in the win over Centre.
Wahl was pivotal in the Majors' run game as well as a threat in the passing game out of the tight end position. Wahl had seven catches for 90 yards on the year with a score, which happened to be the game-winner over Centre.
Hartmangruber helped solidify the offensive line that was the best in the conference. The sophomore made the transition from tight end to lineman seamlessly.
On defense: Stewart finished the year with 42 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Stewart also forced and recovered a fumble on the season
Harscher finished the year with 54 tackles, four for loss. Harshcher made a signature play in the win over Trinity where he blocked what would have been the go-ahead field goal.
The Majors also placed a handful of players on the honorable mention team:
On offense: Taz Watson, Beau Wells, Trevor King and Charlie Sagan. On defense: Alex Stewart, Jorrick Battle, Nick Arnold and Semmes White.
The full All-Conference Team can be viewed here.
