Hunsicker, Taylor, Namio named first team all-MSFA
Israel Taylor, Joe Namio and Jackson Hunsicker were named first team all-Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League as the conference announced its postseason awards. St. Ambrose also placed three players on the second team - Zak Alberts, Yemi Ward and Alex Knoebel.
In his first year with the Fighting Bees, Taylor hauled in 21 receptions for 183 yards and five touchdowns from his tight end position. The junior from Davenport, Iowa, caught three passes for a season-best 72 yards and two touchdowns in a 58-22 win over Judson on Oct. 8.
He was joined on the all-conference first team by a pair of special teamers.
Namio, a sophomore kicker from Freeport, Ill., was successful on six of his eight field goal attempts and converted 33-of-35 PATs. He kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal at St. Francis (Ill.) on Oct. 22.
Hunsicker, an honorable mention all-MSFA selection a season ago, averaged better than 36 yards over 56 punts for St. Ambrose. The senior from Morton, Ill., landed 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and registered just two touchbacks.
Making it all possible for Hunsicker was Knoebel, a senior long snapper from Plainfield, Ill. This marked the second straight season Knoebel has earned second-team all-conference recognition.
Alberts, an honorable mention all-MSFA honoree following the 2021 spring campaign, earned second-team honors by recording a team-high 87 total tackles in 2022. The senior free safety from Byron, Ill., was in on 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack, intercepted a pass and forced a pair of fumbles for the Bees.
Ward also landed on the second team after leading SAU with 43 receptions for 738 yards and 11 touchdowns. The senior wide receiver from Chicago, Ill., caught at least three passes in nine different games this year and posted three games of at least 100 yards receiving.
Three other Bees received all-MSFA honorable mention. Tom Casey, a junior quarterback from Dubuque, Iowa, completed 137-of-240 passes for 1718 yards and 23 touchdowns. He tied a school record by throwing seven touchdowns in a win over Judson on Oct. 8. Pat Galeher was part of the group up front protecting Casey. Galeher, a freshman from Chicago, Ill., stepped in to start at right tackle for St. Ambrose. Another freshman, Rolando Sepulveda, rounded out the SAU all-conference picks. Sepulveda, a linebacker from Evergreen Park, Ill., finished the year with 59 total tackles, including six tackles for loss and a sack. He also recovered a fumble.