(Ann Arbor, MI) The program records for Concordia football continues today with 10 players and Head Coach Lonnie Pries being recognized in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) All-League awards. The 11 selections are the most for a CUAA team and come after a program high 7-win season.

Most notable among those recognized was Coach Pries who was named the MSFA Mideast League Coach of the Year. Pries recently completed his fourth season with a 7-4 record overall and 4-2 in the MSFA Mideast League as the head coach.

On Tuesday, Pries announced he is stepping down as head coach and promoted Defensive Coordinator Joshua Schumacher as the head coach (Official Release). The MSFA Coach of the Year award is his first at CUAA. It comes at a deserving time as the Cardinals set a program record for total wins in a season which also happened to be the program's first winning season. The Cardinals win total increased every year under Pries. Voting among MSFA coaches for this award took place prior to announcing his resignation.

The 2016 Cardinals received the program's first national ranking when the NAIA Coaches' poll placed the Cardinals #23 on October 3^rd. The program received recognition two other weeks as well by receiving votes in the poll. The Cardinals finished 3^rd in the MSFA Mideast League with their only losses to #1 Marian and #4 University of St. Francis (IN). MSFA Preseason coaches' poll predicted the Cardinals would finish 5^th.

Named to the Mideast League 1^st Team was Joe Conner (SO/Flat Rock, MI) and Norman Cyr (SR/Dearborn Heights, MI). The duo are Concordia's first ever offensive players to receive the honor as well as the first teammates to make the 1^st team in the same season.

Conner etched himself into the CUAA all-time record board setting new season highs in rushing attempts (143), rushing yards (1052), all-purpose yards (1283), and rushing touchdowns (8). His 1052 yards on the ground led the Mideast League and was 12^th in the NAIA. Connor's season was highlighted by a 248 yard, 2 touchdown performance against Taylor on October 22 that earned him his first of two Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Helping Conner achieve his success was a strong offensive line anchored by Cyr. At 6'4" and 283 lbs., Cyr has been a force for three seasons in a Cardinal uniform helping Offensive Coordinator, Andrew Rode shift more focus onto the ground attack. Concordia was first in the MSFA and tenth in the NAIA running a total of 2514 yards in 2016. This is Cyr's second time being honored in the postseason awards previously being named an All-League Honorable Mention in 2015.

Earning the nod to the 2^nd Team was Herman Mason (JR/Lansing, MI), Kaleb Pohlman (JR/Liberty Center, OH), Ty Peterson (SR/Milan, MI), Nick Holshoe (SR/Hopkins, MI) and Brayden Bennett (SR/Battle Creek, MI).

Pohlman and Holshoe are repeat all-conference selections also earning the honor in 2015. Holshoe led the team with 88 total tackles and also had two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recoveries, and 7 breakups. He is second all-time at Concordia with 381 career tackles and first all-time with 14 interceptions. In eight games played, Pohlman had 38 total tackles, 8.0 TFL (41 yards), 3.0 sacks, and an interception.

Mason had 29 catches for 432 yards to go with seven touchdowns (six receiving, one rushing). Mason also served the team on special teams returning seven kicks for an average of 18.9 yards (132 total, 34 long). Peterson had 65 tackles in 2016 and finishes his career third all-time with 228. His 3.5 sacks this season bumps him up to second all-time at Concordia with 14.0. Bennett wrapped up his four-year career leading the Mideast and setting a school record with six field goals made (6-11). The placekicker also made 40 of 43 PATs (.930) and owns the program record by a large margin at 95.

Wrapping up the recognition for Concordia was Andrew O'Hara (SO/Cleveland, OH), Keith Rubin (SO/Whitmore Lake, MI), and Darricle Jones (JR/Eastpointe, MI). O'Hara racked up 65 tackles and led the team in tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (5.0). Rubin had 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and hit the quarterback another three times. Jones, like Cyr, was a staple on the offensive line helping set school records in points (322), touchdowns (44), total yardage (4431), and rushing yardage (2514).