Johnson Named MIAC Coach of the Year, 13 Royals Earn All-MIAC Accolades

The Royals posted a 7-1 MIAC record and went undefeated in the Skyline Division while making a trip to their third consecutive MIAC Championship game. BU came out on top at home over Gustavus, 31-7, earning its first MIAC title since 2013 and its third consecutive NCAA Playoff appearance. 

Johnson’s first conference Coach of the Year award came in 1989, his first season with the Royals, while winning the award again in 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2013. He finishes an illustrious career with a 252-111-1 all-time record and ranks 12th all-time in Division III for wins. 

Aaron Ellingson • Jr. • RB • St. Louis Park, Minn.
• 166 carries for 934 net yards with eight rushing touchdowns.
• Averaged 5.6 yards a carry.
• Career-high 224 yards against Gustavus in the MIAC Championship game. 
• 33 catches for 424 yards with two receiving touchdowns. 
• First All-MIAC accolade.

Micah Niewald • Jr. • WR • Fridley, Minn. 
• 49 catches for 719 yards with four touchdowns.
• Averaged 65.36 yards a game and 14.67 yards a catch.
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree and 2021 honorable mention honoree.

Caden DeWall • Jr. • DL • Becker, Minn.
• Tallied 39 tackles, 23 of which were solo. 
• His six sacks for a loss of 39 yards were the second most in the MIAC.
• He had 11.5 tackles for loss totaling 67 yards. 
• First All-MIAC accolade.

Taylor Glynn • So. • LB • Grand Meadow, Minn.
• 36 tackles on the year with 18 being solo.
• Four tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks.
• Four pass breakups and four QB hurries.
• First All-MIAC accolade.

Isaac Call • Jr. • DB • Kerkhoven, Minn. (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg)
• 44 tackles with 29 being solo. 
• Three interceptions and three pass breakups to go along with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. 
• First All-MIAC accolade.

Nate Farm • Jr. DB • Arden Hills, Minn. (Mounds View)
• 33 tackles, 19 which are solo.
• Added three interceptions and two pass breakups.
• Three-time All-MIAC honoree.

Matt Jung • R-Fr. • DB • Neenah, Wis.
• Team-leading 72 tackles with 43 solo tackles that ranked ninth in the MIAC.
• MIAC-leading seven interceptions that also led the nation.
• 4.5 tackles for loss to go along with one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one blocked kick.
• First All-MIAC accolade.

Devin Williams • So. • DB • Fridley, Minn. 
• 43 total tackles, 34 which were solo.
• Three interceptions with a team-leading six pass breakups that was 13th in the MIAC. 
• He also added two blocked kicks. 
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree.

Reese Pantila • Jr. • DL • Woodbury, Minn. (East Ridge)
• Totaled 26 tackles, 19 of those were assisted. 
• First All-MIAC accolade, named to honorable mention team in 2022.

Thomas Wurdemann • Sr. • LB • North Branch, Minn.
• 41 total tackles with 22 being solo.
• 2.5 sacks totaling 17 yards with one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. 
• Two-time All-MIAC honoree, named to 2022 honorable mention team.

Riley Gritz • So. • RB • Long Prairie, Minn. (Sauk Centre)
• 112 carries for 468 net yards with eight rushing touchdowns. 
• Averaged 4.2 yards a carry. 
• First All-MIAC honorable mention honor.