KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eighteen members of the Pittsburg State University football team earned All-MIAA honors Tuesday (Nov. 18) following a vote of the conference head coaches.
 
Nine Gorillas were named to the first-team All-MIAA squad, including redshirt senior quarterback Jackson Berry and junior placekicker Austin Schmitt. Berry was selected as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year while Schmitt was tabbed as the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year.

Additional first-team All-MIAA selections included:  senior offensive lineman Drew Daniels, redshirt senior defensive back Reggie King, redshirt junior running back Zahmari Palode-Gary, redshirt junior wide receiver Kuron Parchmon, redshirt senior defensive back Jordan Rogers, redshirt senior defensive lineman Jeremy Sharp and redshirt senior offensive lineman Carter Stanchfield.

Redshirt senior kick returner and safety Jaylen Fuksa, redshirt senior defensive lineman James Smith and redshirt senior linebacker Steven Ward II garnered second team All-MIAA accolades, while redshirt junior wide receiver Greyson Holbert, redshirt senior offensive lineman Coby James and redshirt sophomore tight end Luke Niggemann were named to the third-team All-MIAA squad.
Redshirt senior running back Cleo Chandler Jr., redshirt senior kick returner Ryan Medeiros and redshirt junior defensive lineman Ely Wilcox received honorable mention All-MIAA recognition.

Berry (Prosper, Texas) has completed 192 of 320 passes (.600) for 2,417 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season, averaging 219.7 passing yards with a 133.7 efficiency rating. He also has rushed the ball 77 times for 226 yards and three scores. Berry ranks third in the MIAA in passing efficiency and fourth in the conference in passing yards. He has been named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week in each of the final two games of the regular season.

Schmitt (Grain Valley, Mo.) has converted 19 of 27 field goal attempts and 38 of 39 PATs, compiling an MIAA leading 101 points on the season (9.2 ppg). Schmitt, a four-time MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week selection this fall, leads NCAA Division II in field goals (1.73 pg).

Daniels (Andover, Kan.), Stanchfield (Paola, Kan.) and James (Midlothian, Texas) have helped pave the way up front for a Pitt State offense that has averaged 30.6 points and 417.1 yards of total offense (195.0 rushing). The Gorillas have allowed just 15 quarterback sacks in 329 pass attempts on the season.

Palode-Gary (Kansas City, Mo.) has rushed the ball 135 times for 843 yards (6.2 ypc) and nine touchdowns in 10 games played, while Chandler (Cleburne, Texas) has 92 carries for 508 yards (5.5 ypc) and three scores in nine games played. Palode-Gary leads the MIAA in rushing (84.3 ypg) and Chandler ranks eighth in the conference (56.4 ypg).

Parchmon (Ferguson, Mo.) has caught 34 passes for 555 yards (16.3 ypc) and three touchdowns in 10 games played. Holbert (Overland Park, Kan.) has 53 receptions for 539 yards (10.2 ypc) and two scores. Parchmon (55.5 ypg) and Holbert (49.0 ypg) rank sixth and ninth in the MIAA in receiving yards, while Holbert also ranks fourth in the league in receptions.

Niggemann (Girard, Kan.) has seven receptions for 56 yards (8.0 ypc) and one touchdown. He also has rushed the ball 25 times for 119 yards (4.8 ypc) and three scores.

Ward (Nixa, Mo.) has posted a team-leading 88 tackles (36 solo) with 7.0 tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Rogers (Bellmead, Texas) has made 69 stops (32 solo), 6.0 TFLs, 1.5 quarterback sacks, three interceptions, five PBUs and three forced fumbles. Ward ranks seventh in the MIAA in tackles (7.0 pg), while Rogers ranks second in the conference in forced fumbles, third in the league in interceptions and 13^th in the MIAA in tackles (6.3 pg). King (Grandview, Mo.) has made 55 tackles (36 solo), one interception and seven pass breakups.

Sharp (Peculiar, Mo.) has 32 stops (13 solo) with 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks, while Smith (Lawrenceville, Ga.) has logged 26 tackles (14 solo) with 8.0 TFLs and 4.0 QB sacks, while Wilcox (Augusta, Kan.) has compiled 28 tackles (13 solo), 5.5 TFLs and 3.5 QB sacks. Sharp and Smith are tied for seventh place in the MIAA in QB sacks.

Fuksa (Frisco, Texas) has posted 22 tackles (six solo) with one interception and four pass breakups in nine games played. He also has averaged 26.8 yards on 14 kickoff returns this season. Medeiros (Prosper, Texas) has averaged 5.2 yards on 30 punt returns on the season. He's also logged 40 tackles (20 solo) with one interception and two PBUs. Fuksa leads the MIAA in kickoff returns, while Medeiros ranks fourth in the league in punt returns.