THIRTEEN
WOLVES RECEIVE A PLACE ON ALL-NSIC LIST
ABERDEEN,
SD - The Northern State University football program
saw 13 players receive all-NSIC honors for the 2003
season highlighted by three players on the first team.
Northern State also boasted the league’s offensive
and defensive newcomers of the year in Toby Korrodi
and Steve Espinoza. Following is a list of those Wolves
honored by the NSIC in 2003:
ALL-NSIC
FIRST TEAM:
Casey Knutson (6-4, 290, Sr., OT, Shakopee, Minn.)
Knutson earned his first trip to the NSIC first team
after receiving honorable mention status as a freshman
and a junior. The senior anchored NSU’s steady offensive
line that guided NSU to the top spot in the nation
in total offense. Knutson was also an Academic All-District
second team selection.
Ronnie
Cruz (6-1, 235, Sr., RB, Kelseyville, Calif.)
Cruz finished his season with 1,476 rushing yards
and 19 total touchdowns. The senior guided Northern
to the tenth best rushing attack in NCAA II and was
a three-time NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. Cruz
was also honored as a Football Gazette National Player
of the Week on Oct. 14 after his 260-yard rushing
performance against Minnesota, Crookston. The second-year
Wolf ranked eighth in the nation in scoring and tenth
in rushing yards. Cruz was also effective as a receiver
this season grabbing 33 passes for 316 yards on the
year.
Sione
Tupou (6-1, 320, Jr., DT, Sacramento, Calif.)
Sione was NSU’s second-leading tackler on the defensive
line in 2003. The junior posted 31 tackles (11 solo)
with five tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovered
and one forced fumble.
ALL-NSIC
SECOND TEAM:
Jason Carson (5-10, 205, Sr., LB, Hacienda Heights,
Calif.) Carson, a preseason All-American by Football
Gazette, led Northern State in tackles with 83 on
the year from his linebacker position. The senior
ranked second on the team with 13 tackles for loss
and six sacks in his second season at NSU. He also
picked off three passes, broke up three passes, recovered
a fumble and forced a fumble. Carson received the
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week award on Oct. 14
and was a first team member of the all-NSIC team in
2002.
Owen
Olson (5-11, 185, Sr., PK, Denver, Colo.) Olson
nailed 14-of-18 field goals on the season for the
Wolves while booting career high kicks of 42 yards
twice in his senior campaign. Olson also hit 48-of-54
PATs on the year and ranked 11th in NCAA II in field
goals and was 33rd in the nation in scoring. He was
a four-time NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week.
ALL-NSIC
HONORABLE MENTION:
Clay Harrell (6-3, 280, Sr., OT, Sacramento, Calif.)
and Paul Krahmer (6-1, 275, Sr., C, Fairmont, Minn.)
Both players helped to solidify a strong NSU offensive
line that ranked second in the NSIC in rushing and
first in passing and total offense.
Toby
Korrodi (6-4, 220, R-Fr., QB, San Antonio, Tex.)
Korrodi was named as the NSIC Offensive Newcomer of
the Year after setting school records for single season
pass attempts (428), passing yards (3,528) and passing
touchdowns (36). The redshirt freshman also set the
NSU mark for single game passing yards with 502 against
co-NSIC champion Concordia-St. Paul. Korrodi ranked
sixth in the nation in total offense and 25th in pass
efficiency. He was named as an NSIC Offensive Player
of the Week twice and was also named as a Football
Gazette National Player of the Week on Oct. 20.
Charlie
Johnston (6-0, 180, So., WR, Aberdeen, S.D.) Johnston
led NSU in receiving for the second straight season.
The sophomore posted 974 receiving yards on 53 receptions
throughout the year. He ranked third on the team in
scoring with 11 touchdowns on the year and was 27th
in the nation in receiving. He was also NSU’s fifth-leading
rusher with five carries for 71 yards.
Josh
Martin (5-9, 175, Jr., WR, Spearfish, S.D.) Martin
was NSU’s second-leading receiver hauling in 48 receptions
for 910 yards and ten touchdowns on the season.
Charles
Williams (6-1, 235, Sr., DE, San Diego, Calif.)
Williams was among NSIC leaders with 67 tackles (32
solo), 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, four passes
broken up and one forced fumble. The senior ranked
seventh in NCAA II in tackles for loss and was 26th
in the nation in sacks.
Kia
Tupou (6-1, 310, So., DT, Sacramento, Calif.)
Kia posted 24 tackles (11 solo) on the season to go
with 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in his first
year with the Wolves.
NSIC
DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:
Steve
Espinoza (5-11, 225, Jr., LB, El Monte, Calif.)
Espinoza ranked second on the team in tackles posting
71 (28 solo) on the season. Espinoza posted 6.5 tackles
for loss, one interception and two pass break ups
in his first year at Northern State. Northern State
finished its 2003 season with a 7-4 overall record
and a 5-3 mark in the NSIC ranking in a tie for fourth
in the league.
