Coach Pedersen is 2010 MWC Coach of the Year! Pioneers Garner 7 All-MWC Honors!

The Grinnell College football team had an amazing run in the 2010 season, and that success has been reflected in the All-MWC selections.

Head Coach Jeff Pedersen ’02 (top, left) has been named MWC Coach of the Year, and linebacker Marquis Bradley ’11 (top, second from left), wide receiver Robert Seer ’12 (top, second from right) and returner Logan Granera ’13 (top, right) have been named to the All-MWC first team in voting by the league’s coaches.

Granera was also a second-team pick - at the wide receiver position - and was joined on that team by linebacker Ryan Fletcher ’11 (bottom, left), safety Marc Heronemus ’11 (bottom, second from left) and running back TJ Schaid ’13 (bottom, second from right). Offensive tackle Jake McVeigh ’11 (bottom, right) was an honorable mention pick for a team that won as many games in 2010 as the three previous Grinnell squads combined.

Under Pedersen’s guidance, the Pioneers achieved success not seen at Grinnell in quite a few years. Among them were beating Monmouth College for the first time since 2000, winning four of their first five games for Grinnell’s best start since 1999 and finishing at 6-4 for the team’s best record since 2004.

See the entire Grinnell release here.  See the entire 2010 All-MWC team here.

2010 Season Recap

 The 2010 Grinnell Pioneers finished the season with a record of 6-4, which is the school's best record since 2004.  After 5 consecutive seasons of 3 wins or less, the 2010 version of the Pioneers broke out in a big way.  They won 4 of their 5 home games and despite having the smallest roster size in the conference, went on the road and defeated the two-time defending conference champions Monmouth Scots in Week 2.

Under first-year head coach Jeff Pedersen, the 2010 Pioneers were an attacking, fast, and intelligent team that bought into the three tenors of Coach Pedersen's Pioneering Spirit:  VISION, COURAGE, AND CONVICTION.

There were numerous individual standout seasons, as the Pioneers had two receivers finish in the top 5 in the MWC in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game (Logan Granera '12 and Robert Seer '12).  Seer also finished 2nd in the conference in scoring with 14 TDs.  Granera led the MWC in All-Purpose yardage, racking up 900 return yards and 1 TD.

Defensively, the Pioneers were led by 3 seniors.  Linebackers Marquis Bradley '10 and Ryan Fletcher '10 were all over the field, both finishing in the top 6 of the MWC in tackles.  Bradley had 103 total, 3 sacks, and 3 INTs.  Fletcher had 87 tackles, 10.5 of which were TFL.  Marc Heronemus '10 led the Pioneers' secondary with 59 tackles and 10 passes defended, which was good for 5th in the MWC.

Coach Pedersen and company are already excited for the 2011 season and bringing in the next batch of Pioneers to help continue the winning at Grinnell College!

Pioneers Fall in Season Finale

The 2010 Pioneer Seniors finished their careers on Saturday afternoon

The Grinnell College football team lost its 2010 season finale Saturday, falling 40-7 at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis.

The first quarter was scoreless before the hosts tallied 27 points in the second period and 13 more in the third for a 40-0 lead.

Grinnell scored its lone touchdown at the 4:08 mark of the game when Jason Peters ’14 ran the ball in from a yard out. Logan Granera ’13 kicked the point after. The two-play drive was set up when Jeremy Wiles ’14  recovered a fumble at the Carroll 34-yard line, and Mike McCabe ’13 then completed a 33-yard pass to Robert Seer ’12.

Wiles had 15 total tackles for Grinnell, which finished 5-4 in the Midwest Conference and 6-4 in all games. Carroll is 6-3 in the MWC and 7-3 overall.

Marquis Bradley ’11 added seven tackles and Marc Heronemus ’11 and Kelsey Davis ’14 six each. McCabe completed 12 passes for 142 yards and Peters had six catches for 56 yards.

Grinnell Secures Winning Season!

The Grinnell College football team came up with a stellar effort in its final regular-season home game Saturday, and secured its first winning season since 2004 in the process with a 42-29 victory over Illinois College at Rosenbloom Field.

Illinois College entered the game in a tie for the Midwest Conference lead, but now falls to 5-3 in the league while Grinnell improves to the same record. That puts those two in a five-way tie for second place in the MWC. Grinnell is 6-3 overall and the Blueboys are 5-4.

Jason Peters ’14 (pictured) had a huge day for the Pioneers with eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Mike McCabe ’13 completed 21-of-36 aerials for 293 yards and four scores, while Logan Granera ’13 had five catches for 69 yards and a TD.

Grinnell’s defense shut down the high-octane Illinois College defense and intercepted last week’s Midwest Conference Offensive Performer of the Week, Mitch Niekamp, three times. The Pioneers were sparked by two defenders celebrating Senior Day, Marquis Bradley ’11 and Ryan Fletcher ’11, who each had 14 tackles. Ryan Creps ’12 added two interceptions.

See the game box score here.

The Pioneers take their 6-3 record up to Wisconsin this Saturday for the 2010 finale versus Carroll University (6-3, 5-3 in MWC).  The winner secures at least a share of 2nd place in the MWC and with a St. Norbert loss would earn a share of the MWC title.

Go Pioneers!