Play of the Week

This week's Play of the Week is the incredible leap for a 2-point conversion by senior running back TJ Schaid.  Great footage by our filmer Brieauna Bradley, capturing the emotion as the Pioneers cut the Ripon lead early in the 3rd quarter to 24-14!

Schaid Named Semi-Finalist for NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award!

Senior running back TJ Schaid '13 is one of 41 Division III nominees for the National Football Foundation's National Scholar-Athlete Award.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.

The NFF Awards Committee will select up to 16 recipients, and the results will be announced via a national press release on Thursday, Oct. 25. Each recipient will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship, and they will vie as finalists for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy.

Each member of the 2012 National Scholar-Athlete Class will also travel to New York City be honored Dec. 4 during the 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. One member of the class will also be announced live at the event as the winner of the Campbell Trophy.

Schaid, an All-Midwest Conference performer as a sophomore, was limited the following season due to injury. He is back at full strength in 2012 and is the Pioneers' leading rusher with 248 yards while ranking second in receptions with 15. 

2012 Season is Underway!

With the start of our Spring Ball practices this past Tuesday, the 2012 season is officially underway!

Official Pioneer Football Photographer Alysia Horcher '15 was on hand to capture some of the early morning workout.

Coach Jason Martinez talks with the defensive front seven

Coach Ben Cooprider works with the defensive backs set-up

TJ Schaid '13 runs away from Colton Feller '14 and Kevin Hwang '13

Coach P leaves the field after practice #1

Three Pioneers Make Dean's List

Three Pioneer Football players were named to the Grinnell College Dean's List for the Fall Term 2011:

 

        Trent Baker '15                    Drew Blumberg '13                          TJ Schaid '13

These intelligent guys were three of 62 Pioneer student-athletes named to the Dean's List.  Congrats men!

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.

Pioneers Victorious Over Beloit!

Jumping out to a 24-7 halftime lead was plenty for Grinnell on Saturday afternoon at Rosenbloom field as the Pioneers beat the visiting Beloit Buccaneers 24-21.  Grinnell now sits at 4-1 overall and 3-1 in MWC and is tied for 2nd place in the MWC standings trailing only the Ripon Red Hawks.  Grinnell is off to their best start since the 1999 season.

Colton Feller '14

The game was a balanced affair aside from the Pioneers collecting 4 turnovers defensively and only giving away 1 on offense.  Colton Feller '14 had an interception and a fumble recovery, while Ryan Fletcher '11 had a pick off a batted ball by defensive end Matt John '12.  Marc Heronemus '11 also had a fumble recovery and 3 pass break-ups.

TJ Schaid '13

Offensively, the men in black were led by running back T.J. Schaid '13, collecting 1 TD and 89 yards on 23 carries.  Schaid's help in pass protection also kept quarterback Mike Bogard '12 from being sacked and allowed receiver Logan Granera '12 to haul in another big day with 11 catches for 126 yards.

Read the full game story here.

The Pioneers head back on the road next Saturday to take on Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

Go Pioneers!