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Heart of America Athletic Conference
Vikings' Erpelding Headlines Football Awards List
November 25, 2015

Vikings' Erpelding Headlines Football Awards List

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Grand View DE Mike Erpelding was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year, headlining the league's postseason awards on Wednesday morning. North Division | South Division

Among the changes implemented with the first season of divisional play included the awarding of individual postseason awards for each division. Erpelding, however, was chosen as the league's overall Player of the Year as well as the North Division Defensive Player of the Year. Grand View earned two more individual awards as QB Derek Fulton was the Offensive Player of the Year for the North Division, while head coach Mike Woodley was named the Coach of the Year. The final award for the North went to William Penn offensive coordinator Chris Stutzriem, who was selected the Assistant Coach of the Year.

In the South Division, MidAmerica Nazarene RB Javon Taylor was chosen the Offensive Player of the Year, while Baker claimed the remainder of the individual awards. Tucker Pauley and Josh Kock shared the Defensive Player of the Year award, while head coach Mike Grossner was picked as the Coach of the Year, and defensive coordinator Chris Thoren was selected as the Assistant Coach of the Year.

Erpelding is second on his team in tackles (52) heading into the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. He leads the conference in tackles for loss (21.0), good for fourth in the NAIA, and has recorded 5.0 sacks and an interception. On the other side of the ball for the Vikings, Fulton has thrown for 2,069 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 600 yards and 10 touchdowns.

For the second-straight season, Taylor was honored by the league's coaches with the Offensive Player of the Year award. He rushed for a conference-leading 1,346 yards, currently good for fourth in the NAIA, to go along with 15 touchdowns. Pauley has recorded 67 tackles for Baker heading into this weekend's quarterfinal round of the NAIA FCS, including 14.5 for loss to go along with five interceptions. Kock has 44 tackles that includes 10.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks, and also has recorded an interception.