Stepleton, Ihns Named All-Conference By IIAC

Former Wilton prep Dylan Stepleton was named the Defensive MVP for the NCAA Division 3 league this fall.  Contributed Photo.

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

CEDAR RAPIDS — The 2016 All-Iowa Conference Football team was released last week as voted on by the coaches from the 9-team NCAA Division 3 league.  Two former area prep football players were among those honored.

Former Wilton Beaver Dylan Stepleton was named the Iowa Conference Defensive Most Valuable Player for 2016.  Former Tipton Tiger Dustin Ihns was a second team selection for offensive line.

Stepleton led the conference with eight interceptions for an average of 0.8 per game. That mark was good for a tie for second nationally in interceptions. Two of Stapleton’s pick-offs resulted in touchdowns. He was twice the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week; first when he tied the school record with three interceptions against Loras and again when he had nine solo tackles and blocked a crucial game-tying FG attempt in the closing seconds against Central. Stepleton was second team all-conference in 2014. Stepleton follows Frank Weymiller in 2012 as the last Coe player to win the Defensive Player of the Year.

Coe College swept the other individual awards as senior running back Trevor Heitland was the Offensive MVP and Head Coach Tyler Staker was the Iowa Conference Football Coach of the Year.  Heitland led the IIAC in rushing with 1,619 yards and 18 touchdowns.  He ranked second nationally with that total and led the nation in all-purpose yardage with an average of 217.60 per game.  

Ihns solidified the Storm offensive line in his three years on the team.  A UNI transfer, Ihns played in 28 of 30 possible games while at Simpson.  He did play defense in the 2014 season getting 11 tackles and recovering a fumble before moving to offense.  The 6-4 lineman helped the Storm accumulate 3,384 yards of total offense with 2,033 passing and 1,351 rushing yards this year.

Offensive MVP — Trevor Heitland Sr. Coe College - Running Back

Defensive MVP —Dylan Stepleton Sr. Coe College - Defensive Back

Coach of the Year — Tyler Staker, Coe College

First Team Offense:

Offensive Liner — Cole Tanner (Central), Dalton Kuehl (Coe), James Ostlie (Luther), Garret McCarthy (Nebraska Wesleyan), Patrick Cusak (Dubuque).

Quarterback — Riley Gray (Cental), Conor Feckley (Dubuque).

Running Back — Trevor Heitland (Coe), Joel Wiedel (Nebraska Wesleyan).

Tight End — Mitchell Borem (Central).

Wide Receiver — Sam Markhan (Central), Najee Toomer (Dubuque).

First Team Defense:

Defensive Line — Corbin Blythe (Central), Robbie Peters (Coe), Drew Heitland (Coe), Isaac Frazier (Simpson).

Linebacker — Jessie Peterson (Central), Calvin Harridge (Loras), Preston Franzen (Nebraska Wesleyan), Tony Anstoetter (Wartburg).

Defensive Back — Zach Matter (Central), Dylan Stepleton (Coe), Riley Shoemaker (Nebraska Wesleyan), Michael Joseph (Dubuque).

First Team Specialists:

Return Specialist — Zack Martinelli (Central).

Punter — Jake Pisarik (Wartburg).

Placekicker — Tyler Stolen (Buena Vista).

Second Team Offense:

Offensive Liner — Michael Davidson (Buena Vista), Zak Ranshaw (Coe), Jacob Brunner (Luther), Dustin Ihns (Simpson), Quincy Griffith (Wartburg).

Quarterback — Gavin Glenn (Coe), Matt Sacia (Wartburg).

Running Back — Zach Minch (Loras), Christian Moore (Luther).

Tight End — Dylan Schultz (Dubuque).

Wide Receiver — Jalen Henningsen (Buena Vista), Riley Brockway (Wartburg).

Second Team Defense:

Defensive Line — Wes Wheat (Central), Tyler Sorensen (Nebraska Wesleyan), Jake Stearns (Simpson), Dalton Ciavarelli (Wartburg).

Linebacker — Drew Carlson (Central), Sam Norgaard (Central), Ryan Leonard (Coe), LeDevin Smith (Dubuque).

Defensive Back — Austin Troendle (Coe), Ricky Humes (Luther), Derek Trotter (Dubuque), Sawyer Anderson (Wartburg).

Second Team Specialists:

Return Specialist — Riley Brockway (Wartburg).

Punter — Tyler Stolen (Buena Vista).

Placekicker — Kramer Rath (Nebraska Wesleyan).