Kansas City, Mo. - After arguably their greatest season in program history, the Central Methodist football team garnered 13 Heart South All-Conference selections, including the Heart Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
The 13 all-conference selections are the most by a Central Football team since the 2014 season.
Head Coach David Calloway was named the Heart South Coach of the Year for the first time in his career, while quaterback Paxton DeLaurent was tabbed as the Heart South Freshman of the Year.
Under Coach Calloway, the Eagles claimed their first Heart Conference title since 1975 with a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in Heart South Division play. The nine wins tie for the most victories in school history, with the last nine-win season coming in 1930 (9-0). Calloway is the first Head Football Coach from Central to be recognized since Alan Dykens in 2009.
DeLaurent was named the Freshman of the Year and a second team all-conference performer after a stellar 2021 campaign. The Camdenton, Mo. product threw for 2,299 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also ran for 475 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the ground attack. He is the first Freshman of the Year honoree in program history.
The Eagles garnered three first team all-conference selections on offense and two on defense, including Katavious Taylor, Torrance Evans, Samuel Petrin, Will Miles and Khari Henley.
Taylor earned first team all-conference honors for the fourth-straight season as Central's primary wide receiver. The Memphis, Tenn. native appeared in nine games for CMU, hauling in a team-high 47 receptions for 855 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns.
Left tackle Evans was named a Heart First Team All-Conference selection after appearing in eight games. He anchored the offensive line and helped Central's rushing attack rack up 1442 total rushing yards.
Petrin was tabbed a first team all-conference selection for the second-straight season as a kicker. The Bunnell, Fla. native converted on eight-of-10 field goal attempts in 2021 and 40-of-42 extra points. For his efforts this season, Petrin was named the conference special team's player of the week on Sept. 20 and again on Oct. 25. He also earned second team all-conference honors as a punter, recording 47 total punts for 1746 yards including 15 inside the 20 yard-line
On the defensive side, Miles appeared in all 11 of Central's games on the defensive line. He finished his senior campaign with 55 total tackles including a team-leading 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Henley rounded out the first team all-conference defensive selections for CMU, as the Memphis, Tenn. native started in all 11 games. He finished fourth on the team with 59 tackles paired with three interceptions.
Joining DeLaurent and Petrin on the second team all-conference offense team was senior offensive lineman Trenton Byers. Byers served as a key piece to Central's o-line, helping to pave the way fo 13 total rushing touchdowns.
The duo of London Chambers and Le'Marcus Washington landed on the Heart South All-Conference second team. Chambers led the team with 87 total tackles including 14 tackles for loss. He also tallied three and a half sacks, and three pass breakups. This is the first Heart All-Conference selection for the native of New Britain, Conn.
Washington, a junior defensive lineman, appeared in 10 of Central's games in 2021. He registered 60 tackles, a pair of sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered a pair.
Senior wide receiver Kooper Wilson was recognized as an honorable mention all-conference performer for the first time in his career. The Versailles, Mo. native finished second on the team in both receptions (35), and receiving yards (416). Wilson also recorded two touchdowns including one against No. 5 Baker on Nov. 6.
Brandon Molinari and Anthony Hernandez rounded out Central's all-conference selections, as both earned honorable mention honors. Molinari concluded his final season as an Eagle with 44 total tackles including six pass breakups and a team-leading four interceptions. He also recorded a forced fumbled against Graceland back on Sept. 18.
Hernandez earned honorable mention all-conference honors for the second-straight season. The Franklin, La. native finished second on the Eagles with 67 tackles including a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He appeared in all 11 games for CMU this season.
Central is set to take on Northwestern (Iowa) in the first round of the NAIA-FCS Playoffs Saturday, Nov. 20 in Orange City, Iowa. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. This marks the first-ever playoff appearance for CMU.
To view the complete list of this year's Heart South All-Conference selections, please click here.
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