Aurora University Football had 10 Spartans recognized on Wednesday when D3football.com announced the 2022 football All-Region awards.
To view the complete D3football.com All-Region Team - click here
The 2022 Spartans finished the season with a program record 11 wins with an 11-2 record, a perfect 8-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and a 2022 NCAA Division III playoff appearance. The champions of the NACC, the AU football team headed to the NCAA Division III Football Championship for the seventh time in program history and third consecutive season of the NCAA hosting the playoffs.
The Spartans made a historical run for Aurora University and the NACC in the 2022 NCAA Division III playoffs, defeating the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 33-28 for the first playoff win for AU and a NACC football team. AU then continued the run with a 48-26 second round victory over Alma College to make the first trip the NCAA playoff quarterfinals.
First-Team All-Region recognition from D3football.com went to seven Spartans, a new high water mark for the program. On the offensive side, quarterback Josh Swanson, running back Jhe'Quay Chretin, wide receiver Trey Madsen, offensive lineman Chris Toth and return specialist James Mautino. While defensively, linebacker Marcellus Romious and defensive back Ben Slatcoff earned the all-region honors. All seven Spartans earlier earned First-Team All-Conference selections in the NACC during the 2022 season.
Swanson was the NACC Offensive Player of the Year recipient and ranks among best in the Division III in numerous offensive categories. He finished the 2022 season with 3,479 yards on 248-of-415 passing, 53 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He is first in Division III in passing touchdowns (53), first in points responsible for (342), first in points responsible for per game (26.3), third in passing yards (3,479), 13th in passing yards per game (267.6), 17th in passing efficiency (166.1) and 25th in total offense (276.5).
Chretin finished the 2022 season with a single season AU rushing record 1,604 which ranks second for Division III running backs. In 260 carries he had 14 touchdowns, averaging 123.38 per game and 6.2 yards per rush. He finished the season ranked 11th in rushing yards per game, 21st in rushing touchdowns and 21st in all-purpose yards (142.15).
Madsen finished the 2022 season as the AU career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdown leader. In the 2022 season he had 68 catches for 978 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is second in Division III in receiving touchdowns, 12th in total touchdowns, 13th in points scored (108), 19th in receiving yards and 23rd in scoring.
Toth, a two-time D3football.com All-Region performer now, anchored the Spartan offensive line unit that averaged 471.9 total yards per game, 203.9 yards rushing and 268.0 passing per game, and is second in Division III in scoring per game at 46.1 points per game.
Mautino led the AU special teams unit with two punt returns for touchdowns and a 12.84 yards per return average. He is second in the punt return touchdowns, 12th in combined kick returns and 17th in punt return average in Division III.
Romious was the NACC Defensive Player of the Year and led the AU defense in tackles with 106 becoming the 10th Spartan ever to surpass 100 tackles in a season. He had 15.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions with one being returned 100-yards for a touchdown, seven pass break-ups and a quarterback hurry.
Slatcoff wraps up the First-Team All-Region Spartan recipients, ranking 25th in passes defended per game (1.3) and 11 total and finished the season with six interceptions and 61 tackles. He also had one interception return for a touchdown
Second-Team All-Region honors went to three Spartans, offensive lineman Matt Kickel, defensive lineman Jaylen Jordan and defensive back Ernesto Ramirez. All three Spartans earlier earned First-Team All-Conference selections in the NACC during the 2022 season.
Kickel was a guard for AU and helped anchor the Spartan offensive line unit that averaged 471.9 total yards per game, 203.9 yards rushing and 268.0 passing per game, and is second in Division III in scoring per game at 46.1 points per game.
Jordan is now a two-time D3football.com All-Region selection as a defensive tackle, finished the season with 59 tackles, 10.5 for loss, three sacks, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.
Ramirez helped lead the AU defensive unit that is second in Division III in interceptions with 27. He finished the 2022 season with five picks, was second on the team in tackles with 70, 5.5 being for loss and broke up four passes.
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