2020 #HeartFB Conference Awards Announced

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Heart of America Athletic Conference has announced the 2020 Heart Football All-Conference honorees and winners of the major postseason awards. All of the conference postseason awards were voted on by each head coach in the league. | COMPLETE LIST

NORTH DIVISION

Grand View, the North Division Champion, swept the major postseason awards after a spotless 6-0 (3-0 North) fall campaign. The Vikings currently hold top ten rankings for 20 different statistical categories as a team and currently lead the nation in pass defense efficiency (63.5), sacks against (0.300), total sacks against (2), and total defense per game (159.2). Grand View's head coach, Joe Woodley, was honored as the Heart North Division Coach of the Year while E.J. Peterson was tabbed as the Heart North Division Assistant Coach of the Year.

Grand View's senior wide receiver, Anthony Turner, was recognized as the Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. He finished the fall season with 518 receiving yards on 28 catches and recorded 10 touchdowns. Nate Wieland was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 35 tacks (9.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Avery Gates rounded out the major award recipients for the Vikings after being named the Freshman of the Year. He totaled 260 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and two receiving touchdowns on the season.

SOUTH DIVISION

After leading Baker to its sixth consecutive division title, head coach Jason Thoren was selected as the Heart South Division Coach of the Year. The Wildcats finished the fall season with a perfect 6-0 overall record (4-0 South) and currently lead the nation in rushing defense per game (41.5) and scoring defense per game (5.8).

Baker's JD Woods was tabbed as the Co-Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year after a phenomenal senior season. He finished the fall averaging 109.7 rushing yards per game and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.

Benedictine's Brett Shepardson was recognized as the Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He currently leads the nation with 1.5 sacks per game and 13.5 total sacks on the season. Ravens assistant coach, Charles Gartenmayer, was tabbed as the Heart South Division Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding the program to a 7-2 overall record this season.

MidAmerica Nazarene's Caleb Tanis rounded out the list of major award winners after being named as the Freshman of the Year. Tanis finished the fall season with 543 receiving yards and five touchdowns.