For Full GLIAC Release
BAY CITY, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University football team had 13 players selected to the All-GLIAC team for the 2011 season. SVSU had two first team selections in offensive lineman Frank Toarmina (Westland, Mich./John Gelnn HS) and linebacker Grant Caserta (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa HS). Toarmina anchored a line that only allowed 10 sacks this season, allowing SVSU quarterbacks to throw for 2,619 yards and 26 touchdowns during the regular season. SVSU's ten sacks allowed ranked tenth this season in Division II. Caserta finished the regular season with 89 tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. He was also leading the GLIAC in tackles per game before being shut down for the remainder of the season with an injury after the ninth game.
The Cardinals would have five players selected for the second team; quarterback Jonathon Jennings (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South HS), wide receiver Nick Gallina (Troy, Mich./Troy HS), safety Jeff Heath (Lake Orion, Mich.), safety Darius Middlebrooks (Indianapolis, Ind./Indiana State Univ.) and defensive end Brandon Williams (Flint, Mich./Kearsly HS). Jennings finished the regular season 192-for-272 for 2,600 yards and 26 touchdowns through the air. He also rushed for 389 yards on 79 carries, adding seven more scores on the ground. Gallina, one of Jennings favorite targets, hauled in 46 passes for 717 yards and six scores in 2011. Heath ranked second on the team in tackles with 80 and also intercepted one pass this season. Middlebrooks would also rank second on the team with 80 tackles this season and would lead the Cardinals with three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 63 yards for a touchdown against Ashland on National TV. Williams was a force as a defensive end in 2011, recording 56 tackles on the season, with a team high 11 for loss.
Six Cardinals also landed on the honorable mention team. They were sophomore wide receiver Jeff Janis (Tawas City, Mich./Tawas Area HS), sophomore running back Tim Hogue (Inkster, Mich./Inkster HS), defensive lineman Paul Webb (Royal Oak, Mich.), offensive lineman Nick DiPalma (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Benedictine HS), linebacker Brian Johnson (Muskegon, Mich./Catholic Central HS) and tight end Zach Cecich (Crown Point, Ind.).
The Cardinals finished the season 7-3 and were selcted to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons. They will travel to Minnesota Duluth to take on the defending NCAA Division II National Champions.
