November 14, 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS , IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Central College senior quarterback Tim Connell (Eldora, Iowa/Eldora-New Providence) has been named the 2007 IIAC Football Most Valuable Player and Central head coach Jeff McMartin has been named the 2007 IIAC Football Coach of the Year. It is the third straight year that Central has captured both honors.

In ten regular season games, Connell passed for 2,373 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing 57.4 percent (174 of 303) of his passes. He has also been busy rewriting Central's record book this season, setting new single-season marks for passing yards (2,373), completions (174), touchdowns (26), total offense (2,561 yards) and new career marks for pass attempts (786), completions (441), passing yards (5,470), total offense (6,645 yards) and touchdowns (49). His 303 passing attempts to date this season (with the NCAA playoffs remaining) is the second-most in school history, trailing only Mark Isaacson's school-record total of 324 set in 2004.

He threw for 300-plus yards twice this season and for three or more touchdowns on six occasions. With 118 rushing yards, Connell averaged 256.1 yards per game in total offense. He ranked second in the Conference in total offense and passing yards per game. Connell also caught two passes for 14 yards during the year, including a 10-yard touchdown pass from 2005 and 2006 Iowa Conference MVP Vance Schuring in Central's regular-season finale at Wartburg, a 17-14 Dutch victory.

Connell becomes the 12th different Dutch player to earn Iowa Conference football MVP honors.

McMartin led the Dutch to their 15th undefeated regular season with a 10-0 overall mark including an 8-0 mark in the Iowa Conference and their IIAC-record 29th football title. Central is making its NCAA record-tying 19th postseason appearance. Under his guidance this year, Central ranks among the top-three in the Conference in 14 statistical categories including leading the IIAC in passing efficiency. This marks only the second time a coach has won IIAC Football Coach of the Year honors in three consecutive years, joining legendary Dutch coach Ron Schipper, who shared the honor in 1983 before receiving the honor outright in 1984 and 1985.

The IIAC also announced today the 2007 Football All-Conference Team. The 54-member Team includes 21 repeat All-Conference honorees, including four individuals who become three-time All-Conference performers and two more - Wartburg all-purpose athlete Neil Suckow and Luther offensive lineman Jon Stavast - who earn All-Conference honors for the fourth time.

Wartburg has an IIAC-best 13 All-Conference players, including five First Team members, while Conference champion Central has 10 All-Conference players, including a league-high six First Teamers. Coe College received seven All-Conference honors including three First Team selections, followed by University of Dubuque and Simpson College with six All-IIAC selections each. Five of Dubuque's honorees were named to the First Team.

The complete 2007 IIAC All-Conference football Team is here.

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