November 20, 2008

CEDAR RAPIDS , IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Loras College senior running back Alex McGrew (Van Horne, Iowa/Benton Community) has been named the 2008 IIAC Football Most Valuable Player and Buena Vista head coach Jay Anderson has been named the 2008 IIAC Football Coach of the Year.

McGrew rushed for 1,592 yards and 20 touchdowns on 316 carries in ten games, setting new single-season records for rushing touchdowns (old record, 18), rushing attempts (old record, 295), and most 100-yard games (old record, 8). He also scored five rushing touchdowns against Dubuque to tie the modern-era Loras single-game mark. He concludes his career in third place all-time at Loras in rushing yards (2,936) and attempts (668). He is also fourth in career points with 176.

He rushed for 200-plus yards three times this season and surpassed the century mark in nine of 10 games, being held to only 90 yards against Simpson Nov. 8. With 82 receiving yards (on six receptions), 262 punt return yards and 428 kick return yards, McGrew averaged 236.4 all-purpose yards per game and 159.2 yards of total offense per game. He led the IIAC in all-purpose yards (by 84.8 ypg) and ranked seventh in total offense, first among non-quarterbacks. Also the Duhawks regular punter, McGrew punted 53 times for 1,764 yards for a 33.3-yard average. Following the regular-season, McGrew ranked second in Division in all-purpose yards per game, fifth in rushing yards per game, and ninth in scoring (12.2 ppg).

McGrew is the first Loras player since Kendall Griffin in 1993 to be named Iowa Conference MVP.

Anderson led the Beavers to a 7-3 mark overall and a 6-2 mark in the Iowa Conference, good for second place in the final league standings. BVU’s runner-up finish marked the best finish for the school since 1986 when the Beavers were second and were selected for the NCAA field. Under his guidance this year, Buena Vista ranks among the top-three in the Conference in 13 statistical categories including leading the IIAC in scoring defense (14.4 ppg). The Beavers also ranked second in red zone defense, holding opponents to scores on only 60 percent (18 of 30) of red zone chances. This is the seventh time a Buena Vista coach has been named Coach of the Year and the first since current Loras head coach Steve Osterberger picked up the honor in 2004.

The IIAC also announced today the 2008 All-Conference Football Team. The 54-member Team includes 18 repeat All-Conference honorees, including four individuals - Simpson running back Adam Reutzel, Wartburg defensive back Jason Lansing, Buena Vista linebacker Michael Sly, and Wartburg linebacker Kyle Goodchild - who become three-time All-Conference performers. In addition, Cornell’s Travion Hardman received Second Team honors at both running back and return specialist.

Iowa Conference champion Wartburg College had an IIAC-best 12 All-Conference players, including a league-high seven First Team members, while runner-up Buena Vista University and Coe College each had eight All-Conference players. The Kohawks had five players selected to the First Team, second only to Wartburg, while the Beavers had four. Loras received six All-Conference honors followed by University of Dubuque, Luther College, and Simpson College with five All-IIAC selections each. Four of Simpson’s honorees were named to the First Team.

The complete 2008 IIAC All-Conference football Team is here.

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