Keefe repeats as DPOY, 14 Panthers on All-SCIAC teams
ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Dillon Keefe was once again recognized as the SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year and fellow senior Duncan Heger was honored with the John Zinda Award to highlight 14 Panthers included on the All-SCIAC teams.
Keefe, who won the same award following the 2019 season, led seven selections to the First Team. Quarterback Jonston MacIntyre, wide receiver Spencer Corona and offensive lineman Alex Waddell represented the Chapman offense. Defensive lineman Cody Masterson joined Keefe from the Panther defense and the Panthers kickers also swept First Team honors with place kicker Ken Baierl and punter/kicker Owen Tapia taking First Team honors.
A pair of Chapman running backs, Tanner Mendoza and Marcos Reyes, joined offensive lineman Kenny Koerber with Second Team recognition. Defensively, linebacker Blake Siemsen and defensive back Chris Tsirtsis took Second Team honors and senior Nico Ragas was recognized as the Second Team kick returner – his third career All-SCIAC selection.
For the third time in his career, Keefe was recognized with one of the SCIAC major awards – the first Chapman player to achieve the feat. He began his career as the 2017 Newcomer of the Year, won the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and reclaimed the same award in 2021. He led the SCIAC with four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in the six SCIAC games this year. He also averaged 4.3 tackles per game. He concluded his career as Chapman's career leader in tackles for loss. He also ranks second all-time at Chapman for sacks and fourth for tackles.
The John Zinda Award winner is Chapman's Duncan Heger. This is an award given to a senior player who best exemplifies the high ideals and characteristics demonstrated by John Zinda during his tenure as head football coach and athletic director at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The criteria for the award include performance, leadership, integrity, sportsmanship, positive attitude, and academics. Heger, a film student at the prestigious Dodge Film School at Chapman, is involved in several community service projects. Amongst his most notable works is a documentary he produced for the American Red Cross on NFL athlete James Connor who beat cancer.
MacIntyre missed the last two SCIAC games due to injury but earned the First Team distinction after going 40-for-66 in four games for 705 yards. He tossed eight touchdowns, which still ranked fourth in the SCIAC and was sacked only once. Waddell, who earned his second career All-SCAC award, and the offensive line allowed just three sacks all season. Corona missed the last three games with an injury but hauled in eight catches for 170 yards and two TDs before suffering the injury against Redlands. He was honored for the second time in his career.
In addition to Keefe, Masterson represented the Panthers on the defense. Both of his sacks in the season came on SCIAC games and he averaged 2.6 tackles per game from the middle of the Chapman defense. Baierl led the SCIAC with five made field goals on seven attempts and went 27-for-27 on PATs. His 42 points in SCIAC games also led the entire conference. Tapia, earning his second career honor, averaged 40.9 yards per punt, which would rank sixth in the nation if he met the minimum number of punts per game. The Panthers ranked second in the SCIAC in netting just over 35 yards per punt.
With Second Team recognition, Mendoza and Reyes each were honored on the All-SCIAC team for the second time. The pair of running backs led the Panthers rushing attack. Despite splitting time in the backfield, Mendoza ranked third in the conference with 64.3 yards per game and led the SCIAC with six yards per rush. His four touchdowns ranked fourth. Reyes scored three times in SCIAC games, averaging 34 yards per game and five yards per carry. Koerber helped clear the way for the third best rushing team in the SCIAC. Chapman's three sacks allowed also ranks second in all of Division III and first in the SCIAC.
Siemsen and Tsirtsis each earned their first career All-SCIAC awards. Tsitrtsis' 97-yard interception return for a touchdown was the longest of the season in the SCIAC. He also recorded three pass break ups and 2.2 tackles per game in SCIAC games this season. He set the Chapman record for interception return yards in a season after two long returns netted him 169 yards. After missing the first three games of the season, Siemsen ranked 11th in the SCIAC with a career-best 6.2 tackles per game and picked off his first career interception in the win at Pomona-Pitzer.
Ragas earned his third consecutive All-SCIAC honor as a kick returner. The Chapman record-holder for kick return TDs and yardage ranked third in the SCIAC this season with 28.7 yards per return in six SCIAC games. His career average of 28.9 yards per return ranks third among active players and is in the top-10 all-time for the NCAA Division III.
The Panthers concluded their season with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in SCIAC play, finishing second in the conference standings.
By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
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