Nov. 14, 2000

13 Bulldogs Named to All-MIAA Football Teams

A total of 13 Truman football players were named all-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association by the conference coaches today. The Bulldogs earned two first-teamers as defensive end Curt Cira (St. Louis/Vianney) and offensive guard Josh Raaz (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) were named to the contingent. Both men were honorable mention selections a year ago.

Cira, the left tackle, led the defensive line with 53 total stops and had a team-high 12 tackles for losses in 2000. He was second on the team with four sacks for a loss of 14 yards and tied for second in the MIAA with three forced fumbles.

Raaz was the only senior starter on offense and led the Truman offensive line as it cleared the way for 281.5 yards a game passing and 411.7 yards per game of total offense this year.

Second-team all-MIAA honors went to junior wide receiver Kevin Collins (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) and sophomore center Nick Ruud (Moline, Ill.).

Collins, an honorable mention all-league pick last season, finished fifth in MIAA receiving yards (687) and sixth in receptions (44), and was first and second, respectively, on the team in those categories. He also scored nine TDs this season, and is now two away from the Truman career record of 22. Collins finished the year ranked fifth all-time at Truman in receiving yards (1,712) and tied for 10th in career receptions (102).

Ruud started every game at center for the Bulldogs this season, helping the team to finish first in the MIAA in pass offense (281.5 ypg).

Nine Bulldogs were named honorable mention all-MIAA this year, including junior quarterback Eric Howe (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling) who led the league in passing yards (267.7 ypg) and total offense (262.9 ypg). He also produced the third-best season passing in MIAA history with 2,945 yards. Howe also now ranks seventh among MIAA career passing yards leaders (6,259) and ninth in career total offense (6,185 yards). He moved into the second spots all-time at Truman in both categories.

Howe, along with sophomore wide receiver Andrew Blakley (St. Joseph, Mo./Central), are repeat honorable mention selections, while senior free safety John Naeve (Camanche, Iowa), also an honorable mention choice this year, was a first-team pick in 1999.

Blakley led the team with 56 receptions this year, good for second in the conference, and finished second on the team and sixth in the MIAA in receiving yards (714). He is now fourth in Truman career receptions (127) and 11th in career receiving yards (1,519).

Naeve ended his career with 304 total tackles, 127 solo stops, 14 tackles for losses, three sacks, 16 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and nine interceptions. He finished first among the defensive backs this year with 55 total tackles, and was second on the team with six pass deflections.

Six others earned all-conference honors for the first time as sophomore wide receiver and all-purpose back Alfonso Pugh (Galesburg, Ill.), junior offensive tackle Brandon Montgomery (St. Louis/SLUH), sophomore punter/placekicker Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert), senior defensive end Leo Smith (Monroe City, Mo.), sophomore linebacker Judd Lienhard (Louisiana, Mo.) and freshman linebacker Jake Willrich (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) were all named to the honorable mention squad as well.

Pugh was 10th in MIAA receiving yards (523, 47.5 ypg), ninth in receptions (37, 3.36 rpg), and second in kickoff (28.9 ypr) and punt returns (16.4 ypr), scoring two TDs on kickoff returns and one on a punt return. He tied for the team-lead in scoring with 54 points on nine total touchdowns and led the Bulldogs in all-purpose yards (1,203).

Lepper finished third in the MIAA in punting (38.9ypp) and sixth in field goals (6 of 12).

Smith was eighth in league sacks with a team-high five for a loss of 36 yards. He completed his career with 137 total tackles, 19 tackles for losses, 17 sacks, eight pass break-ups and four fumble recoveries.

Leinhard was third among the Bulldogs in total tackles with 67, including four for a loss.

Willrich led the team with 97 total stops, including five for a loss and two sacks, and grabbed one interception as the starter in the middle.

The 2000 Bulldogs finished 6-4 overall and tied for fourth in the MIAA with a 5-4 record.

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