Thirteen Olivet College football players earn 2007 All-MIAA honors

Thirteen Olivet College football players have earned 2007 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honors. Senior offensive center James Boyd (St. Charles, Ill./Stoney Creek), sophomore running back Pat Clasgens (Livonia/Stevenson), senior defensive back Nate Hughes (Marshall), senior defensive end Marc Miller (Sunfield/Lake Odessa), sophomore punter Ryan Patten (Charlotte), junior defensive back Michael Terranova (Lansing/Lansing Catholic), senior linebacker DeRan Thomas (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame) and sophomore linebacker Hakeem Yakubu (Kalamazoo/Central) are first-team All-MIAA selections. In addition, Miller was selected as a Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Junior defensive back Alex Hill (Berrien Springs), sophomore kick returner Willie Jones (Detroit/River Rouge), senior tight end Rod Sanders (Detroit/H.W. Notre Dame), senior wide receiver Chris Smith (Dimondale/Holt) and junior left tackle Chris VanDalsen (Jenison) are second-team All-MIAA selections. All-league honors are based on the player's statistics during the seven-game league schedule.

Boyd and VanDalsen started every MIAA game for the Comets on the offensive line. Clasgens ranked third in the MIAA in rushing with 143 carries for 863 yards and eight touchdowns. Sanders had 15 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Smith caught 38 passes for 574 yards and seven touchdowns.

Hill, Hughes, Miller, Terranova, Thomas and Yakubu were the leaders of the defense, which ranked second in the MIAA and allowed 283.0 yards per game. Individually, Yakubu was third with 33 solo and 32 assisted stops for a team-leading 65 total tackles, including five quarterback sacks. Terranova and Thomas finished with 56 and 54 total tackles, respectively. Terranova also had four interceptions, returning two for a touchdown. Miller had 32 tackles, leading the league with six sacks and three forced fumbles and was third in tackles for loss yardage (11.5). Hill was first with 17 passes defended, including five interceptions.

On special teams, Patten was the league's leader in punting, averaging 44.6 yards per punt and long of 58 yards. Jones averaged 24.5 yards per kickoff return.

Under the direction of Head Coach Dominic Livedoti, the Comets posted a 6-1 MIAA record to capture its first conference title since 1974. Olivet also earned the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs and will travel to play Central (Iowa) College in the first round Saturday, Nov. 17, at noon CT.