Five Norse Named to All-Conference Team
Nov. 15, 2007
Five members of the football team have been named to the Iowa Conference all-conference football team. Jon Stavast (Chaska, Minn./Eden Prairie) and Tyler Sherden (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) were first-team selections, while Spencer Allen (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) and Tyler Pease (Stuart, Iowa/West Central Valley) were second-team honorees. Marcus Hendrickson (Blanchardville, Wis./Pecatonica) was named honorable mention.
Stavast made Luther history by becoming the first player to be named first-team all-conference four times. Stavast, along with first time honoree right tackle Allen, helped pave the way for Sherden to capture the Iowa Conference rushing title with 1,238 yards.
Sherden completed his career rushing for a single season school record 1,575 yards, increasing his career total to 3,362 yards, that ranks third on Luther’s all-time list. Luther Hall of Famer Bernie Peeters established the old mark of 1,442 in 1971. Sherden also tied Peeters single season record for touchdowns with 16, raising his career total to 41, that ranks second all-time. He did all of this damage in just 21 games after being moved to the offensive side of the football midway through his sophomore year. The first 14 games he was a starting defensive back and was named Luther's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003. This is the second time Sherden has been named first-team all-conference. He also earned this award in 2004 after winning the rushing title with 1,057 yards in just six games.
Place kicker Tyler Pease finished second on the team in total points with 61. He set an Iowa Conference and Luther single game school record with six field goals in Luther's 25-20 victory over Cornell College. For his efforts he was named the IIAC Athlete of the Week. He also set the single season school record for field goals with 12, breaking his own record of 11 set last year. He completed his career with 117 points, that ranks tied for third for points by a place kicker. He connected on nearly 70 percent of his field goal attempts (23-33) and 89 percent of his extra-point attempts (48-54). His 23 field goals was one shy of tying the career record held by Paul Kaare who played for the Norse from 1980-83.
Hendrickson finished the year with 82 tackles and three interceptions from his linebacker position. Two of his three picks he returned for touchdowns. He averaged 8.9 tackles per game in league action. He completes his career with 259 tackles that ranks fifth all-time.
