Harris Named GLVC Freshman of the Year, Onike First Team

QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University football team had 10 players named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference teams and redshirt-freshman running back Chris Harris (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) became the first QU player to win a GLVC major award by claiming Freshman of the Year honors.

Senior linebacker Ike Onike (Lilburn, Ga./Parkview) was Quincy's lone selection on the All-GLVC first team is the first QU defensive player to receive the honor. Harris, junior fullback Greg Eilerman (Fenton, Mo./St. John Vianney), junior center Eli Thom (Rail Road Flat, Calif./Calaveras/Butte CC) and senior linebacker Dan Camp (Rochester, Ill.) were named to the All-GLVC second team.

Redshirt-junior quarterback Nick Lonergan (Jacksonville, Ill.), senior left tackle Kyle Lomprez (Rochester, Ill.), redshirt-freshman tight end Owen Schoenenberger (Evansville, Wis.), redshirt-sophomore defensive tackle Darius Carey (Florissant, Mo./CBC) and redshirt-sophomore defensive end Tanner Day (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) were each named to the All-GLVC honorable mention list.

Harris was the unanimous choice for the conference's top freshman honor with an outstanding rookie season. The 6-foot-0, 200-pound tailback set the school single-season record with 16 rushing touchdowns while compiling 974 yards on the ground. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 88.5 yards per game on the ground.

Harris' season was highlighted by a record-setting performance in a 59-34 come-from-behind win over Southwest Baptist on Oct. 11. The Springfield, Ill. native rushed for a GLVC and school record seven touchdowns and finished with 218 yards. He put an exclamation point on the day with a school and conference-record 93-yard touchdown rush.

Onike, along with Camp, was the centerpiece of a vastly-improved QU defense. The 2013 All-GLVC second team performer led the Hawks with 99 total tackles (63 solo), including seven tackles for loss. The senior from Lilburn, Ga. saved one of his best games for last – leading the Hawks with 17 tackles (12 solo) in the team's season finale against McKendree. He ranks fifth in school history with 158 solo tackles.

Camp was a four-year starter and ranks among the best defensive players in school history. He ranked second on the team with 86 tackles (49 solo), including eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The Rochester, Ill. native ranks third on Quincy's all-time tackles list with 301 for his career. He is also second in solo tackles (182). The Hawks ranked second in the GLVC in total defense and rushing defense with Onike and Camp anchoring the middle of the unit.

Thom was instrumental in building stability along an offensive line that had been dealt much adversity through injury and illness the past two seasons. The Hawks' starting center is a transfer from Butte Community College and helped the QU rushing attack average 153.8 yards per game.

Eilerman was named to the All-GLVC second team as an offensive utility player. He played as a fullback in the QU offense, leading the way for Harris and the other members of the backfield, who gained a total of 1,692 yards on the ground. Eilerman also caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown, which came in the season opener and stretched Quincy's lead to 23-7 in the fourth quarter at Lindenwood-Belleville.

Lonergan ranked second in the GLVC in passing efficiency and was fourth in the league in passing yardage. He completed 62.4 percent (186-for-298) of his passes and finished with 2,606 yards with 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The Hawks were one of just 10 teams in the country with four or fewer interceptions. Lonergan became Quincy's all-time leader in passing yardage (6,103) and passing touchdowns (41) this season.

Lomprez started all 11 games at left tackle for the Hawks and was the only senior along the offensive line, stabilizing a unit that overcame injuries at every position last season and saw a vast improvement in the run game this season.

Schoenenberger was a newcomer at the tight end position, earning high grades from the coaching staff for his blocking ability and contributing in a major way in the passing game. Schoenenberger ranked second on the team in receptions (34), yards (526) and receiving touchdowns (four). He had a touchdown catch in each of the last two games.

Carey led the defensive line and was fifth on the team in tackles with 44 stops (17 solo) as an interior lineman. Carey had four tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. He had a season-high eight tackles against Truman State on Nov. 8.

Day led the Hawks and was tied for fifth in the GLVC with eight sacks on the season. He finished the year with 38 total tackles (22 solo) coming off the edge for a QU defense that had nine more sacks than a season ago.

As for the remainder of the conference, Indianapolis wide receiver Reece Horn was the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year and McKendree defensive end Lucky Baar was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. UIndy kicker Scott Miller won Special Teams Player of the Year honors and William Jewell skipper Jerrod Kruse was the GLVC Coach of the Year.

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Players Mentioned

#35 Dan Camp: LB; 6' 0"; Senior

#59 Darius Carey: DL; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#11 Tanner Day: DE; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#49 Greg Eilerman: FB; 6' 0"; Junior

#28 Chris Harris: RB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#70 Kyle Lomprez: OL; 6' 2"; Senior

#5 Nick Lonergan: QB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#18 Ike Onike: LB; 5' 11"; Senior

#88 Owen Schoenenberger: TE; 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

#68 Eli Thom: OL; 6' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#35 Dan Camp
: 6' 0"; Senior
: LB

#59 Darius Carey
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL

#11 Tanner Day
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DE

#49 Greg Eilerman
: 6' 0"; Junior
: FB

#28 Chris Harris
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#70 Kyle Lomprez
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OL

#5 Nick Lonergan
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: QB

#18 Ike Onike
: 5' 11"; Senior
: LB

#88 Owen Schoenenberger
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Freshman
: TE

#68 Eli Thom
: 6' 0"; Junior
: OL