The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) released their all-conference selections for the 2020 season on Friday morning, as voted on by the league's coaches. The Trojans earned eight total selections to the all-conference list for the MSFA's Midwest League, the most they've earned since having 11 during the 2016 season.

Wide receiver Gino Mastandrea and linebacker Kemon Reese both earned first team honors, while quarterback Nolan Brammer, receiver Deon Cook and offensive lineman Tim Leach were named to the second team. Safety Lorente Blakeney, linebacker Logan Shears and defensive lineman Moses Smith were named to the honorable mention team.

Mastandrea, a native of Hesperia, California, led Trinity in receiving yards during the COVID-19 shortened and delayed 2020 season with 938 yards and six touchdown catches. Gino's senior season put him in the program record book with the fourth most receiving yards in a single-season, plus a spot being tied for the eighth most single-season touchdowns. By season's end, Mastandrea ranked fourth in receiving yards per game (115) and sixth in total receptions (56).

Reese, a sophomore from Bellwood, Illinois, picked up his first MSFA honor after leading the conference in total tackles (89) and ranking second in the NAIA in the category. The linebacker also finished tied for second in the league with 14 tackles for loss. Reese was also named the NCCAA Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week during the season (Mar. 29, 2021).

Brammer, a senior from Oak Hills, California, put together a solid second season with the Trojans throwing a league-best 1,893 yards, the ninth most in a single season by a TIU quarterback. His 11 touchdown passes were third most in the Midwest League and tied for the sixth most in a season by a Trojan. Brammer was also named the NCCAA's Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week on March 21 this season, as well as the MSFA-Midwest League's Offensive Player of the Week just one day later.

Cook, a native of Chicago, Illinois, burst onto the scene for Trinity in just his second career game with a career-high 157 yards receiving and two touchdowns against Saint Xavier. The freshman wideout ended the year tied for the fifth most receptions in the league (33) and third in receiving yards (528). Cook was named the NCCAA Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week on March 1 for his stellar performance against SXU.

Leach, a redshirt sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, started all seven games for the Trojans in 2020, providing a key blocker in helping the TIU offense. The selection is Leach's first collegiate honor.

Blakeney, a junior from Oak Park, Illinois, helped anchor the Trinity secondary starting at safety alongside his brother Lorenzano. Appearing in all seven games this season, Blakeney recorded 55 total tackles, tenth most in the league en route to his first MSFA honor.

Shears, the Moscow, Idaho native, earned his first conference honor after averaging 6.1 tackles per game during his freshman season, ranking top 20 in the MSFA. Logan notched a season-high 12 tackles in TIU's loss to St. Francis on March 20. 

Smith, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, picked up his second all-conference honor after being named to the honorable mention team in 2019. The sophomore finished top ten in the league in sacks and top 15 in total tackles on the Trinity defensive line, capping his second season with a pair of sacks for 20 yards in TIU's season finale against Olivet Nazarene.

The Trojans finished the shortened 2020 season with an 0-7 record overall, and 0-6 mark in MSFA-Midwest League play.

2020-21 MSFA-Midwest League Honors

Offensive Player of the Year: David Hutton (Olivet Nazarene)

Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Freeman (Olivet Nazarene)

Coach of the Year: Eric Hehman (Olivet Nazarene)

Assistant Coach of the Year: Greg Youngblood (Olivet Nazarene)

MSFA-Midwest League First Team

QB: David Hutton (Olivet Nazarene)

RB: Ke"veon Johnson (Roosevelt), Vance McShane (Saint Xavier)

WR: Jale Dunnigan (Olivet Nazarene), Ravon Johnson (St. Francis-IL), Blaize Cobb-Griffin (Roosevelt), Gino Mastandrea (Trinity International)

TE: Denzel Tolliver (Roosevelt)

OL: Jared Allen (Olivet Nazarene), Colin Cox (Saint Xavier), Brian Cicura (Saint Ambrose), John Ivlow (Saint Xavier), Jeff Schmitt (Saint Ambrose)

DL: Arinze Ekowa (Olivet Nazarene), Bernard Buhake (Saint Ambrose), Payton Campbell (Saint Xavier), Ryan Zitkus (Saint Ambrose)

LB: Jason Freeman (Olivet Nazarene), Joey Markasovic (Saint Xavier), Chris Johnson (St. Francis-IL), Kemon Reese (Trinity International)

DB: Scott Tumilty (St. Francis-IL), Steven Meyer (Saint Xavier), Princeton Harris (Saint Xavier), Jaylen Cowley (Missouri Baptist)

K: Mike Itrube (Saint Xavier)

P: Josh Anderson (Olivet Nazarene)

RET: Scott Tumilty (St. Francis-IL)
 

MSFA-Midwest League Second Team

QB: Nolan Brammer (Trinity International)

RB: Aaje Grayson (Olivet Nazarene), May McClendon (Olivet Nazarene)

WR: Scott Gaziano (Olivet Nazarene), Deon Cook (Trinity International), Liam Eldridge (St. Francis-IL), Greg Milledge (Roosevelt)

TE: Sam Kerr (Saint Ambrose)

OL: Terrain Rainey (Olivet Nazarene), Matthew Varga (Roosevelt), Tim Leach (Trinity International), Daniel Brown (Olivet Nazarene), Jordan Cruz (Roosevelt)

DL: Grant Manke (Olivet Nazarene), Dionte Moorehead (Roosevelt), Jeremiah Austin (Missouri Baptist), Patrick Olson (Saint Xavier)

LB: Peyton Nigro (Saint Xavier), Blake Evans (St. Francis-IL), Zavier Barnes (Roosevelt), Mark Phelps (Olivet Nazarene)

DB: Michael Malone (Missouri Baptist), Ptryk Ryczek (Olivet Nazarene), Ron Carroll (Saint Xavier), Myles Davis (Roosevelt), Joe King (Missouri Baptist)

K: Bryce DeGuira (Olivet Nazarene)

P: Brian Maday (St. Francis-IL)

RET: Jalen Dunnigan (Olivet Nazarene)
 

MSFA-Midwest League Honorable Mention

QB: Josh Munn (Missouri Baptist)

WR: Brian Jenkins (Olivet Nazarene)

OL: Bruce Mesa (Saint Xavier), Anthony Saro (Saint Xavier)

DB: Zak Alberts (Saint Ambrose), Lorente Blakeney (Trinity International), Jarvis Carter (Saint Xavier), RayVaughn Choute (St. Francis-IL), Lance Walker (Olivet Nazarene)

DL: Cameron Holman (St. Francis-IL), Michael Johnson (St. Francis-IL), Rakweon Ramsey (Missouri Baptist), Moses Smith (Trinity International), Peyton Wuerch (Olivet Nazarene)

LB: Liam Kelly (Saint Ambrose), Blake Kight (Missouri Baptist), Jaxson Nelson (Saint Ambrose), Logan Shears (Trinity International)

Visit TIUtrojans.com to stay up to date with the latest TIU football news and updates.

Follow the Trojans online and on social media!

   Facebook - Trinity International Athletics

   Twitter - @TIU_Football   @TIUTrojans

   Instagram - TIU Athletics    @tiu_trojans_fb

   Snapchat - @TIUtrojans

   YouTube - TIU Athletics

Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.