WHITEFISH, Mont. – Frontier Conference commissioner Kent Paulson announced the 2019 all-conference football teams today. Montana Tech placed nine total student-athletes on the teams including six on the first teams.

The Orediggers had two offensive first team selections in Grant Benz and Trevor Hoffman. Benz, a senior lineman from Steele, North Dakota, led the offensive front that rushed for 190 yards a game and 21 touchdowns on the ground. Hoffman, a sophomore wide receiver, led the conference in receiving yards with 1,018 while averaging 19.6 yards per catch. The Burien, Washington native was third in the league with eight touchdown receptions. Hoffman is just the fourth Oredigger to have over 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

True freshman running back Blake Counts was named to the second team. Counts was third in the Frontier Conference in total rushing with 839 yards. The Kalispell native scored eight rushing touchdowns while averaging 83.9 yards per game.

On defense, the Orediggers had four first team selections and two on the second team. Seniors Art Flynn, Carter Meyers and Demaree Morris were selected first team along with junior Justin May. Seniors Jacob Clarke and Tucker Rauthe were named to the second team.

Myers had one of the best seasons in the Frontier Conference this year. Myers led the top rated Tech defense in all defensive categories. The Cody, Wyoming native was second in the conference in total tackles with 96. The senior linebacker led the conference in tackles for a loss (18) and sacks (7.5). Myers ranked 10^th nationally in tackles for a loss. Myers had a team leading three interceptions while returning one for a touchdown.      

Flynn, from Orlando, California, finished the season with 48 total tackles. The defensive lineman tallied 8.5 tackles for a loss and was second for the Orediggers with four sacks.

Morris, from Elk Grove, California, makes his second appearance on the all-conference team. The defensive back led the Orediggers as the top defensive pass team in the league. Morris had 12 pass deflections and an interception.

May was fourth on the team in total tackles with 49 including two tackles for a loss. A three-year starter from Joplin, Montana, May broke up six passes and had one interception.

Clarke, a linebacker from Billings, was second for the Orediggers with 66 tackles. Clarke had six tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks.

Rauthe has been a leader in the Oredigger secondary. The Kalispell native was third on the team with 58 total tackles. Rauthe broke up three passes and grabbed one interception this season. 

The Orediggers finished 6-4 this year. The Tech defense led the Frontier in most defensive categories and were ranked in the top 10 nationally in Pass Defense Efficiency,
Pass Defense per Game, Opponent First Downs, and Total Defense.

Regular season champion College of Idaho head coach Mike Moroski was selected as Coach of the Year. College of Idaho senior quarterback Darius-James Peterson was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year. For the second year in a row, Montana Western senior linebacker Jason Ferris was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.