ST. PAUL, Minn. – A total of eight Westminster football players were named to All-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference teams, including three First Team selections.
Trent White (Punta Gorda, Fla.) was selected to the All-Conference First Team Offense. A dual threat quarterback for the Blue Jays, White was eighth in the UMAC in rushing yards with 526 and fourth in passing yards with 1,472. White was also third in the conference in total yards with 1,998. This is the second All-Conference award for White, who was named to the Second Team last season.
Anthony Washington (Webster Groves, Mo.) was selected to the All-Conference First Team Defense. He led the conference in passes defended with 17, including 16 pass breakups and one interception. Washington also made 42 tackles, including 26 solo. The All-Conference selection is the second in Washington's career, earning a Second Team spot last season.
The final First Team pick for Westminster is Matt Quarles (Detroit), earning an All-Conference First Team Special Teams nod. Quarles led the UMAC in punt returns with 17 and yards with 237, including the longest punt return of the conference season at 75 yards. Quarles was also ninth in the UMAC in receiving yards this season with 413. The award is the second straight season that Quarles has been a First Team pick for special teams.
Three Blue Jays were named to the Second Team All-Conference Offense, including Latif Adams (St. Louis), Chase Abbington (St. Peters, Mo.), and Sam Poole (Hartsburg, Mo.).
Adams again was atop the league in several rushing categories, including sixth in attempts with 127, 10th in touchdowns with six, and seventh in average per game at 52.9. The award is the third All-Conference pick for the senior running back, including a First Team selection in 2015 and a Second Team selection in 2016.
Abbington was fourth in the conference in All-Purpose yards per game at 111.8, which include 381 rushing yards, 411 receiving yards, and 326 yards on kick returns for 1,118 total yards. Abbington's 411 receiving yards were good enough for 10th in the conference. Abbington was also the top Blue Jay in the UMAC in scoring with seven touchdowns.
Sam Poole was named to an All-Conference team in his first season full season as a Blue Jay. Poole led the way for a young offensive line, playing all of Westminster's 634 offensive snaps this season and helping the squad to an average of 315.6 yards per game. Poole also spearheaded a team that was in the top 20% of NCAA Division III in time of possession at 31 minutes, 38 seconds.
Clayton Bristol (Fulton, Mo.) and Jackson Ringhausen (Bowling Green, Mo.) were named to the All-Conference Second Team Defense.
Bristol was second on the team in tackles with 65, including 10 tackles for a loss of 32 yards. He also led the way for Westminster in sacks with 6.5 and added a blocked extra point. Bristol's 6.5 sacks were good enough for sixth in the conference. This is the first All-Conference nod for the sophomore defensive tackle.
Ringhausen led the Blue Jay defense in tackles with 70, including 37 solo. He recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss of 30 yards. The linebacker added in one sack, two forced fumbles, and one pass breakup to complete his first All-Conference year.
Senior Zach Roseman earned a spot on the All-Sportsmanship team for his exemplary display of sportsmanship throughout the season.
Westminster completed the 2017 season with a record of 6-4. The Blue Jays ended the season with a four-game win streak and remained undefeated at home.
