HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football coaches have predicted a tightly contested race in the 2022 MIAA football season with the Trine University team selected to be right in the mix for the championship.
Three teams were selected in a virtual tie atop the poll separated by just one point each. The Thunder came in third with 12 points including a pair of first-place nods. Last year's co-champions were the only teams to come ahead of Trine with Hope taking the top spot with 10 points, including three first-place votes, and Albion coming in second with 11 points, including two first-place votes.
The point totals are determined by votes cast by the association's coaches, who cannot vote for their own team, with low point total receiving the top spot.
Last season the Thunder finished third in the conference going 4-2 during the conference season, their two losses came in close games against Albion and Hope. Overall the team finished 6-4.
Six All-MIAA student athletes return from last season to anchor the squad. Highlighting the group is senior Kyle Naif. In addition to his first team All-MIAA selection, Naif earned D3football.com All-Region and American Football Coaches Association All-American honors.
Naif finished the 2021 season with 77 tackles leading the team and tied for seventh in the MIAA during conference play with 41 tackles. He also led the team with five and a half sacks in the season, while coming in fifth during MIAA season with four. He finished the season with nine and a half tackles for a loss. He forced one fumble and recovered another which he returned for a defensive touchdown. He also made his mark on special teams with a pair of punt blocks.
Junior Jamon Gibson was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line and earned a spot as a first team All-MIAA selection. He finished the season with 15 tackles for a loss for a total of 77 yards lost, including five sacks. Those five sacks all came during conference play the fourth highest total among MIAA student-athletes. All told he finished with 48 tackles including 29 coming solo. He forced a fumble during and returned his lone interception of the season back for a 62-yard touchdown.
Keysean Amison rounds out the first team selections returning to the team. Last season he came in second on the team with 76 tackles during the season, including a team high 48 on his own. During MIAA play his 48 tackles was third best among competition. He recorded seven pass break ups from his safety position while also forcing a pair of fumbles. His five breakups during MIAA play was second amongst competitors.
Three second-team selections also return. Senior Jackson Linback was a staple on the offensive line which helped the Thunder rack up over 1600 yards of rushing. Classmate Xaine Kirby accounted for over 800 of those yards while averaging just under 100 yards per game. During the MIAA season Kirby was third with 494 yards averaging 82.3 per game. Senior Angel Sanchez, one of the team's starting defensive backs, finished the season with a pair of interceptions and seven pass breakups. He totaled 28 tackles through the season.
The Thunder are set to open the season under the lights at Zollner when they host Anderson (Ind.) University on Thursday September, 1. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.