Dvorak, Ekeler and Cimaglia tabbed as RMAC Football Preseason Players of the Year

Dvorak, Ekeler and Cimaglia tabbed as RMAC Football Preseason Players of the Year

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Football Players of the Year were announced on Thursday.
 
Colorado Mines’ QB Justin Dvorak and Western State’s RB Austin Ekeler were named RMAC Football Preseason Co-Offensive Players of the Year, while Adams State’s kicker/punter Zach Cimaglia was selected RMAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
 
The two awards are voted on by the conference’s 11 head coaches. The RMAC Preseason All-Conference Team, also voted on by the RMAC coaches, will be announced prior to the RMAC Kickoff on Monday, August 1 starting at 9 a.m. at the Colorado Springs Marriott.
 
Dvorak finished last season leading NCAA Division II in passing yards per game with 369.3. He was ranked second in NCAA DII in touchdown passes, rating, total passing yards and total offense. The quarterback threw a career-high 555 yards in a game against South Dakota Mines, while setting the Orediggers record and tying the RMAC record with eight touchdowns that game. Dvorak notched 38 touchdowns and ran for seven to close out the season. The Tomball, Texas native was named RMAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Don Hansen’s Football Gazette honorable Mention All-America, First Team All-NFFCC, and D2football.com National Player of the Week.
 
As a junior, Ekeler led NCAA Division II and the RMAC in all-purpose yards per game with 203.9 and scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. He ran for the third most yards in NCAA DII with 1,637 and averaged the third most rushing yards per game with 163.7. Back in November 2015, the running back became Western State’s all-time career leader in rushing yards, surpassing Bill Rhodes’ 59-year record of 4,297 yards. Ekeler land on the NCAA D2CCA All-America Second Team, was a 2015 Don Hansen NCAA DII All-America Second Team selection and earned his second CoSIDA Academic All-America honor.
 
Adams State’s kicker/punter, Cimaglia racked up nine field goals and 21 extra points for a total of 48 points to close out the 2015 season. The Charlotte, North Carolina native averaged 43.8 punting yards with a season long of 67 yards. He was named 2015 Special Teams All-RMAC Second Team.
 
The #RMACkickoff will feature all 11 teams sitting down for 10-minute press conferences. Other activities include an Instagram station, Pick Six and one-on-one interviews. For more information, visit the RMAC Kickoff Page and Interactive Guide.