INDIANAPOLIS - With ten First Team selections, Midwest League champions Marian highlight the 2025 MSFA All-Midwest League Teams in a balanced honor roll that saw five of the six teams in the Midwest collect at least three First Team representatives. In total, Marian earned 23 total All-MSFA Midwest League honors, led by Keagan La Belle being named as the first-ever Mid-States Midwest League MVP. 

Leading the way as the Midwest League's Most Valuable Player is Marian running back Keagan La Belle. The first-ever winner of the newly minted MVP award, the McCordsville, Ind. native led the Midwest with 115.8 rushing yards per game and was tied for the Association lead with 21 rushing TDs on the year. Nationally, La Belle will enter the NAIA Football Championship Series ranked 3rd in TDs, and currently ranks 6th nationally in rushing average. The senior reached the century mark six times throughout the season, with a high of 236 yards in the win over Taylor on Oct. 11.

In Marian's win against St. Francis (Ill.), La Belle dashed for three touchdowns, breaking the Marian single-season rushing touchdown record. The senior running back also has 63 yards receiving and one touchdown through the air. 

Leading the Knights to a No. 6 ranking in the final NAIA Coaches Poll before the start of the Football Championship Series, and a third straight league crown, Marian head coach Ted Karras was selected as the 2025 MSFA Midwest League Coach of the Year. This is the second time in Karras' nine years coaching at Marian that he has been named as an MSFA Coach of the Year, having previously won in 2011.

Joining La Belle on the MSFA First Team offense are receiver Jake Reichard and left tackle Reece Byerly. Reichard has had a steady season as the team's leading receiver, recording 44 receptions for 657 yards and seven touchdowns. Reichard has averaged 14.93 yards per catch this season, and cracked the top-10 all-time at Marian in career receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Byerly stepped into the left tackle position this season, and has shined on the left side of the line as the only Knight offensive lineman to start every game this season. Byerly has helped keep quarterback Tristan Polk upright with the team averaging just over one sack allowed per game, while gaining over 400 yards of offense per game. 

Marian's defense stole the show on the MSFA Midwest League First Team, earning six of the 13 slots. Making the First Team defense are defensive ends Isaiah Street and Deon Pettiford, linebackers Cade Houseman and Wyatt Woodall, cornerback Yassine Falke, and safety Logan Carrington. Up front, Isaiah Street has been a game-wrecker, making 54 total tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss. Street is the team-leader in sacks with seven, and has forced a pair of fumbles in addition to five pass breakups. Deon Pettiford had a respected final season as he earned another MSFA First Team honor in his career, totaling 4.5 sacks on the season and 7.0 tackles for loss. The senior became Marian's all-time TFL leader earlier this season.

Cade Houseman and Wyatt Woodall have been game-changers in their second year as starting linebackers, with each making First Team honors. Houseman is the team leader in tackles with 88 total stops, making eight for a loss while forcing two takeaways. Woodall has been a strong tackler for the team, logging 75 total stops and 1.5 sacks this season. 

In the secondary, Logan Carrington led the conference in interceptions with seven, ranking second in the NAIA on the season. Carrington has made 36 tackles, one sack, and broken up six passes in addition to his seven interceptions. Yassine Falke trails Carrington as second on the team in interceptions with three, logging a pick-six earlier this season in the comeback win over Indiana Wesleyan. Falke has a team-high eight pass breakups, and has made 38 tackles in addition to recovering a fumble. 

Completing Marian's First Team haul is punter Dean Mason, who lands on the special teams honors for the second time in his career. Mason was the Mideast League First Team punter a year ago with Concordia, and in his first year at Marian, the kicker has put up the second-best punt average in the NAIA at 43.2 yards. Mason has totaled 1467 total yards punting this year, and has placed 16 kicks inside the 20 with an additional seven kicks for 50 yards. 

Making the Second Team for Marian on the offensive side of the ball are linemen Razhaun Wells, Mason Cook and Trent Allen. The trio helped pave the way for Keagan La Belle's record-setting season, helping the team run for 221.8 yards on the ground per game. Wells got involved in the offense as a receiver and runner this season, catching a deflected pass for 29 yards while taking one direct wildcat snap for three yards. 

Making their mark on the MSFA Second Team defense included Darian Dixon, Ozzy Pollard, and JT Downey. Dixon and Pollard have started every game since week two, with Dixon making impactful plays on the end, scoring a touchdown in each of the last two weeks. The second-year man has 39 total tackles and 3.5 sacks, and ranks first in the NAIA in fumble recoveries. Pollard has been equally impressive in his freshman season, making 30 total tackles with 7.5 for a loss. Pollard has made five sacks and broken up four passes on the line. In the secondary, JT Downey has impressed as the team's third-leading tackler, making 63 total stops on the year. Downey has forced a fumble and intercepted one pass, while making one sack this season. 

Completing Marian's Second Team honors are kicker Ashton Vogel and return specialist Alijah Price, with each freshman earning their first career honor. Vogel came on late in the season as the team's placekicker in addition to handling kickoff duties throughout the season. The freshman kicker is 26-28 on point after attempts, and has made two field goals, including a 48-yard boot last week at St. Xavier. For Price, the shifty running back was a threat in the return game, leading the NAIA through nine weeks with 577 kickoff return yards. Twice named MSFA Special Teams Player of the Week, Price had one kickoff return touchdown and ran for 279 yards on the ground with three scores. 

Marian had three players named to the Honorable Mention Team, with Tristan Polk, Aidan Wanner, and Matthias Pilkington rounding out the Knights' honors. Polk is having a career-best touchdown-to-turnover ratio this season, accounting for 26 total touchdowns against three giveaways. The quarterback has thrown for 2105 yards and run for another 234. Aidan Wanner is enjoying a breakout season as Marian's second-leading pass catcher, logging 23 catches for 466 yards and four touchdowns. Pilkington has made seven catches for 138 yards on the year, playing a role in the run game as well as blocking for the team's 221.8 yards per game. 

Marian will learn their opponent in the NAIA FCS Second Round this Saturday night, following the conclusion of the NAIA FCS First Round matchups. 

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