QB Louis Vaughn - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
It was a close vote between Vaughn and RB Tyler Kuhn. The two would tie on total voting points (2 points for 1st place vote; 1 point for 2nd place vote). However, with more 1st place votes, Vaughn would take home his second MOP/MVP win. He joins RB RB Élisée Marchal, QB Jean Matieau, QB Riley Kiernan, LB Scotty Williams, and QB Charles Lemieux as 2-time winners. Vaughn has continued to prove to the rest of the NAAF that he is at the top of his game right now. His 27 passing touchdowns and the 2nd most passing yards, were only second to division rival QB Buck Murphy. However, Vaughn was much better when protecting the football, only throwing 12 interceptions to Murphy’s 22, as well as having his output despite missing several of his starting WRs for portions of the season.
Playoff Most Outstanding Player
WR Casey Coleman - Louisville Thunder
DL Aaron Henderson was the other player who had a strong enough playoff performance to warrant Playoff MOP consideration, but when you compared the two, Casey Coleman’s 4 touchdowns and over 300 yards receiving in 3 games was just a bit more outstanding. Coleman of course also caught the championship-clinching touchdown that earned him McCallister Cup MOP.
Offensive Player of the Year
RB Tyler Kuhn - Minnesota Serpents
While Kuhn came up just a hair short of winning the MOP, with Vaughn out of the picture in the OPOY race, it wasn’t even close. Kuhn earned 9 out of 10 first-place votes, easily handing the young RB his first major award of his career. Kuhn has been a rising star for the Serpents over the last couple of seasons and after a fully healthy season, he has broken through as one of the league’s best running backs. He managed to eclipse 20 touchdowns on the season while leading the league in rushing yards. It certainly helps being in such a run-heavy offence, but he is the main reason they are.
Defensive Player of the Year
DL Bartolo Cruz - Providence Gold Stars
Much like Kuhn’s rout in the OPOY voting, Cruz easily won the DPOY, earning 9 out of the 10 first-place votes. The only other vote going to his teammate LB Kurt Warlock. Cruz becomes the 4th D-lineman to win the award joining Sean Bowen, William Sanderson, and Bernhard Hartmann. Cruz had a fantastic career-defining season. On the D-line, he was a nuisance to every QB in the league. It was a rarity if Cruz didn’t reach the QB at some point during a game this season. He earned 2 Player of the Week nods this season. He was a constant force that made offences uneasy when going up against the Gold Stars and may have been one of the biggest factors to the team’s #1 defence this season. On top of everything, he led the league in QB pressures and tackles for loss.
Special Teams Player of the Year
K Sterling Brooks - Vancouver Wolves
Early on it was clear that Brooks was going to be a front runner for the STPOY award as he was leading the league by 10 field goals at one point this season. While his production did slip in the second half of the season, although for the team that was due to more touchdowns being scored, Brooks remained a reliable and productive scorer for the Wolves this season. Despite slowing his scoring in the 2nd half of the season, Brooks ended up still having 18 more points than any other kicker in the league.
Offensive Lineman of the Year
OL Erik Nelson - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
It was a close vote for the OLOY with all 3 nominees earning a fair share of the votes. In the end, Erik Nelson (12 pts) would finish in first ahead of Carlton Vanderbilt (10 pts) and then Elias McCarren (8 pts). The former 1st overall pick earns his first OLOY award after a solid season. Last season, Nelson provided a lot of help to a lacklustre backfield that got boosted by the star’s physicality. With RB Max Tracy there this season, the run game was miles better with Nelson leading the charge. He also continued to be a perfect protector for QB Louis Vaughn.
Coach of the Year
Malachi Knowles - Montreal Rouge
Solid years from Ted McMahon and Tommie Warner earned both coaches a lot of praise and votes, but the redemption story from Malachi Knowles would ultimately gain the support to earn him the Coach of the Year award. For a refresher on the story, the last time Knowles coached a team was only a couple of years ago in 1969, when he led the Louisville Thunder to an 0-12 season. The disappointing season certainly hurt Knowles’ reputation, but this season, Knowles completely redeemed himself, earning each and every one of those 12 games back with a 12-win season in Montreal. Knowles’ “QB Whisperer” moniker returned as well as he rejuvenated veteran QB Gene Bishop’s career after he had been struggling for the last couple of seasons. An all-around huge bounce-back year for Knowles.
Rookie of the Year
DL Butcher Callahan - Regina Wheat Kings
Another vote that ended up being pretty clear was Butcher Callahan winning Rookie of the Year. Considering he was also nominated for DPOY, it was not surprising that he would likely garner a lot of votes. While WR Ben Graham also had his fair share of support, Callahan’s fantastic season was just far too good. Callahan’s rookie season is one that will likely be remembered with his ability to make just about anything happen on defence. He was constantly in the backfield and all over the opposing team’s QB. His 6 forced fumbles and 2 safeties pair nicely with the 2nd most sacks in the whole league. Callahan proved that he is a star for the future.
Breakout Player of the Year
DL Alan Franjkovic - Montreal Rouge
The BPOY would be another close vote, but with 12 points, DL Alan Franjkovic would take home the award. WR Matthew de la Cruz would finish 2nd with 10 points, and then DB Davey Woods with 8 points. Franjkovic has slowly developed into a star for the Rouge on the D-line. The former 2nd Round Pick has blossomed into a powerful edge rusher. He had very solid numbers this season, though still behind that of the top guys in the league, but it was a breakout season to show the league that Franjkovic is here to stay.
54th McCallister Cup - Milton Charles Stadium - Buffalo, NY - Capacity: 54,000
The McCallister Cup game is headed back to Buffalo for the 3rd time. Milton Charles Stadium will host its second game in 1972, the last being in 1965, where the Long Island Raiders defeated the Louisville Thunder 17-10. One of the league’s best fan bases will likely bring the passion to the big game once again.
1971 All-Star Teams
WEST
QB Kevin Westwood VAN (2)
RB Tyler Kuhn MIN (1)
OL Charles Creighton EDM (2)
OL Jordan Bryson MIN (1)
OL Elias McCarren MIN (3)
OL Aaron Wilkinson VAN (1)
OL Charles Schwartz CGY (1)
WR Keshawn Johnston VAN (2)
WR Terry Upshaw WPG (2)
WR Sebastian Dassler MIN (2)
TE Johnny Temple VAN (2)
DL Albert Sullivan MIN (2)
DL Butcher Callahan REG (1)
DL James Chambers EDM (1)
DL Damien Battles CGY (2)
LB Junior Abbott CGY (1)
LB Claude Clarke WPG (2)
LB Brett Pride REG (2)
DB Austin Sherebernikoff MIN (1)
DB Chris Berrymore EDM (2)
S Nick Palmer VAN (2)
S Vernon Redgate WPG (1)
K Sterling Brooks VAN (2)
CENTRAL
QB Louis Vaughn PIT (2)
RB Max Tracy PIT (3)
OL Jean Baptiste Francois PIT (2)
OL Erik Nelson PIT (5)
OL Gordie Hammarstein LOU (1)
OL Artem Sobakov BUF (2)
OL Viktor Stahl IND (5)
WR Casey Coleman LOU (4)
WR Tracy Driscoll BUF (2)
WR Jake Abbredezzi IND (2)
TE Rex Williamson LOU (1)
DL Mo Kahn LDN (2)
DL Eugene Case IND (1)
DL Matthias Hartmann PIT (1)
DL Aaron Henderson LOU (3)
LB Judge Barrett TOR (2)
LB Reuben James LDN (1)
LB Patrick Hamilton PIT (2)
DB Neville Falkner IND (11)
DB Zed McLaughlin PIT (3)
S Jarrett Sutherland PIT (1)
S Tom McDougall LOU (1)
K Nimrod Handsworth LDN (6)
EAST
QB Nathaniel Braddock BOS (6)
RB Reggie Whitehead BOS (3)
OL Carlton Vanderbilt BOS (1)
OL Kane Warwick HFX (3)
OL Emil Jennings PRO (7)
OL Matt Helmut OTT (2)
OL Elliot Barrett MTL (3)
WR Taylor Karis MTL (8)
WR Marshall Leonard OTT (2)
WR Frank Drysdale LI (1)
TE Luiss de Brands OTT (3)
DL Bartolo Cruz PRO (3)
DL Newton Dalton PRO (2)
DL Wayne Baxton BOS (9)
DL Pat Butler HFX (5)
LB Kurt Warlock PRO (3)
LB Byron Turner BOS (4)
LB Jean-Christophe Bain MTL (1)
DB Sergio Alvarez OTT (4)
DB Lamar Brown MTL (2)
S Ernie Osborne BOS (1)
S Mathieu Cazenave MTL (2)
K Albert Wickerweaver HFX (1)
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