VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – Valley City State University junior Sal Avila has been named the Defensive Most Valuable Player in North Star Athletic Association football, the conference office announced Monday.

Avila was one of 11 Vikings earning All-Conference honors Monday with the release of the NSAA Football Postseason Awards.

A linebacker from El Paso, Texas, Avila led the conference in tackles per game as he finished with 70 tackles in just seven games. He added two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He is the first Viking to be named Conference Defensive MVP since Aaron Freije in 2012.

Avila was one of six Vikings named First Team All-Conference. Joining Avila on the First Team Defense are lineman Marshaun Jones and defensive back Jerrod Williamson. On the offensive side of the ball, linemen Troy Dietz and Sammy Trejo and tight end Jorun Hamre were all named First Team Offense.

VCSU had five players earn Second Team All Conference, including four on the offense. Quarterback Jalen Pfeifer, running back Taylor Simmons, offensive lineman Berkley Santos and receiver Benjamin Dumond all earned Second Team honors. Linebacker Dustin Kasowski picked up Second Team Defense.

Honorable Mention honors went to defensive linemen Zachary Co and Riley Gerhardt, defensive back Paco Baltazar and receiver Michael Cornelious. Running back Joshua McKnight was named the NSAA Champion of Character recipient for VCSU.

Valley City State finished the fall season with a 5-2 record, placing second in the NSAA standings. The Vikings could potentially play 2-4 games yet during the spring season.

Below is the entire list of the first-team, second-team, honorable mention and postseason awards:

2020 NSAA Football All-Conference Teams and Postseason Awards:

First-Team All-Conference Offense

First-Team All-Conference Defense

First-Team All-Conference Special Teams

Second-Team All-Conference Offense

Second-Team All-Conference Defense

Second-Team All-Conference Special Teams

NSAA Football Postseason Awards

NSAA Football Offensive Most Valuable Player:  Jaret Lee – Dickinson State (N.D.)
NSAA Football Defensive Most Valuable Player:  Sal Avila – Valley City State (N.D.)
NSAA Football Coach-of-the-Year:  Pete Stanton – Dickinson State (N.D.)

NSAA Football All-Conference Honorable Mention

Dakota State (S.D.)
Cole McCarty – linebacker
Riley Janke – linebacker
Alexander Maxey – snapper
Jacob Hirsch – wide receiver

Dickinson State (N.D.)
Derek Tabor – running back
Jared Smith – linebacker
Paxton Miller – linebacker
Krew Mathern – defensive line

Mayville State (N.D.)
Creighton Pfau – quarterback
Maalik Flowers – wide receiver
Zach Ceasar – offensive line
Daniel Simpson – defensive line

Presentation (S.D.)
Braden Christie – linebacker
Lane Bourdon – linebacker
Sam Motzkus – defensive line
Marshal Chace – wide receiver

Valley City State (N.D.)
Zachary Co – defensive line
Riley Gerhardt – defensive line
Paco Baltazar – defensive back
Michael Cornelious – wide receiver

Waldorf (Iowa)
Dominick Watt – wide receiver
J.J. Harrell – running back
Trevor Gunderson – defensive back
Cameron Callion – defensive back

2020 North Star Athletic Association Football Champions of Character recipients
Dakota State (S.D.):  Alec Bultje
Dickinson State (N.D.):  Aaric Spring
Mayville State (N.D.):  Creighton Pfau
Presentation (S.D.):  Alex Karp
Valley City State (N.D.):  Josh McKnight
Waldorf (Iowa):  Thomas Edwards

NSAA All-Conference Team Members

JOSHUA-HEAD-SHOT

ZACHARY-HEAD-SHOT

TROY-HEAD-SHOT

TAYLOR-HEAD-SHOT

SAMMY-HEAD-SHOT

SAL-HEAD-SHOT

RILEY-HEAD-SHOT

PACO-HEAD-SHOT

MICHAEL-HEAD-SHOT

MARSHAUN-HEAD-SHOT

JORUN-HEAD-SHOT

JERROD-HEAD-SHOT

JALEN-HEAD-SHOT

DUSTIN-HEAD-SHOT

BERKLEY-HEAD-SHOT

BENJAMIN-HEAD-SHOT