The Valparaiso University football program revealed its team award winners for the Fall 2021 campaign at the group’s annual postseason awards banquet on Sunday. The team awards were peer-selected as they were voted upon by the players.

Sixth-year defensive lineman Austin Martins (Newman, Calif. / Orestimba [Modesto JC]) was named the Defensive Player of the Year, senior running back Robert Washington (Huntersville, N.C. / East Gaston [Old Dominion]) was recognized as the Offensive Player of the Year and redshirt sophomore Matt Ross (Naperville, Ill. / Montini Catholic [Eastern Illinois]) garnered the squad’s Special Teams Player of the Year distinction.

In addition, sophomore defensive lineman Kurt Kessen (Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica) was named the squad’s Most-Improved Player, redshirt junior Aaron Byrd (Bradley, Ill. / Bourbonnais) earned the Sever Award presented annually to an outstanding offensive lineman and freshman running back Barret Labus (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) was tabbed Newcomer of the Year.

Sophomore defensive lineman Chase Folkestad (Glendale, Ariz. / Sandra Day O’Connor) was named the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year, freshman quarterback Michael Appel Jr. (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro) earned Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year and freshman wide receiver Dom Grguric (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) took home scout team honors for special teams.

The team also presented its Scholar-Athlete Award to redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Drew Parrish (New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln Way Central), its Koenig Award for outstanding sportsmanship and character to fifth-year senior long snapper Doug Haugh (Redlands, Calif. / Redlands Senior), the Outstanding Four-Year Man Award to senior wide receiver Ollie Reese (Franklin, Tenn. / Battle Ground), the Outstanding Hitter Award to senior linebacker Jaxon Peifer (Normal, Ill. / Normal Community) and the Most Inspirational Award to fifth-year senior defensive lineman Cade Bishop (Lafayette, Ind. / William Henry Harrison).

Martins racked up 50 tackles including 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks this season while recovering three fumbles and forcing two. Washington finished the season with 1,105 rushing yards, the second-highest output in program history. He became just the third 1,000-yard rusher in Valpo lore and tied the program record for single-season rushing touchdowns with 14. Valpo featured a loaded special teams group again this season, and Ross rose to the top in the team voting based on his ability to make plays on kickoff coverage including a number key tackles on kickoffs.

Kessen was an Academic All-PFL First Team selection and accrued 32 tackles, 3.5 TFL and three sacks. Byrd repeated as the Sever Award winner after leading an offensive line that paved the way for the most rushing touchdowns in a single game in program history and the third-most rushing TDs in a season in Valpo lore. Labus had a memorable receiving TD in the Nov. 13 Hoosier Helmet rivalry victory in Indianapolis.

Parrish, who owns a 3.97 cumulative grade point average in electrical engineering, earned Academic All-PFL First Team status this season. Haugh served as a team captain and one of the team’s community service liaisons, Bishop also played a key role in the team’s community service efforts and received an Academic All-PFL Second Team nod and Peifer totaled six tackles, 6.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks despite missing four games with an injury. Reese wrapped up his four-year Beacon career with 76 receptions, seven touchdowns and 1,166 receiving yards over 39 games.

Valpo has finished with back-to-back seasons with a record of .500 or better in PFL play for the first time since 1999 and 2000. Three of the team’s four league losses this season came by seven points or fewer, while the squad notched a convincing home victory over Dayton, comeback road win at Drake, record-setting victory over Presbyterian and the most lopsided Division-I win in program history, a 47-3 triumph in the Hoosier Helmet rivalry game on Nov. 13 in Indianapolis.