Jim Mages, a senior defensive end from Paynesville, has been named the Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Mages finished the year with 61 total tackles, including 21 for a loss, for the University of Minnesota-Crookston. He led the Golden Eagles with 10 sacks and blocked one kick.
Mages also earned First Team All Conference honors, along with three of his teammates, including Neil Austin, a junior linebacker from Albany. In all, four Golden Eagle players earned first-team honors, six earned second-team honors, and four were given honorable mention in the NSIC.
The Golden Eagles finished the year with an overall record of 6-4 and with a 5-3 mark in the NSIC.