Macalester finished the 2008 campaign at 4-6 in Coach Tony Jennison's first season at the helm of the program despite numerous key injuries and a very young starting lineup. Four wins equals the second largest win total in twenty years.

“We overcame a lot of adversity and I'm proud of how this team responded,” said Coach Jennison. “There were many times over the past year and throughout the season where this team could have given up. However, giving up or making excuses is not in the nature of this team. We have a very strong team mentally and it showed throughout the season.”

While Mac's defense posted a shutout and continued its three-year string of great improvement, the offense was very balanced. The Scots averaged 148 yards a game on the ground and 130 through the air. Defensively, Macalester surrendered 26.3 points per game after giving up 42 a game in '05 (the year before Jennison arrived as defensive coordinator), 34 in 2006 and 30 and 2007. This season was just the second time during the last 10 years that a Macalester defense gave up less than 30 points a game.

On November 10, the Scots held their annual post-season banquet at Kagin Commons on campus and presented the team awards. Linebacker Brian Foster (So., Shannon, Miss.) was named Macalester Most Valuable Player.

After leading the Scots in tackles and intercepting four passes in his first season while earning Defensive MVP accolades, Foster was forced out of four games with casts on two broken hands. He returned as strong as ever and provided the Scots with 58 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble. He tied for the team lead with 34 solo tackles.

Running back T. Joe Loiselle (Fy., Chippewa Falls, Wis.) was named Macalester's Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors went to lineman Matt Hurni (So., Little Falls, Minn.) and linebacker Martin de la Presa-Pothier (Sr., Twin Falls, Id.). The team's “Hustle Award” was awarded to offensive lineman Pete Goldberg (So., Bemidji, Minn.) and the Special Teams Player of the Year / Brick Award Winner was tight end / punter Matt Mitchell (So., Chippewa Falls, Wis.).

Five of the six Macalester award winners return for at least two more years as the Scots head into the '09 season with a strong veteran presence.

Following a injury to Macalester standout running back and 2007 Team MVP Jacob McDonnell (Jr., Duluth, Minn. / Marshall) in the season-opener, newcomer Loiselle picked up the load and put together a wonderful season, setting the school's freshman rushing record with 964 yards in nine starts. Loiselle averaged a healthy 4.2 yards a carry and ran it in for a team-leading eight touchdowns.

Hurni, a two-year standout at defensive end, made 38 tackles, including 5 ½ tackles for loss of yardage. Hurni recovered a couple fumbles and his tackles for loss totaled 33 yards. De la Presa-Pothier put together his best season, registering a team-best 9 ½ tackles for loss and three sacks among his 59 tackles. During the 2008 campaign, de la Presa-Pothier played defensive line, inside linebacker and outside linebacker for the Scots. He made 32 solo stops and his tackles for loss added up to 42 yards.


Offensively, Mac converted 40% of its third-down tries and went 13-for-24 on fourth down, and averaged 32:09 in time of possession. Quarterback Trevor Miehe (So., Holmen, Wis.) passed for 1,303 yards and seven touchdowns while completing 50% of these aerial attempts and also rushing 252 yards and four scores. His favorite targets were Jon Elliott (So., El Paso, Tex. / Andress) with 30 catches for 364 yards. Matt Mitchell caught 23 passes for 14.3 yards per catch and four touchdowns, and Kevin Finnegan added 21 catches for a 14.5 average. All-conference soccer player Nate Juergens (So., St. Paul, Minn. / Como Park) gave the Scots their best kicking threat in years and booted a 41-yarder in a shutout win over Minnesota-Morris.

Macalester's leading tacklers were Josh Boomgaarden (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) with 70 stops and Ed Fitzpatrick (Sr., Honolulu, Hi. / Iolani) with 66.

Boomgaarden and offensive guard Reed Larson (Sr. Coon Rapids, Minn.) received ESPN the Magazine / CoSida first team Academic All-District V honors.