The Fighting Scots wrapped up their second season under Coach Tony Jennison with a record of two wins and eight losses. “We feel we still have a lot to prove after this season and are already looking forward the 2010 campaign,” said Coach Jennison.

“We were a very young team and it showed at times but we feel the experiences gained this year will only help us in the coming years.”

The Scots lost two games in the last minute of the game and two others where they were ahead or tied in the second half.

“What I love about our team is the way they competed and worked all year long,” said Jennison. “We went through some adversity at times with key injuries, bad breaks, or tough losses, but our athletes remained poised and positive and kept working hard to move this program forward. I feel very confident about the future direction of the Macalester football program mainly because of the attitude, togetherness, and pride that our current student-athletes display.”

Mac's defense continued its four-year improvement under Jennison. Despite many underclassmen on defense, including eight freshman that started games throughout the course of the season, the Mac defense gave up less than 30 points per game for just the third time in the last 20 years and the second time in Jennison's four years as the defensive coordinator. The Mac defense surrendered 23.6 points per game in 2009, down from 26.3 in 2008, 30.0 in 2007, and 34.3 in 2006. Before Jennison's arrival the defense surrender 42 points per game in 2005 and 51.3 in 2004.

Offensively, Mac converted 41% of its third-down tries and 45% of its fourth down conversions while averaging 31:44 in time of possession. Quarterback Trevor Miehe (Jr., Holmen, Wis.) showed improvement in nearly every statistical category. Miehe passed for 1,745 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 58% of these aerial attempts and also rushing 219 yards. His favorite targets were Jon Elliott (Jr., El Paso, Tex. / Andress) with 39 catches for 507 yards and Matt Mitchell (Jr., Chippewa Falls, WI) 36 receptions and six touchdowns.

The Scots were very balanced on offense, averaging 136 yards a game on the ground and 180 through the air. Macalester's leading rusher was Jake McDonnell (Jr., Duluth, Minn. / Marshall), who averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt and five TD's with a long run of 62 yards. McDonnell rushed for 602 yards while playing in six games as a RB and two games at WR. He added 208 yards receiving with a long reception of 86 yards. Mac's second leading rusher was T. Joe Loiselle (So., Chippewa Falls, Wis.) who was injured early in game three and missed the remainder of the season. Loiselle ran for 236 yards in his two complete games.

On November 8, the Scots held their annual post-season awards banquet at Kagin Commons on Macalester's campus and presented the 2009 team awards. Five of the six Macalester award winners return for another year as the Scots head into the 2010 season with a strong veteran presence.

Josh Boomgaarden (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) was named Team MVP. A three-year starter and two-time ESPN The Magazine / CoSida Academic All-District 5 award winner, Boomgaarden led the Scots in tackles from his inside linebacker position in seven of the team's 10 games and registered double-digits in tackles seven times, including a season-high 14 against Martin Luther. Boomgaarden, who also led the Scots in tackles as a junior, made 102 stops on the season, including 33 solo tackles, and also intercepted three passes. He is the first Scot to reach 100 tackles in a season since 2005.

Offensive MVP honors went to offensive lineman Pete Goldberg (Jr., Bemidji, Minn.) and wide receiver Jon Elliott (El Paso, Tex. / Andress). Goldberg anchored the line from his left tackle position, where he has been a three-year starter. Elliott led the Mac receivers with 39 catches for 507 yards, averaging 13 yards per catch. Elliott had three touchdowns receiving while also rushing for another two TDs. Elliott also was the top punt returner for the Scots averaging 9.3 yards per return.

Defensive lineman Will Dhonau (So., Fond du lac, Wis.) was selected as the team's Defensive MVP. Dhonau, a standout on Mac's defensive line for the past two seasons, finished 2009 with 37 tackles and a team-leading 6 ½ tackles for loss of yardage.

Macalester's Hustle Award was presented to safety and special teams standout Matt Elliott (Jr., El Paso, Tes. / Andress) and Matt Mitchell (Jr., Chippewa Falls, Wis.), the team's punter, was named the Special Teams MVP. Mitchell averaged 35.5 yards per punt attempt and placed 10 punts inside the 20 yard line.

The Frank Szewczyk Award, given to a person who shows extraordinary support and commitment to the Mac football program, went to Nic Westcott, parent of defensive back Colin Westcott (So., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest).

Macalester College is one of the premier private liberal arts institutions in the United States. Students come from every state and 90 countries for an academic program that ranks among the top 20 in the nation. Students benefit from the opportunity to learn in an international community and from a location that offers broad accessible research and internship opportunities. Graduates reap the benefits of a global education in the job market and at the nation's top graduate programs.