COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- Senior Matt Sacia (Eldridge) has been named one of the four finalists for the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy given to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III by Jostens and the J-Club of Saint John's University of Minnesota.

This was the second-straight year Sacia advanced to the finalist round. He helped Wartburg repeat as conference champions and was named the Conference MVP also for the second-straight year. Sacia ends his career as the program's leader in pass completions (688), touchdown passes (93), pass completion percentage (66.2), pass efficiency (164.8), passing yards/game (245.1), and is second in passing yards (9,069) and pass attempts (1,039).

His pass completion percentage (70.0), passing yards/game (279.2), and pass efficiency (179.6) stand as the single season school record.



The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach who retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history. John passed away this past fall at the age of 91.

The four Gagliardi Trophy finalists were revealed by D3football.com on Thursday, Dec. 6, in a live streaming broadcast. The winner of the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy will be announced by D3football.com on Friday, Dec. 14 prior to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. 

2018 Gagliardi Trophy presented by Jostens finalists:
Hayden Bauserman, Shenandoah University
QB | 6-3, 220 | Senior | Environmental Science
Woodstock, Va. | Central High School
 
Lamar Carswell, Trine University, (Ind.)
RB | 5-9, 180 | Senior | Sport and Recreation
Toledo, Ohio | St. Francis de Sales High School
 
Jackson Erdmann, Saint John's University, (Minn.)
                  QB | 6-4 ,215 | Junior | Global Business Leadership
Rosemount, Minn. | Rosemount High School

Matt Sacia, Wartburg College, (Iowa) - *2017 finalist
QB | 6-2, 195 | Senior | Biology
Eldridge, Iowa | North Scott High School

The trophy design features a sculpture of Gagliardi and a player, representing the teacher-coach and the student-athlete in a one-on-one sideline consultation. Hand-cast in bronze on a polished wood base, the trophy stands nearly two feet tall and weighs approximately 64 pounds. The words "The Gagliardi Trophy presented by Jostens & J-Club" are printed on the acrylic panel behind the figures. The words "Division III 2018 Player of the Year" and "Honoring Excellence in Football, Academics and Community Service" are etched on two panels below the figures.

Nominations were submitted by colleges across the country, and 13 semifinalists were selected by the J-Club Board of Directors. The semifinalists then moved on to the Gagliardi Trophy national-selection committee, which is comprised of 39 former small college football players, former Gagliardi Trophy recipients, business leaders, academicians and sports writers from around the country. Each cast a ballot ranking the semifinalists. A fan ballot, which served as the 40th committee member was operated on D3football.com had nearly 17,000 votes cast.