Hill Makes the Final 3 for the Harlon Hill Trophy
By: Matthew Tritten
Updated: November 30, 2012
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) An impressive senior season for Missouri Western running back Michael Hill keeps on getting better.
The Harlon Hill National Advisory Committee announced Friday that Hill is one of three Division II football players still in the running for the Harlon Hill Trophy, an award that goes to the best D-II player.
"I never thought I'd get this close," Hill said of being one of three finalists. "Its come fast, and just to be here it's an honor.There's tons of great players out there, and for me to be in this spot, it's awesome."
Through 13 weeks, Hill's the nation's second leading rusher with 2,065 yards, a Missouri Western record.
He has also picked up 19 total touchdowns so far in 2012, 16 of them on the ground.
The St. Joseph native's largest output this season came against Washburn in week 10. Hill picked up 259 yards and 3 touchdowns on 26 carries.
He has also been a member of Missouri Western's most successful team in program history.
The Griffons 12 wins are the most in one season, they picked up their first outright MIAA Title, and nabbed their first playoff wins.
Joining Hill as finalists for the award include junior running back Franklyn Quiteh of Bloomsburg University (Pa.) and junior quarterback Zach Zulli of Shippensburg University (Pa.).
Quiteh is the nation's rushing leader averaging 176.8 yards per contest. He also scored 24 touchdowns this season.
Zulli tied a D-II record for touchdown passes in a season with 54, while throwing just 10 interceptions. He set the D-II record for points responsible for in a season with 336 and touchdowns responsible for in a season with 56 total scores.
Former Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski received the trophy in 2010, he is the only MIAA athlete in the last 13 seasons to win it.
Czerniewski is also the only non-running back to win the award in the last six years. Before that, quarterbacks won it seven years in a row.
Voting for Harlon Hill Finalists is complete.
The three candidates will learn this year's winner December 14th, one day prior to the D-II National Championship, at Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence, Ala.
