KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cain Boschee was one of two Dickinson State football players to be named all-American by the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday. Jay Liggins was also honored.
Boschee, a former Kalispell Glacier High School star, was named second-team all-American defensive back, adding to his 2016 all-American status. The 6-foot-3 senior posted 41 tackles, five interceptions and two forced fumbles for the Blue Hawks this fall, leading Dickinson State into the second round of the NAIA playoffs.
Boschee finished his Dickinson State career with 24 interceptions, tied for first in program history, with seven of the interceptions returned for touchdowns, a Dickinson State record. He ranked No. 14 in the NAIA in interceptions in 2018 and was 25th-best in interceptions per game.
In four years in Dickinson, Boschee recorded 186 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 24 interceptions and 22 pass breakups. He had nine interceptions and four touchdowns in the 2016 season.
“Cain had an amazing career,” said Dickinson State head coach Pete Stanton. “He has tremendous ball skills and speed. He has a great feel for the game and was a leader for us on the field for four years. He’s as good as there is, as far as being a great athlete, but a tremendous person. He’s a scholar-athlete and honor student, and he’s just been a joy to have him over here.”
Liggins earned all-American honors for the second consecutive season and continued a streak of DSU players on the first-team AFCA all-American list for the fourth consecutive year. The co-MVP of the North Star Athletic Association, Liggins had eight interceptions this season, 14 for his career, including a program-record four in the Blue Hawks’ 14-6 playoff win over Northwestern Iowa.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Jay”, said Stanton. “He has established himself as one of the finest defensive backs in the country. We are very proud of him for this tremendous honor.”
“It is very rare to have two all-Americans, especially two that play the same position,” continued Stanton. “It speaks volumes to the type of people and players that Cain and Jay are. We are thrilled for them both and know that they will both go down as two of the very best players to ever play at Dickinson State.”
Boschee joins fellow Montanans Jason Ferris and Ryder Rice on the AFCA all-American team. Ferris, a Dillon native, was selected first-team linebacker for Montana Western, while Rice, a former Savage star who now suits up for Rocky Mountain College, was a second-team defensive lineman.
To view the complete list of AFCA all-Americans, please click here.
