Update December 6 ... Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) is one of the top four finalists for the 2011 Gagliardi Trophy, given to an outstanding student athlete playing football in Division III of the NCAA by Jostens Inc. and the J-Club of St. John's University of Minnesota. Blanchard, as a guest of Jostens and the J-Club, will be flown to Salem, Virginia where the presentation of the award is a part of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl championship celebration.  The other finalists are Monmouth College quarterback Alex Tanney, St. Thomas (MN) wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel, and Dubuque wide receiver Michael Zweifel.

Josten's/J-Club December 6 release on announcement of finalists 

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior quarterback Matt Blanchard (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) is a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, the top award in NCAA Division III football. The Gagliardi Trophy is awarded to a player that combines excellence on the field with academic success, and campus and community service. 

Blanchard was announced as one of ten semifinalists last month.  He is a physical education major with a K-12 emphasis, carrying an overall grade point average of 3.1 (4.0 scale). 

Blanchard has completed 197-287 passes, a .685 completion percentage.  He has thrown 22 touchdown passes and three interceptions, averaging 198.15 yards per game.  He has also contributed by rushing for 401 yards, 5.25 yards per attempt and one touchdown.  He is fifth in passing efficiency in the NCAA III statistics. 

The ultimate measure of Blanchard is his contribution to winning.  He earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team honors the last two seasons, and has contributed to three WIAC championships, three NCAA playoff berths, and helped the team advance to the national title game all three years including D3 crowns in 2009 and 2010.  Blanchard has never been part of a loss with the Warhawks, going 42-0 in his three seasons on the team.  That span is also the longest active winning streak in college football (any level), and the fourth longest in NCAA history (any level).

Blanchard is the fifth UW-Whitewater player that has earned a spot among the Gagliardi finalists. Running back Justin Beaver was a finalist in 2005, and won the award in 2007. Defensive tackle Ryan Kleppe was a finalist in 2006,  Placekicker Jeff Schebler (the Fred Mitchell Award recipient) in 2009, and wide receiver Aaron Rusch (Hartford/Hartford) was a finalist in 2010.