ALLIANCE, Ohio - Mount Union senior defensive lineman Matt Lilja (Ashtabula / Edgewood) was recognized at halftime of the 2022 Sugar Bowl, the Alabama and Kansas State matchup, as part of the prestigious Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team®.
 
Lilja shared about his once-in-a-lifetime experience, including representing the Purple Raiders on a national stage and meeting Tim Tebow.

"The entire experience was great," Lilja said. "Being a representative for Mount Union at halftime was an honor. The parade was a good opportunity to get to know more of my AFCA Good Works teammates and contribute to the community events! This experience was so rewarding, it's hard to pick one favorite moment, but the two best were meeting my other AFCA Good Works teammates along with past "alumni" of the Good Works team and the volunteering we did. It was great having conversations with like-minded people and meeting Tim Tebow (we talked about the devotional he wrote that I am reading) and RGIII (Robert Griffin III). I had a great conversation with RGIlI. Everyone there was incredibly nice and humble. We also got great speeches from them (I can only imagine what it would be like having Tim Tebow give a speech on game day). We volunteered at Son of a Saint, the organization helps teach young men who are fatherless and gives them a place to hang out with others and their mentors. This was great to work with these kids and help them grow to be great men."
 
"It was great to give recognition to an amazing school and football team," Lilja said when asked what it meant to represent Mount Union on a national stage. "Mount has shown many opportunities for growth in football and off the field. It was great to give back to the school and say thank you. Mount Union was brought up a couple of times in conversation with my AFCA teammates. A few of them were also from Division III schools, so we had a lot in common. The other teammates from Division I and II schools also knew the reputation that Mount Union has. When talking with RGIll he mentioned that he remembered Pierre Garçon went to Mount. Garçon was a teammate with RGIll during his time at Washington."
 
The 31st Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® recognized 22 college football student-athletes and an honorary head coach for outstanding contributions to their communities. Lilja was only one of four NCAA Division III players in the country to earn a spot. 
 
A team captain this past season, Lilja has been an All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and Academic All-OAC honoree. He is just as dedicated off the field with numerous volunteer and community services. Lilja mentors through Alliance's Raider Buddies and the Mount Union football team. He also joined the Alliance Community Clean Up initiative. Additionally, Lilja has volunteered with Mount Union's Be The Match, Alex's Lemonade Stand, Lake Shore Park Clean Up, American Heart Association, and Kent State Ashtabula America Red Cross.