DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Southern Oregon senior Austin Dodge (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview) has all the NAIA records, he has the Raiders in their first national title game Friday, and he has more than a few NFL scouts buzzing about his quarterbacking tools.

Thursday night at the NAIA Football Championship Awards Banquet, he added one more notch to his belt: the Rawlings-NAIA Football Player of the Year award, bringing another first to a program that has experienced so many in recent weeks.

"Getting this award is incredible," Dodge said. "It's a great feeling. I No. 1 appreciate every single one of the fans, friends and family that came out that have supported us throughout this year. It has been great."

On Tuesday Dodge was named an All-American – the first SOU has ever produced of the QB variety – along with Raider defensive end Daniel Breaux (Greenfield, Calif./Greenfield), offensive lineman Drew Gibson (Medford, Ore./North Medford) and wide receiver Dylan Young (Salem, Ore./North Salem), all seniors.

Despite leading the NAIA in passing three straight years, that was Dodge's first time garnering end-of-the-year national recognition. Not that his numbers this season have been especially remarkable: His passing yardage has gone down the last two years, actually, to this year's average of 369.9 per game.

What has been remarkable is Dodge's ability keep burning defenses despite adjustments that have been four years in the making. In 2014 he's thrown for 49 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, completing passes at a rate of 65.7. His completion percentage in 2013 was 65.8, and in 2012 it was 65.4.

As a senior he's shattered career NAIA records for touchdowns thrown (151), passing yards (16,821), completions (1,232), attempts (1,916), total yards gained (17,150) and total TDs responsible for (158). By Friday's end he should also have the career records for yards gained per play and per game.

Dodge has surpassed 400 passing yards six times and thrown for at least four touchdowns seven times this season. His biggest game was a 30-for-42, 476-yard, five-touchdown and no-interception day against College of Idaho on Sept. 20. In the quarterfinals and semifinals he averaged 465 yards passing, tossing eight TDs with just two interceptions.

The most absurd line of his career played out on Oct. 5 of last season against Montana Tech: 40-for-58, 573 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions. Games like that have inspired most defensive coordinators to play extra men deep, which has led to a 5.1 yards-per-rush average this season, one of the highest in Raider history.

Dodge has been awarded the NAIA Player of the Week five times in his career. Since taking over as the starter three games into his freshman season, the Raiders have gone 33-12. That's 18 more wins than they tallied in the 45 games prior to his arrival.

His main competition for player-of-the-year kudos was Morningside tailback Brandon Wegher, who was the leading vote-getter for the AFCA All-American teams. Wegher averaged 200.8 yards and scored 43 touchdowns this season.

Ten of the 18 Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year awards have gone to quarterbacks.

Dodge and the eighth-ranked Raiders will attempt to make history again Friday, kicking off against seventh-ranked Marian (Ind.) at noon Pacific Time in front of a national audience on ESPNU.