Football | 9/30/2013 10:48:41 AM
Kansas City, Mo. – Pittsburg State’s John Brown was named the MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week. Matt Longacre of Northwest Missouri earned Defensive Athlete of the Week while Dominic Thomas was named Special Teams Athlete of the Week.
MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week
John Brown, WR, Pittsburg State
Brown passed Harlon Hill Trophy winner Ronnie West as Pittsburg States all-time receiving leader Saturday (Sept. 28) while leading the No. 12 ranked Gorillas to a 59-38 road win over Lincoln. He caught nine passes for a career-best 237 yards and four touchdowns. Brown also added a seven-yard touchdown run to score 30 points in the contest and he added a 45-yard punt return to finish the game with 294 all-purpose yards. Brown surpassed West in career receiving yards (2722) and equaled his career receiving TD’s record (27). He also tied PSU’s single-game scoring mark (30 pts) and came up one yard short of the Gorillas single-game receiving yards record. Brown helped the Pitt State offense generate 787 yards of total offense as quarterback Tony Abenoja passed for a school record 442 yards and five TDs in the contest. The 5-11 senior return specialist is a native of Homstead, Fla. where he competed at Homestead High School prior to playing at Coffeyville Community College.
Others nominated: Jaron Alexander, Lindenwood; Tyrell Brown, Washburn; Hayden Hawk, Central Missouri; Derwyn Lauderdale, Southwest Baptist; Raphael Spencer, Missouri Western; Clint Utter, Northwest Missouri; Brent Wilson, Emporia State.
MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week
Matt Longacre, DE, Northwest Missouri
Longacre recovered a fumble and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown in the Bearcats 53-7 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. Longacre had four total tackles, two tackles for loss and was credited with half a sack. The 6-3 junior defensive end is a native of Omaha, Neb. where he competed at Millard West High School.
Others nominated: Bryce Atagi, Washburn; Deshawn Dinwiddie, Emporia State; D’Andre Green, Lindenwood; Justin McPhail, Fort Hays State; Evan Ray, Southwest Baptist; Connor Smith, Central Missouri.
MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Dominic Thomas, KR, Missouri Western
After the Tigers took the ball down the field giving them an early 7-0 lead in the first, Thomas took the next kickoff 96 yards tying the score. It was the first kickoff return for the Griffons since October 8, 2011 when Tarrell Downing took one back 88 yards against Lincoln. Thomas also had six carries for 50 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown carry came in the second quarter giving MWSU the 21-7 lead with four minutes to play. The 5-8 junior kick returner is a native of Montgomery, Mo. where he competed at Montgomery County High School.
Others nominated: Devon Connors, Washburn; Kavaski Ervin, Emporia State; Zach Gebhardt, Central Missouri; James Neal, Lindenwood.