Football | 10/8/2018 3:27:16 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The MIAA announced its weekly Football Athletes of the Week awards. Emporia State’s Jace McDown was named Defensive Player of the Week for the conference. ESU’s Braxton Marstall and Isaiah Strayhorn from Northwest Missouri were Co-Offensive Players of the Week. Sam Aviles of Missouri Western was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.
McDown had a game-high 12 tackles, three for a loss, forced a fumble and had an interception in Emporia State’s 28-24 win over No. 18 Fort Hays State. His interception in the second quarter was the first of his career and helped the Hornets keep the game within one score. McDown reached double figures in tackles for the fourth time in six games this season.
Marstall led the Hornets to a fourth quarter comeback win for the second time this season, overcoming double digit deficits in both games. He threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns while adding a team-high 68 yards on the ground in Emporia State’s 28-24 win over No. 18 Fort Hays State. In the second half alone, he was 18 of 23 for 200 yards and tossed all three of his touchdowns.
Strayhorn rushed for a career-high 147 yards (13.4 avg) and a touchdown in Northwest Missouri’s 31-7 road win over No. 8-ranked Pittsburg State. Five of his 11 carries went for first downs against the Gorillas as he also had runs of 67 and 31 yards.
Aviles scored nearly half the Griffons points in a 33-10 win at Missouri Southern. He was 4-of-5 on field goal attempts with his only miss coming from 57 yards out at the end of the first half. Aviles was also 3-for-3 on point after attempts and averaged 56 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES - DEFENSE
Marcus Brown - Missouri Western
Brown forced two fumbles and had an interception in the Griffons’ 33-10 win at Missouri Southern. He also had six solo tackles, two tackles for loss and was credited with one quarterback hurry.
Anthony Lane - Northwest Missouri
Lane recorded a team-best eight tackles (five solos) in helping Northwest Missouri to a 31-7 win at No. 8-ranked Pittsburg State. Lane and the Bearcat defense shut down the Gorillas in the first half by limiting PSU to five first downs and 102 total yards.
Eli Hooks - Central Oklahoma
Hooks made back-to-back sacks to end Central Missouri’s final drive and secure a 33-26 Broncho victory in Edmond. He had four tackles, three solos, on the day.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES - OFFENSE
Clay McKenzie - Central Oklahoma
McKenzie led the Bronchos to victory over Central Missouri, 33-26, with almost 200 all-purpose yards on Saturday in Edmond. He had 27 carries for 154 yards and one touchdown. McKenzie also hauled in three receptions for 27 yards.
Devante Turner - Central Missouri
Turner rushed for 116 yards on 13 carries and scored three times. His yardage and touchdowns were both season-bests. Turner averaged 8.9 yards per carry, helped out by a long of a 66-yard touchdown run.
Darrius Webb - Nebraska Kearney
Webb carried the ball 17 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns in UNK’s 41-14 win over Lindenwood. He had a long run of 55 yards and scoring rushes of six and 13 yards. Webb also caught a team-best four passes for 22 yards.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES - SPECIAL TEAMS
Brian Covarrubias - Nebraska Kearney
Covarrubias tallied 11 kicking points in UNK’s 41-14 home win over Lindenwood. He booted field goals of 24 and 28 yards and made all five PATs he attempted.
Matt Thorman - Northwest Missouri
Thorman punted six times for a 44.3 average in a 31-7 win at No. 8 Pittsburg State. He had a pair of 50-yard punts as one went 54 and another went 57 yards. Thorman also had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Perry Schmiedeler - Washburn
Schmiedeler hit a 49-yard field goal in the third quarter that put the Ichabods up 44-14. With that field goal, Schmiedeler set the program record for most career field goals with his 37th. He also had three punts for 125 yards for a 41.7 yards per attempt average and kicked off nine times with five touchbacks averaging 60.8 yards per kickoff.
Defensive Player of the Week Nominations: Tanner Kanak - Central Missouri, Eli Hooks - Central Oklahoma, Jace McDown - Emporia State, Adam Glanville - Missouri Southern, Marcus Brown - Missouri Western, Tye Spies - Nebraska Kearney, Anthony Lane - Northwest Missouri, Derrick McGreevy - Washburn
Offensive Player of the Week Nominations: Devante Turner - Central Missouri, Clay McKenzie - Central Oklahoma, Braxton Marstall - Emporia State, Jacob Mezera - Fort Hays State, Shamar Griffith - Missouri Western, Darrius Webb - Nebraska Kearney, Isaiah Strayhorn - Northwest Missouri, Hunter Browning - Washburn
Special Teams Player of the Week Nominations: Zach Davidson - Central Missouri, Dante Brown - Fort Hays State, Same Aviles - Missouri Western, Brian Covarrubias - Nebraska Kearney, Matt Thorman - Northwest Missouri, Perry Schmiedeler - Washburn