KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its Football Athletes of the Week, presented by Mammoth Turf, for week eight of the 2023 season.
 
MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week – Zach Zebrowski, Central Missouri    
Zach Zebrowski set new Central Missouri and MIAA single-game records in passing touchdowns, passing yards and total offense leading the No. 16-ranked Mules to a 77-27 win over No. 23-ranked Emporia State. The redshirt junior quarterback went 31-of-51, threw for 615 yards and totaled 673 yards of total offense all while throwing eight touchdown passes. He now leads all of Division II with 3,259 passing yards on the season and continues to lead Division II with 38 touchdown passes.
 
MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week – Luke Jennings, Pittsburg State     
Luke Jennings led all MIAA defenders over the weekend with seven tackles (four solo). He also added a pass breakup and forced a fumble to help lead No. 2-ranked Pittsburg State to a 28-7 road win over Northwest Missouri at Bearcat Stadium. The Gardner, Kan., native led the Gorillas in stops at the Pitt State defense held Northwest scoreless until three minutes remaining in the game. His forced fumble came at the PSU two-yard line with 7:48 to play in the third quarter, halting the Bearcats first red zone scoring opportunity of the contest.
 
MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week – Luke Dobson, Central Missouri  
Luke Dobson helped the No. 13-ranked Mules to a record-breaking 77-27 win over No. 23-ranked Emporia State. The sophomore kicker tied a UCM single-game record as he went 11-of-11 in PAT attempts as the Mules set new program and MIAA single-game records for total offense (976 yards) and passing yards (659).
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Offensive
Shane Watts – Fort Hays State
Shane Watts rushed for over 100 yards for the second straight game, helping the Tigers to a 31-28 road win at Washburn. The junior had 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns, both in the third quarter to help FHSU extend their lead from 17-14 at halftime to 31-14 by the end of the third quarter. Watts finished with 167 all-purpose yards in the game, adding 23 receiving yards on three catches. He is the first Tiger to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games since September of 2021.
 
Braden Gleason – Emporia State
Braden Gleason was 35-of-60 for 349 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters as he broke the ESU career passing yards record. The senior became the fifth MIAA player with at least 10,000 career passing yards and now has 10,004 career yards.

Defensive
Dakari Streeter – Missouri Western
Dakari Streeter led Missouri Western’s defense in the Griffons’ 20-17 win over Nebraska Kearney. The senior sacked Loper quarterback TJ Davis twice, totaling three total tackles for a loss in the contest. His first sack disrupted a red zone opportunity for the Lopers, resulting in a missed field goal. Notching his MIAA-leading 10th sack in the fourth quarter, Streeter took down Davis while the Lopers were deep in MWSU territory, forcing them to punt back to the Griffons, who went to kick a game-winning field goal. With 10 sacks on the season, Streeter is second in all Division II while leading the nation with nine solo sacks as well.
 
Myles Mengers – Fort Hays State
Myles Menges recorded Fort Hays State’s only two sacks and five tackles overall in a 31-28 win at Washburn. The Ichabods had -15 net yards on the five plays where Menges recorded tackles, with the sacks totaling -16 yards, two plays that went for no gain, and one that went for one yard. Menges now has 5.0 sacks overall on the season, which is tied for second best in the MIAA.
 
Special Teams
Carson Arndt – Fort Hays State           
Caron Arndt helped FHSU to a 31-28 win at Washburn by making all four of his PAT tries and he also made a 44-yard field goal, which is his long for the season. He is now 35-of-35 on PAT tries for the season.
 
NOMINATIONS FOR FOOTBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Offensive: Jay Harrris (Northwest Missouri), Ty Pennington (Pittsburg State), Blake May (Northeastern State)   2023 MIAA FOOTBALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Offensive Athlete of the Week
Week One: Braden Gleason, Emporia State
Week Two: Arkell Smith, Central Missouri
Week Three: Kolbe Katsis, Pittsburg State
Week Four: Zach Zabrowski, Central Missouri
Week Five: Marcellous Hawkins, Central Missouri
Week Six: Jay Harris, Northwest Missouri
Week Seven: Braden Gleason, Emporia State
Week Eight: Zach Zebrowski, Central Missouri
 
Defensive Athlete of the Week
Week One: Jack Barkley, Pittsburg State
Week Two: Chance Rodriguez, Emporia State
Week Three: Parrish Terry, Fort Hays State
Week Four: Brayden Wright, Missouri Western
Week Five: TreVon Holmes, Missouri Western
Week Six: Zach Bergmann, Missouri Southern
Week Seven: Jake Fisher, Northwest Missouri
Week Eight: Luke Jennings, Pittsburg State
 
Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Week One: Trey Hines, Fort Hays State
Week Two: DJ Bell, Washburn
Week Three: Carson Arndt, Fort Hays State 
Week Four: David Olajiga, Central Missouri
Week Five: Cody Watson, Missouri Western
Week Six: Jake Leader, Missouri Western
Week Seven: Noah Guastella, Northwest Missouri
Week Eight: Luke Dobson, Central Missouri