KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its Football Athletes of the Week, presented by Mammoth Turf, for the final week of the 2023 season.
 
MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week – Braden Gleason, Emporia State
Braden Gleason threw for a career high six touchdown passes on his way to a MIAA record 109 career touchdown throws and led Emporia State to a 45-42 win at Fort Hays State. The senior quarterback led the Hornets to scoring drives on their first six drives (not counting a kneel down at the end of the first half) on the way to a 38-20 lead. After the Tigers cut the lead to 38-35, Gleason connected with Tyler Kahmann for a 12-yard touchdown with 13:42 left to again make it a two-possession game. He then led the Hornets on two drives that consumed 6:34 of the fourth quarter. Gleason now has 109 career touchdown passes to break Eric Czerniewski of Central Missouris MIAA career record of 107 set between 2006-10. He also has 41 touchdown passes this season to break Brent Wilsons Emporia State single season record of 40 set in 2015. Gleason is now ranked fifth on the MIAA single season touchdown chart.
 
Co-MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week – Ian McSwain, Missouri Southern     
Ian McSwain played a crucial role in the Missouri Southern defense, helping the Lions secure a comeback victory over No. 19-rarnekd Missouri Western. Southern was down 34-20 as the clock ticked below the seven-minute mark when McSwain jumped the route for an interception and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to narrow the deficit to eight points. The defense held strong for the remainder of regulation, allowing the offense to score and force overtime. Again, the defense played solid in double overtime, pulling off the 47-41 upset victory. McSwain’s pick-six was the turning point of the contest, and his presence played a major factor in the win. Along with his interception, McSwain eight total tackles, six of those being solo, and an additional pass break up.
 
Co-MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week – Rico Payton, Pittsburg State      
Rico Payton made two interceptions from his cornerback position to help lead No. 8-ranked Pitt State to a 20-10 victory over Central Oklahoma and clinch a share of the 2023 MIAA Championship. The St. Louis, Mo., native helped an opportunistic Gorillas defense create seven takeaways in the contest – three interceptions and four fumble recoveries – while holding the Bronchos to 234 yards of total offense. Payton finished the game with four tackles (three solo), the two interceptions and one pass breakup.
 
MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week – Ross Brungardt, Emporia State   
After not punting in six quarters, Ross Brungardt launched four punts all over 50 yards in the Hornets 45-42 win at Fort Hays State. His first punt was a 57 yarder against the wind that was downed at the Tiger two-yard line. He followed that with a 51-yard punt against the wind that made it to the endzone. After the Hornets were held to a three and out to start the fourth quarter, Brungardt launched a 54 yarder that was muffed by the Tiger returner and recovered at the 12-yard line. Three plays later, ESU scored to go up 45-35. His final punt came from his own 38-yard line with 3:02 left and went 62 yards and forced the Tigers to go 80 yards with 2:54 left. His 56 yard per punt average is the third best in a single game this year in Division II and tops among players with at least four punts in the game. He is leading the MIAA and ranked ninth in the nation in punting average.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Offensive
Luke Sampson – Missouri Southern
Luke Sampson had one of the best performances of his career Saturday, leading the Lions to a comeback victory over No. 19-ranked Missouri Western. Missouri Southern trailed 34-26 with 32 seconds left in regulation, when Sampson led the offense on an 81-yard touchdown drive in 29 seconds, also converting the two-point attempt to force overtime. Southern won in double overtime, 47-41. Sampson threw for a career best 374 yards and four touchdowns, the fourth most passing touchdowns in a single game in school history. Although it was a rushing touchdown that sealed the victory, the Lion pass game was the difference maker in the upset victory.
 
Zach Zebrowski – Central Missouri
Zach Zebrowski went 28-for-38 for 324 yards with three touchdowns and added 38 rushing yards on two carries in Central Missouri’s 63-27 win at Lincoln. With his three passing touchdowns, Zebrowski, a redshirt junior, became the UCM single-season passing TD leader with 49 heading into the NCAA-II Playoffs.

Defensive
Zane Adams – Central Oklahoma
Zane Adams had a career day in the final game of the season. The junior recorded a game-high and career-high 14 tackles. He also added 3.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry.
 
John Johnson – Fort Hays State
John Johnson finished with a team-high 13 tackles in the loss to Emporia State. The junior completed the season with a team-high 89 tackles and reached double figures in tackles in three games
 
Special Teams
Grayson Miller – Central Oklahoma             
Grayson Miller had a season-best performance in the final game of the season. The freshman punter punted four times for 201 yards which included a season-long 68-yard punt in the third quarter.
 
Cole Lammel – Northwest Missouri
Cole Lammel punted five times with three of them being downed inside the 20-yard line. Lammel had another punt downed at the one-yard line wiped away by an unsportsmanlike conduct leaping penalty on Nebraska Kearney that kept a Bearcat drive alive. Lammel also kicked off nine times and produced two touchbacks. Northwest recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff of the game to set up an early touchdown.
 
NOMINATIONS FOR FOOTBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Offensive: Jay Harris (Northwest Missouri), Seth Cromwell (Missouri Western), Travis Dixon (Fort Hays State), Lucas Oitker (Washburn) 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
Week Nine: Braden Gleason, Emporia State
Week Ten: Zach Zebrowski, Central Missouri
Week Eleven: Braden Gleason, Emporia State
 
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
Week Nine: Carter Olesen, Northwest Missouri
Week Ten: Dakari Streeter, Missouri Western
Week Eleven: Ian McSwain, Missouri Southern & Rico Payton, 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
Week Nine: Tyler Schultze, Emporia State
Week Ten: Evan Williams, Missouri Western
Week Eleven: Ross Brungardt, Emporia State