KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its first football athletes of the week from the 2025 season. Washburn’s quarterback Justin Lewis was selected as Week Zero’s Offensive Athlete of the Week, Missouri Southern’s linebacker Zach Bergmann was selected as the Defensive Athlete of the Week, and Washburn’s kicker Aidan Battle was selected as the Special Teams Athlete of the Week.
OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Justin Lewis, QB, Washburn
Justin Lewis completed 33-of-42 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns in his Ichabod debut where Washburn defeated Truman State 20-17 at home. The graduate transfer from Kennesaw, Ga., completed 20 consecutive passes to break an MIAA and a Washburn single-game record (the previous record of consecutive passes was 18, set by Northwest Missouri’s Travis Miles in 2000). Lewis completed passes to eight different receivers in the win.
DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zach Bergmann, LB, Missouri Southern
Linebacker Zach Bergmann registered a career-high 14 tackles (six solo, eight assists) as Missouri Southern picked up a 33-19 victory over Midwestern State on Aug. 30 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium. Bergmann, a team captain, helped the Lions defense limit Midwestern State to 88 total rushing yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Aidan Battle, K, Washburn
Early in the fourth, Washburn kicker Aidan Battle extended the Ichabods’ lead to 20-10 over Truman State after drilling a 51-yard field goal — just one yard shy of the school record of 52, set in 1972 by Russ Hill against Northern Colorado and Charles Goodnight against Emporia State in 1985. Battle also landed a 37-yard field goal midway through the second half to tie the game at 10–10. Overall, Battle finished 2-of-2 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points to contribute eight points in Washburn’s 20-17 season opening victory. Aidan Battle's 51-yard field goal was the longest by an Ichabod since Justin Linn hit a 51-yard attempt at Nebraska Kearney on Sept. 5, 2013.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Isaiah Harris, RB, Nebraska Kearney
Isaiah Harris carried the ball 21 times for a career-high 165 yards and one touchdown as Nebraska Kearney beat in-state rival Wayne State 28-21 on the road. The redshirt senior had a 55-yard scoring run on the second play from scrimmage, a 26-yard scamper on the Loper’s second touchdown drive and a 41-yard run on the game-winning drive with less than two minutes remaining. The game marked Harris’s fifth 100-yard effort game as a Loper.
Ben Harris, QB, Emporia State
Ben Harris had over 300 yards of total offense in his first career start to lead Emporia State to a 27-7 victory over Minot State. The junior quarterback led the Hornets on scoring drives on five of the first six drives (not including the end of the half) as Emporia led 27-0 midway through the third quarter. Harris finished with 292 yards on 37-of-52 passing attempts with two touchdowns and added 18 yards on five rushes.
Landon Boss, LB, Emporia State
In his first game as a Hornet, Landon Boss led Emporia State to the best defensive scoring effort of the MIAA in the opening weekend in a 27-7 win over Minot State. Boss had a team high nine tackles with three tackles for loss and one forced fumble on the night. The Hornets held the Beavers to just seven points and 13 passing yards. Boss had a tackle for loss and forced fumble inside the ESU 30-yard line on Minot State's opening drive of the second half. After the first weekend of play, Emporia State leads the nation in pass efficiency defense and passing yards allowed, fifth in scoring defense, seventh in first downs allowed, and 13th in total defense while leading the MIAA in those categories.
Qualyn McQueen Sr., NB, Nebraska Kearney
In his first game as Loper, Qualyn McQueen Sr. had a team-high eight tackles (three solo) and one interception. Before leaving the game early due to injury, McQueen’s pick helped set up a short field, 42-yard touchdown drive that gave the Lopers’ a 14-7 lead. He also accounted for one of Nebraska Kearney’s six tackles for loss in the Lopers 28-21 season-opening win over Wayne State.
Caden Dodson, K, Emporia State
Caden Dodson was 5-of-5 on kicks to total nine points as Emporia State defeated Minot State 27-7 to open the season. He hit field goals of 26 and 35 yards while hitting all three extra point attempts against the Beavers.
ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSE
– Nathan Glades [Missouri Southern], Caleb Heavner [Fort Hays State], William Mason [Central Oklahoma]
DEFENSE – Kamble Haverkamp [Washburn], Cameron Done [Central Oklahoma], Gaven Haselhorst [Fort Hays State]
SPECIAL TEAMS – Drake Reese [Missouri Southern], Dominic Myers [Northwest Missouri], Logan Russell [Fort Hays State]
WEEK ZERO:
Offensive – Justin Lewis, QB, Washburn
Defensive – Zach Bergmann, LB, Missouri Southern
Special Teams – Aidan Battle, K, Washburn