KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new Football Athlete of the Week awards, presented by FieldTurf, for week five of the 2026 season. Missouri Western's Isaiah Tate returned as the Offensive Athlete of the Week, Central Oklahoma's Chris Fitzpatrick claimed the Bronchos' first Defensive Athlete of the Week honor, and Central Oklahoma's kicker Bradley Thao earned his second Special Teams Athlete of the Week award this season. 

 OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:  Isaiah Tate, QB, Missouri Western
Griffons’ quarterback Isaiah Tate powered the MoWest offense in a 46-29 win over Fort Hays State this past Saturday in St. Joseph. The junior from Cordova, Tennessee, completed 28-of-40 passes for 429 yards and six touchdowns. His six touchdown passes set a new single-game school record, while his 429 passing yards rank third and his 28 completions rank fourth in program history. Tate also added 20 rushing yards to finish with 449 yards of total offense — the sixth-most individual single-game total offense yards in program history. The Griffons finished their MIAA victory over the Lions with 605 yards of total offense, which is the eighth-most in program history. This is Tate’s second MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honor in the 2026 season, first earning the award in Week One.
 
 DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:  Chris Fitzpatrick, LB, Central Oklahoma   
Chris Fitzpatrick led a dominating performance by the Central Oklahoma defense in its close 19-14 win over then No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri last Saturday (Sept. 26) in Edmond. Fitzpatrick recorded nine tackles and two sacks, which included a strip-sack forced fumble in the second half. The senior linebacker made four solo tackles and played a part in five assisted tackles. His first sack came in the second quarter for a loss of 10 yards to stall a Northwest drive. His second sack came in the third quarter when he took down Northwest’s quarterback nine yards into the backfield, forcing a fumble that the Bronchos recovered at the Bearcats’ 24-yard line. Fitzpatrick is the first Broncho to earn MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honors this season.

 SPECIAL TEAMS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:  Bradley Thao, K, Central Oklahoma      
Bradley Thao has been named the MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week for the second time this season. Thao was responsible for 13 points in Central Oklahoma’s 19-14 victory over the then No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri last Saturday in Edmond. The Bronchos’ freshman kicker converted his only extra-point attempt and hit four field goals in the five-point win. Thao made kicks from 46 yards, 22 yards, 27 yards, and 23 yards to seal the win for the Bronchos. He also averaged 63.0 yards per kickoff and had three touchbacks on five kicks. 
 
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
DJ Brown, RB, Central Missouri   
DJ Brown led the Mules offense in Central Missouri’s 24-14 MIAA road win at Missouri Southern in Joplin last Saturday (Sept. 26). The fifth-year running back rushed for a game-high 156 yards on 28 carries with two rushing touchdowns. Through four games, Brown ranks second in the MIAA with an average of 100.5 yards per game and third with 402 rushing yards on 64 carries. He currently leads the MIAA with seven rushing touchdowns through four games. 
 
Ja’Daniel Nettles, RB, Central Oklahoma   
Ja'Daniel Nettles accomplished the rare feat of gaining 100 yards rushing against the previously No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri as the Bronchos beat the Bearcats 19-14 in Edmond. Nettles rushed for 114 yards on 18 carries for an average of 6.3 yards per rush. The junior running back also led the Bronchos with seven receptions out of the backfield for 36 receiving yards. The Northwest Missouri defense had only allowed 149 total rushing yards in three games prior to Saturday's game at Central Oklahoma.
 
JC Heim, LB, Washburn      
JC Heim posted a game-high 14 tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a half sack, in Washburn’s 42-7 MIAA victory over Nebraska Kearney on the road. Heim led an Ichabod defense that allowed only 44 yards rushing and 68 yards passing in the game, which included only 55 total yards after the halftime intermission.
 
Marcus Williams, LB, Central Missouri      
Marcus Williams led the Mules defensively in Central Missouri’s 24-14 MIAA road win at Missouri Southern last Saturday (Sept. 26). The senior linebacker had a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown, which gave the Mules a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. Williams also paced the Central Missouri defense with nine tackles, including three solo and six assisted tackles. Through four games this season, Williams ranks sixth in the conference in tackles, with 32 total and eight per game.

ALSO NOMINATED:
OFFENSE – Cam Robinson [Washburn], Quincy Torry [Northwest Missouri], Allen Mitchell [Missouri Southern], Keyshawn Dooley [Fort Hays State]
DEFENSE – Mayes Doggan [Missouri Western], Eli Bertz [Northwest Missouri], Michael Polley [Fort Hays State], Riley Hammons [Missouri Southern]
SPECIAL TEAMS – Mason Grove [Missouri Western], Davis Barr [Northwest Missouri], Everett Grower [Washburn], Marty Mormino [Nebraska Kearney], Mitchell Cory [Missouri Southern], Kolton Coleman [Fort Hays State]
 
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WEEK ONE:
Offensive – Isaiah Tate, QB, Missouri Western
Defensive – Landon Boss, LB, Emporia State
Special Teams – Bradley Thao, K, Central Oklahoma   
 
WEEK TWO:
Offensive – Jordan Pachot, QB, Central Missouri
Defensive – Landon Boss, LB, Emporia State
Special Teams – Asher Huffman, K, Missouri Southern    
 
WEEK THREE:
Offensive – Jordan Pachot, QB, Central Missouri
Defensive – Landon Boss, LB, Emporia State
Special Teams – Will Peacock, K, Central Missouri    
 
WEEK FOUR:
Offensive – AG Floyd, RB, Fort Hays State
Defensive – JC Heim, LB, Washburn
Special Teams – Kaden Kiernan, K, Nebraska Kearney    
 
WEEK FIVE:
Offensive – Isaiah Tate, QB, Missouri Western
Defensive – Chris Fitzpatrick, LB, Central Oklahoma
Special Teams – Bradley Thao, K, Central Oklahoma