Games of Aug.31-Sept. 1, 2001
Offense
QB Josh Willis, Jr., Rose-Hulman
Willis completed 20 of 34 passes for 273 yards in relief of the injured Jared Tharpe to engineer a 16-point fourth-quarter comeback and lift the Engineers to a 23-22 win at Earlham. Willis led a 10-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a one-yard quarterback sneak on fourth down to bring Rose-Hulman within 22-13 with 13:05 remaining, then put together drives of 79 and 31 yards for a touchdown and field goal.
OL Ken Knight (T), Ranardo Whitaker (G), Matt Huffman (C), Michael Day (T), Jarrett Smith/Dustin Newman (G), Bridgewater
The Eagles' line paved the way for 544 yards of total offense in Bridgewater's 29-20 win against No. 7 Western Maryland, while helping keep quarterback Jason Lutz from being sacked.
RB Chuck Moore, Sr., Mount Union
Moore carried 16 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-7 win against Allegheny, and also had a 75-yard kickoff return.
RB Ricardo Clarke, Carnegie Mellon
Clarke carried just nine times but went for 114 yards and a touchdown in the Tartans' 40-0 win against Randolph-Macon.
WR John Stephens, Jr., DePauw
Stephens caught 13 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and scored on a 67-yard punt return in the Tigers' 38-17 win against Rhodes.
WR Nate Jackson, Sr., Menlo
Jackson caught seven passes for an incredible 222 yards and three touchdowns in Menlo's 40-15 win against McMurry.
Defense
DL Brian Park, Jr., Capital
Park registered 10 total tackles, five solo, including a safety when he tackled the Thiel quarterback in the end zone for one of his three sacks.
DL Austin Crow, Jr., UW-Eau Claire
Crow posted 11 total tackles, eight for loss and three sacks in UW-Eau Claire's 25-10 win against St. John's. He added a fumble recovery as the Blugolds held the Johnnies to nine yards on 33 carries.
DL Russ Watson, Sr., Worcester State
Watson recorded eight tackles, five solo, and helped hold Nichols to 12-for-32 passing in a 35-15 win on opening night.
DL James Molnar, Sr., Washington U.
Molnar had six tackles, including 1½ sacks, in limiting Westminster (Mo.) to minus-31 yards rushing in a 34-27 win.
LB Nolan Jeffries, Sr., Emory & Henry
Jeffries led Emory & Henry with 13 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback sack. He also had a pass breakup on the afternoon. Emory & Henry held Methodist to only 153 yards in total offense, 70 passing and 83 rushing.
LB Ryan Moore, Sr., Gettysburg
Moore returned two interceptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns to spark the Bullets' 23-9 season-opening victory against Lebanon Valley, as well as posting 14 tackles (including eight solo and two for loss) and three pass breakups.
LB Jay Johnson, Sr., Brockport State
Johnson posted 13 tackles (six solo), four for loss and three of them sacks, in Brockport's 17-14 win against Cortland. He also forced a fumble in the closing minutes on Brockport's 14-yard line that preserved the victory.
DB Ryan Danielson, Sr., St. John's
Danielson had 12 tackles, 11 solo, broke up a pass and forced two fumbles in the Johnnies' 25-10 loss to UW-Eau Claire.
DB Perry Kraft, Sr., John Carroll
Kraft posted nine total tackles (seven solo) and had an interception in John Carroll's 23-6 win against Catholic. He broke up two other passes.
Special teams
K Carlos Martinez, Sr., Buena Vista
Martinez was all the offense that Buena Vista would need or get, as he hit five field goals. Martinez hit from 29, 45, 46, 47 and 49 yards.
P Luke McAlpin, Sr., Mississippi College
McAlpin punted six times for an average of 39.3 yards in a 15-3 win against archrival Millsaps, including one that spun to a stop on the Majors' 2-yard line.
RET Eddie Miller, Jr., Menlo
Miller returned three punts, one for 93 yards and a touchdown, and returned three kickoffs, including one for 57 yards, in Menlo's 40-15 win against McMurry.