Games of Nov. 6, 2004
Offense
QB Kam Kniss, So., North Central
On the day, Kniss was 26-for-36 for 385 yards and three TDs. With 18 touchdown passes this year, Kniss also topped the previous season school record of 16. Kniss has thrown for 2,229 yards in 2004, surpassing the school's 37-year old mark of 1,928. He broke the record on a 49-yard pass play to Eric Stuedemann late in the first quarter that resulted in the Cardinals' second touchdown en route to a 31-10 win against No. 11 Augustana.
OL Josh Adkinson, Will Gavit, Travis Sharp, Dustin Meaux and Merlin Friesenhahn, Texas Lutheran
The Bulldogs averaged 6.5 yards per carry and needed to throw just 12 passes all day. The team thrived despite some recent shuffling because of injury. Gavit went back and forth from offense to defense, and Dustin Nessel stepped in at center when Sharp couldn't go very long because of injury. David Acton also stepped in when Gavit went back to defensive line. The Bulldogs ran for 319 yards, nearly twice their season average.
RB Mike Laroche, Sr., Western New England
In his final game, Mike rushed for a career high 250 yards on a school-record 52 carries with a school-record tying four touchdowns. He had three of his scores (school record 92 yards, 1 and 1 yards) in the third quarter to help the Golden Bears rally from a 21-point halftime deficit (28-7). He also scored the game's first TD (10 yards). Western New England finishes with a winning record for the first time in six years.
RB Jason Hardwick, Jr., Kings Point
Hardwick took over again for the Mariners in their Hoffman Cup battle at St. Lawrence, running 47 times for 252 yards. He scored all five KP touchdowns in the 33-27 overtime victory, including a game-winning, 12-yard jaunt on the Mariners' second play from scrimmage in the extra session.
RB Kevin Nelson, Jr., Wesley
The 5-3 tailback set a school and an ACFC record in rushing and all-purpose yards with 282 yards on 30 carries. Nelson also broke the ACFC season rushing record and now has 1,395 yards on the year with one regular season game to go.
WR Colin Sinclair, Sr., Wheaton
Sinclair caught 16 passes for 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 56-14 win against North Park.
WR Nick Cushman, Sr., Albright
Cushman set a school record for receiving yards in a season as he went over the 200-yard receiving mark for the second time this season. He had 12 catches for 223 yards and a pair of scores as Albright knocked Moravian out of the playoff hunt. His 1,352 yards receiving eclipsed the previous mark of 1,227 set by Ryan Dietz in 1996.
Defense
DL Chris Purtell, Sr., Hobart
Purtell had 11 tackles, four solo and four for loss in a 33-27 overtime win against Union for the Liberty League title. Purtell helped deny Union a potential game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game, standing up the ballcarrier from his left tackle spot before a teammate knocked the ball loose.
DL Rob Wilkins, Sr., Delaware Valley
Wilkins was in the Wilkes backfield all day and helped limit Division III-leading rusher Brett Trichilo (185.0 avg) to 61 yards on 25 carries. He finished with seven tackles (three solo), four for loss and half a sack.
DL Michael Blair, Jr., Trinity (Conn.)
Blair had two of Trinity's five sacks and seven tackles (three solo) as the Bantams held Amherst to 50 yards passing.
DL Dustin Hertel, Jr., DePauw
Hertel had a career-high nine tackles (six solo), two and a half for loss and a sack and a half
LB Thadd Sharrett, Sr., Marietta
Sharett had 14 tackles, nine solo, as Marietta shut out then-ranked Baldwin-Wallace 26-0. He moved from the secondary last week and came up with five tackles for loss, a sack, a pass broken and a forced fumble in the win. He also added three quarterback hurries.
LB Ken Ware, Sr., Coe
Ware recorded a career-high 18 tackles (eight solo) in a 24-17 double overtime win over Simpson. Downed two punts on the 1-yard line on special teams. With Simpson leading 17-14 with one minute left in the fourth quarter, Ware tackled Simpson's punter for a 9-yard loss after he had bobbled the snap. The play set up the game-tying field goal by Coe with four seconds left.
LB Jonathon Powers, So., Anderson
Powers set a school record for tackles in a game with 24 and solos with 18 in his first career start. He finished with three tackles for loss, a sack, caused a fumble and broke up a pass.
DB Anthony Banks, So., Marietta
Banks had two interceptions in Marietta's 26-0 win over No. 20 Baldwin-Wallace. His third quarter interception was returned 57 yards for a TD to put the Pioneers ahead 23-0. His second pick came late in the fourth frame and was returned to 39 yards to the B-W 21, stalling another Yellow Jacket drive. He added seven tackles, five solo.
DB Nick McFall, Simpson
McFall had a career-high 12 solo tackles (13 total) in Simpson's loss to Coe 24-17. He had two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass broken up.
DB Phil Gasker, Jr., Muhlenberg
Gasker had 10 tackles, seven solo and one for loss, as the Mules shut out the McDaniel offense in a 7-6 loss.
DB Luke Cunkelman, Jr., Waynesburg
Cunkelman recorded the first career interception for a touchdown in the Yellow Jackets' 30-19 win against Frostburg State. The interception was his sixth of the season, a career high and team high. Cunkelman also led the team with a career-high eight tackles in the win.
Special teams
K Dino Zucic, Sr., John Carroll
Zucic accounted for 13 of John Carroll's 19 points in a 19-6 upset of Capital, connecting on his only extra-point attempt and hitting field goals from 25, 42, 25 and 37 yards.
P John Sullivan, Jr., Bridgewater State
Sullivan punted six times for an average of 35.5 yards per punt, putting five inside the 20 and the other at the 22. None of them were returned. Massachusetts Maritime's drives started at the 13, 19, 2, 22, 4 and 17-yard line.
RET Chris Martin, So., McDaniel
Martin's 76-yard punt return for a touchdown salvaged a dismal offensive day for the Green Terror and was the final margin in a 7-6 win against Muhlenberg.