Games of Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2006
Offense
QB Adam Shaffer, So., Mississippi College
Shaffer passed for 286 yards and five touchdowns — all in the first half — to pace the Choctaws' 52-28 "Backyard Brawl" win against rival Millsaps. He completed 15 of 20 passes and also rushed for 11 yards on three carries, left the game due to injury 30 seconds before halftime and did not return. His TD strikes were for 61, 4, 8, 75 and 3 yards, respectively.
OL Matt Capriani, Mark Shomper, Grant Holsinger, Anthony Cotton, Keaton Culver, Bridgewater (Va.)
Bridgewater totaled 505 yards of total offense in a 41-0 victory against McDaniel. The Eagles rushed for 318 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. The offensive line gave up only one sack on the day.
RB Lindy Crea, So., Hartwick
Crea totaled 328 yards of offense as Hartwick opened the season with a 30-28 victory against Endicott. He rushed 28 times for 220 yards and caught five passes for 108 yards. Crea scored two touchdowns, including an 80-yard run on the season’s first play from scrimmage.
RB Davey May, Jr., Merchant Marine
May had a personal-best 155 yards and three scores on 23 carries.
WR Micah Rushing, Sr., Guilford
Rushing — listed as a running back — did more receiving, catching seven balls for 68 yards and a career-high three scores in the Quakers 49-35 win against Ferrum.
WR Derek Stanley, Sr., UW-Whitewater
Stanley caught eight passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns in the Warhawks’ 75-14 win over Lakeland. He did all his work in the game’s first 20 minutes.
WR Mark Colson, Sr., Huntingdon
Colson recorded 13 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown in the Hawks’ 31-12 loss to Ithaca.
Defense
DL B.J. Bengard, Sr., Simpson
Bengard tallied 13 tackles (eight solo), two fumble recoveries, one sack and one forced fumble in Simpson’s 30-16 loss to Concordia (Wis.).
DL Nick Gunderson, So., St. John’s
Gunderson recorded only one tackle, but assisted on nine others in the Johnnies’ 15-11 win over UW-Eau Claire. His one solo tackle was a sack, while four of his nine assisted tackles were in Eau Claire’s backfield — one of which was for a safety.
DL Tony Burt, Sr., Bridgewater (Va.)
Burt led the Bridgewater defense in Saturday's 41-0 shutout over McDaniel, finishing with five total tackles with four coming behind the line of scrimmage. He also finished with two of the Eagles’ five sacks and two quarterback hurries.
LB Brandon Huntbach, So., Wesley
Huntbach had 11 tackles (six solo), 3.5 for a loss of 11 yards, one sack (3 yards) and an interception as Wesley defeated Waynesburg 41-14.
LB Brian Cottone, So., Lebanon Valley
Cottone blocked a potential game-winning field goal and finished with seven tackles in Lebanon Valley’s 13-12 win over Gettysburg in the Flying Dutchmen’s season opener on Saturday. With LVC clinging to its 13-12 lead with 1:49 remaining, Cottone blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt. His seven tackles tied for a team-high. He also had one pass breakup.
LB John Scardullo, So., Elmhurst
Scardullo led Elmhurst's defense to a 34-0 shutout win over Benedictine. He recorded a team-high 11 tackles and forced three fumbles with Elmhurst recovering two of the fumbles. The Bluejay defense allowed only 128 total yards and held the Eagles to just 2-of-10 on third-down attempts.
LB Tom Blumenauer, Sr., Ithaca
Blumenauer was making his first start at linebacker after earning all-conference honors as a free safety in 2005 and anchored Ithaca's first game in its new 3-4 defense. His 10 tackles and three tackles for loss were career-high totals, his fumble recovery set up a one-play Bomber TD drive and he helped Ithaca hold the Hawks to minus-four rushing yards (200 under their 2005 average).
DB Steve Teeples, Sr., UW-La Crosse
Teeples intercepted three passes, two in the fourth quarter, in the Eagles' upset win against Division I South Dakota State. His second interception snuffed out a potential scoring drive in the red zone, while his third came immediately following a UW-La Crosse fumble.
DB Nick Ihde, So., UW-La Crosse
The free safety tallied 17 tackles (nine solo) against South Dakota State. Ihde and the La Crosse secondary allowed the Division I-AA program only 137 passing yards in the 17-3 win for Division III.
DB Matt Stack, So., Rochester
Stack returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown with 2:23 to play to seal Rochester's 20-10 win over Johns Hopkins. He also added seven tackles (three solo) and one pass breakup.
DB Mike Ferriero, Sr., Wilkes
Ferriero broke up two passes and returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in a 31-3 win at William Paterson. He had just two tackles, but one was a tackle for loss.
Special teams
K Bill Nelson, Jr., Simpson
Nelson scored 10 of the 16 Storm points in a loss to Concordia (Wis.). He set a school record for most field goals in a game with three hitting from 37, 35 and 25 yards out. Nelson has hit all eight of his field goal attempts in his career.
P Paul Fortman, Jr., St. Olaf
Fortman was flawless in less than ideal conditions, battling wind and rain in the Oles' 31-14 win against Valley City State. He averaged 53.3 yards on three punts, 57.3 yards on kickoffs, was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points and started the scoring in the game with a 23 yard field goal, his only FG attempt of the day.
RET Zack Sloan, Fr., Centre
Sloan returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in his first collegiate game. He also had returns of 15, 12 and 10 yards.