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| Matthew Jackson UMHB athletics photo |
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Games of Nov. 15-16, 2024
The Team of the Week, presented by Scoutware, is D3football.com's weekly honor roll, in its 26th season of recognizing the top performance at each position from the previous week. Players are nominated by schools.
Offense
QB John Whelan, Sr., Catholic
Whelan became the eighth quarterback in Catholic U. history to toss five touchdowns in a game and the second to score six touchdowns in a single contest as Catholic defeated Juniata 56-22. The senior posted the fourth-best single-game completion percentage (81%) in program history while throwing for 377 yards. Whelan's 97-yard TD to Anthony Giordano is the longest play from scrimmage in program history.
OL Nathan Kovach, Matt Russo, Matt Wrather, Luke Gibbons, Grant Myers, John Carroll
John Carroll notched the most rushing yards (182) and passing yards (288) Marietta has surrendered this season in a 49-35 JCU win. The Blue Streaks put up 470 yards, more than twice the season-long average, and JCU did not allow a sack. Troy Mrukowski and Mike Bartusiak rotated in on the line.
RB Arsen Shtefan, Sr., Springfield
In the Pride's 55-20 win over SUNY-Maritime to secure their fourth consecutive NEWMAC championship, the fullback carried the ball 25 times for 231 yards and scored three touchdowns, as he averaged more than 9.0 yards per carry.
RB Jordin Lennon, Sr., Christopher Newport
Lennon ran for 234 yards and scored four touchdowns on just 15 carries as Christopher Newport rolled to a 70-31 win ws. TCNJ. The Captains ran for 458 yards on the night.
WR Kristopher Martin, Sr., McMurry
Martin had 13 catches for 212 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday's 49-12 season-ending conference win over Centenary, which wrapped up a share of the SCAC regular season title. Martin broke the program record for career receptions with 204.
WR Collin Brunstein, Sr., Illinois College
Brunstein caught 14 passes for a school-record 335 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score in IC's 96-14 win over Beloit. The four touchdown catches increased his career total to 77 and made him the NCAA's all-time leader (for all divisions) in career touchdown receptions.
TE Mychal Stillwell, Fr., LaGrange
Stillwell caught seven passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns as LaGrange defeated Southern Virginia 50-24. The win improved LaGrange to 6-4, 6-2 in the USA South, after coming off a winless season.
Defense
DE Jack Middleton, Fr., Washington U.
Middleton had tive total tackles, four of them solo, along with three tackles for loss, all of them sacks as Wash U defeated Augustana 45-24. His sacks resulted in 28 yards lost for the Vikings.
DT Mason Cavness, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Cavness totaled eight tackles against Howard Payne, including five solo takedowns. He added three tackles for eight yards lost and one sack for five yards lost. His sack came in the end zone, for a safety. Cavness also forced a fumble in the win.
DT Jake Walker, So., Wartburg
Walker had 12 total tackles, four of them solo, in Wartburg's win against Loras. It was his career high in total tackles and the first double-digit tackle game of his career. Walker had two and a half tackles for loss, two hurries and a fumble recovery.
DE Luke Nolan, Jr., DePauw
Nolan had three sacks, all of them tackles for loss. One of his solo sacks came on fourth down and forced a fumble. The Tigers held Wabash to 30 yards on the ground.
LB Joey Alvarez, So., Rockford
Alvarez tied his career-high with 19 tackles, including 16 solo tackles, on the road against Lakeland. He also posted a career-high three and a half tackles for loss, two sacks and forced a pair of fumbles, both of which gave Rockford a short field and led to touchdowns on the ensuing drives.
LB Kalen Davis-White, Sr., Pacific Lutheran
Davis-White had 13 tackles, including 11 solo takedowns, one interception and a pass break up in PLU's 34-21 win over Puget Sound. Davis-White and the rest of the defense shut out the Loggers in the second half to win "The Trophy" for the fourth consecutive season.
LB Charles Kobe, Sr., Lakeland
Kobe intercepted a pair of passes, his first two interceptions of the season, leading an effort where Muskies intercepted Rockford five times to edge the Regents 35-28 in their season finale.
CB Eric Sparkman, Jr., Morrisville State
Sparkman led the Mustang defense to a 31-14 win over Hartwick to wrap up the season schedule with a 5-2 Empire 8 record. He posted a team high 13 tackles (8 solo), two for a loss, while also recording a pass breakup.
S Matt Jung, So., Bethel
Jung had a career-high 16 tackles, 10 of them solo, and forced a fumble in Bethel's 41-33 loss at No. 3 St. John's in the MIAC championship game.
S Collin Murphy, Sr., Denison
Murphy filled the stat sheet in Denison's season-ending win at Ohio Wesleyan. Murphy intercepted an Ohio Wesleyan fourth quarter pass to help preserve the Denison lead in the 28-14 victory. He tallied six tackles (one for loss), forced a fumble and added a pass breakup for the Big Red defense.
CB Eric Lovell, Fr., Westfield State
Lovell picked a pair of passes in the Owls 22-7 win over Fitchburg State, returning one to the Falcons' 7-yard line to set up a TD run. He added pair of tackles on the afternoon.
Special teams
K Edwin Lopez, So., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Lopez set a conference record and tied the NCAA Division III mark with six made field goals. His made field goals were from 35, 47, 34, 25, 41 and 23 yards out. Lopez totaled 23 points scored in the contest.
P Vicente Lyon, Jr., Hobart
Lyon supported Hobart's lockdown defense with four punts averaging 50.5 yards in a 37-7 win over Rochester. His first punt traveled 58 yards and was downed at the UR 7. His next punt was a 51-yarder that was downed at the 16. Lyon's third punt covered 45 yards. It was the only one that was returned, 14 yards to the UR 20. His final punt went 48 yards and was downed at the 3, helping set up a Hobart pick six to seal the win.
RET Matthew Jackson, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Jackson returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown and also returned a punt 42 yards for a score. His other punt return traveled 20 yards, giving him a total of 148 yards on three returns in the win against Howard Payne.
ST Gio Nowotarski, Sr., Concordia (Wis.)
Nowotarski recovered a blocked field goal and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown to keep the game close in a 27-17 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran.