10/29/2012 - http://www.miac-online.org/news/2012/10/29/FOOTBALL_1029120017.aspx
MIAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Griffin Neal, Concordia
Fargo, N.D. / South
The Concordia football team continued their great season Saturday
with a convincing 51-27 win over Carleton. Leading the way in the
Cobbers latest victory was quarterback Griffin
Neal (Fargo, N.D./South), who both passed and ran his team
up and down the field. The versatile sophomore racked up nearly 300
yards of total offense while accounting for five total touchdowns
without a turnover in the victory. For his performance, Neal was
named the MIAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week.
Neal was productive in the passing game, completing 10-of-18
attempts for 257 yards and three touchdowns. His longest pass of
the day was a 74-yard scoring strike to give the Cobbers a 21-7
lead early in the second quarter. He was also good on the ground,
running 10 times for 41 yards and two scores, for overall totals of
298 yards and five TDs, with a combined average of more than 10
yards per attempt. This season, Neal has 1,300 passing yards and 16
scores, and 252 rushing yards with four TDs on the ground.
The big win helped Concordia improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the
MIAC, and the Cobbers moved up to No. 16 in this week's AFCA
Coaches' Poll. Concordia is currently in second place, and will
have a shot at earning a share of the MIAC title this weekend when
undefeated and third-ranked St. Thomas (8-0, 6-0) comes to
Moorhead. The two teams will meet in one of the MIAC's marquee
games in 2012 Saturday at 1:10 p.m.
MIAC Football Defensive
Player-of-the-Week
Maze Thompson, Saint John's
Shoreview. Minn. / Mounds View
The Saint John's football team came from behind Saturday to beat
Gustavus, 31-17, as the Johnnie defense allowed only a single field
goal after halftime. Leading the defensive charge was linebacker
Maze Thompson (Shoreview, Minn. / Mounds View),
who submitted a ridiculously full stat line in the SJU win. The
sophomore led his team in tackles, including three behind the line
of scrimmage, while also forcing a fumble and blocking a field
goal. For his performance, Thompson was named the MIAC Football
Defensive Player-of-the-Week.
Thompson finished 12 total tackles - nine solo - which led the
Johnnies in Saturday's win over the Gusties. he had one sack, three
tackles-for-a-loss and a forced fumble to his credit as well, and
the average Gustavus gain on Thompson's 12 tackles was just 2.6
yards per play. He also blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt in the
fourth quarter, which would have cut SJU's lead to 24-20. This
season, Thompson has 51 total tackles (21 solo), two sacks and 6.5
tackles-for-a-loss, which ranks No. 8 in the MIAC.
Saint John's used Saturday's win to get back to .500 overall at
4-4, and now the Johnnies have won two-straight in league play and
improved to 2-4. They'll look to continue their late-season
momentum Saturday when they travel to Saint Paul to face Hamline.
Kickoff for the Johnnies and Pipers is scheduled for 1 p.m.
MIAC Football Special Teams
Player-of-the-Week
Landen Strilzuk, Bethel
Luck, Wis. / Luck
Bethel had big plays in all phases of the game in Saturday's 56-21
win over Hamline, but perhaps none were bigger than the one turned
in on special teams by Landen Strilzuk (Luck,
Wis.). The Royals' sophomore made history Saturday when he took a
punt back 70 yards for a third-quarter touchdown that served as the
lasting highlight on a great day for Bethel. For his big play,
Strilzuk was named the MIAC Football Special Teams
Player-of-the-Week.
With just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter,
Strilzuk fielded a Hamline punt on his own 30 yard line, and by the
time the return was over, he was crossing the goal line to push
Bethel's lead to 49-14 with a spectacular 70-yard return. The punt
return was the longest recorded by a Bethel player since Kim Walker
took a punt back 98 yards in 1975, and it was the first Royal punt
return for a touchdown since 2001. This season, Strilzuk has
returned nine punts for 116 yards and the one score, and his 12.9
yard average ranks second among MIAC players who qualify.
The win helped Bethel - which is now ranked No. 13 in the AFCA
Coaches' Top 25 Poll - improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference
play. The Royals are currently tied for second in the MIAC
standings. Saturday, Bethel faces a big road test when it travels
to Northfield, Minn., to take on a good St. Olaf squad. The Royals
and Oles are set to kick off the crucial MIAC contest at 1 p.m.