It was an emotional week and game day in McMinnville, Ore., after the slaying of Linfield student and Wildcats player Parker Moore. But as part of a big first quarter, Jordan Giza emerges from a crowd to return a punt 63 yards for a touchdown and put Linfield up 21-0 on Chapman in the first quarter. It's the D3football.com Play of the Week, sponsored by the City of Salem, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLII.

We solicit video of top plays from every Division III football program and this was our top clip.

Week 12 Play of the Week finalists

Here are some great plays which deserved extra mention:

• Seve Esparrago pulls in the go-ahead touchdown in overtime on a pass from Peter Williams to lift the MIT Engineers to a 27-20 win in overtime at Husson in Saturday's first-round game. Watch
• John Carroll return man Kelly Culbertson got the Blue Streaks off on the right foot, returning Centre's opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. JCU won the first-round NCAA Division III playoff game 63-28. Watch
• Logan Schrader scrambles and finds Will Ebert in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown with 4:30 to play, putting Wartburg up 37-28. The Knights had started first-and-goal at the 2 but were pushed back to the 10 for third down. They held on to beat St. Thomas 37-31. Watch
• Mason Studer kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired to lift Christopher Newport to a 29-26 upset win at Delaware Valley. Watch

You can see more nominated plays on our Week 12 highlights playlist below, and even more top plays on the D3sports.com YouTube channel.

Week 12 Play of the Week top nominees

Use the forward and back buttons to scroll through the list below.