2004 Midwest Conference Football


Players of the Week

November 12, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Nov. 12


Derek Leonard
Illinois C.

Leonard, a senior quarterback from Springfield, Ill., passed for 461 yards on 44 of 68 throwing. Three passes were for touchdowns while he also ran for one and threw for two two-point conversions. Leonard broke three school records in the game.

Defensive


Josh Heisler
Ripon

Heisler, a senior linebacker from Campbellsport, Wis., made 13 tackles and returned a fumble for a 51-yard touchdown in the win over Beloit.

Special Teams


Willie Thompson
Illinois C.

Thompson, a first-year punter/defensive end from Carthage, Ill. (Carthage HS), helped keep St. Norbert at bay offensively with four punts that averaged 41.5 yards. Two punts fell inside the 20-yard line and his first two efforts sailed 52 yards.


November 5, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Nov. 5


Rob Purlee
Monmouth

Purlee, a sophomore quarterback from Mt. Carroll, Ill., recorded five touchdown passes and no interceptions in the Fighting Scots' win over Grinnell. The sophomore earned the school record for scoring passes with 24.

Defensive


Casey Urlacher
Lake Forest

Urlacher, a junior middle linebacker from Lake Bluff, Ill., tallied 20 tackles in the victory over Knox. Seven of those tackles were solo. The junior also recorded a sack and an interception.

Special Teams

 

 

 


Ryan Brown
Grinnell

Brown, a senior from Kremmling, Col., returned a Monmouth punt 80 yards for Grinnell's second touchdown in the game.

 


October 29, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Oct. 29

Luke Ott
St. Norbert

Ott, a senior quarterback from Forest Junction, Wis., completed 25 of 35 passes for a school-record 421 yards and three touchdowns.

Jeff Pedersen
Grinnell
Pedersen, a senior quarterback from Kremling, Col., completed 35 of 52 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns in the victory over Knox.

Defensive


Jim Vento
Carroll

Vento, a senior strong safety from Sussex, Wis., tallied 20 tackles in the victory over Beloit. Eleven of those tackles were solo.

Co-Special Teams

Scott Stanton
Monmouth

Stanton, a senior from Monmouth, Ill., blocked two punts in the win over Lawrence. Staton also had one interception, broke up two passes and make six tackles.


Brad Guettel
Carroll
Guettel, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., had three punt returns for 125 yards , including a 90-yard return for a touchdown over Beloit.

October 22, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Oct. 22

Brandy Spoerl
Carroll

Spoerl, a senior wide receiver from New Berlin, Wis., caught nine passes for 231 yards in the victory over Lawrence. The senior caught four touchdown passes of 37, 22, 56 and 25 yards in the win.

Defensive


Mike Dempsey
Beloit

Dempsey, a linebacker from Durand, Ill., tallied 16 tackles in the victory over Knox. Six of those tackles were solo. The junior's efforts helped the Bucs complete a comeback win.

Special Teams

Marty Quinn
Lake Forest

Quinn, a first-year player from Evergreen Park, Ill. (Mt. Carmel HS), returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in the victory over Illinois C. The return is the longest of the season in the Midwest Conference.


October 15, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Oct. 15

Brock Bauer
Ripon

Bauer, a senior quarterback from Boulder Junction, Wis., threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over Grinnell. Bauer was 18 of 36 with no interceptions and his TD passes covered 31, 28 and 3 yards.

Defensive

 

 

Ryan Reader
St. Norbert

Reader, a senior defensive end from Little Chute, Wis., led St. Norbert's defense to a win over previously undefeated Monmouth with eight tackles, including three for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

Monmouth was averaging 434 yards per game but Reader and company allowed just 178 total yards.

Special Teams

Nate Reblin
Ripon

Reblin, a first-year player from Fond du Lac, Wis. (Horace Mann HS), was instrumental in the Red Hawks' win over previously undefeated Grinnell. Reblin had five tackles on special teams and recovered a fumbled punt snap and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown.


October 8, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Oct. 8

 

Jason Augustynowicz
St. Norbert

Augustynowicz, a senior running back from Oak Creek, Wis., rushed for a career-high 234 yards on 28 carries. Two of the senior's rushes were for touchdowns.

Defensive


Zack Reblin
Ripon

Reblin, a junior free safety from Fond du Lac, Wis., had five solo tackles and two interceptions in the victory over Lake Forest. Reblin's first interception resulted in a touchdown, and the second preserved the Red Hawks' victory with 33 seconds left.

Special Teams

Pat Dunne
Lake Forest

Dunne, a junior kicker/punter from Palos Heights, Ill. (Marist HS), made a career-high 44-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half against Ripon. Dunne averaged 41.7 yards on his three punts also.


October 1, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Oct. 1

Don Lackey
Lake Forest

Lackey, a sophomore quarterback from Lindenhurst, Ill., completed 26 of 41 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in the Foresters' win against Beloit. The sophomore's passing yardage total is the highest for a signal caller in 18 years for Lake Forest.

Defensive


Anthony Balthazor
Knox

Balthazor, a sophomore linebacker from Kankakee, Ill., totaled seven tackles in the win against Lawrence. Four of those tackles were for losses, including two quarterback sacks.

Special Teams

Joe Masciopinto
St. Norbert

Masciopinto, a sophomore defensive back from Harwood Heights, Ill., returned four punts for 110 yards and one touchdown in the Green Knights' win over Ripon. Masciopinto's touchdown run was an 83-yard return.


September 24, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Sept. 24

Tom Neagle
Knox

Playing in just his second collegiate game, Neagle caught 12 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-27 loss to Illinois C. The first-year wide receiver from Naperville, Ill., caught touchdowns of 29, 37 and 1 yards while averaging 19.3 yards per catch.

Defensive

Jerimiah Janssen
St. Norbert

Janssen, a senior linebacker from DePere, Wis., (West DePere HS) had a game-high 12 tackles with two quarterback sacks, three tackles-for-loss, one pass break-up and once forced fumble in St. Norbert's win over Lawrence.

Special Teams

Andy Full
Monmouth

Full, a sophomore kicker from Sublette, Ill., (Amboy HS) booted the game-winning field goal from 30 yards out with 1:18 left to play to lift Monmouth to the 26-23 win over Beloit. Full also had an extra point in the game.


September 10, 2001

Offensive

For the week ending Sept. 10

Rob Purlee
Monmouth

A sophomore quarterback from Mt. Carroll, Ill., Purlee threw four touchdowns and completed 12-of-20 passes for 251 yards in the win against Eureka.

Purlee had a long completion of 50 yards, was not sacked, and threw no interceptions.

Defensive


Jason Holinbeck
Lawrence

Holinbeck, a first-year cornerback from Neenah, Wis., (Neenah H.S.) had two interceptions and made four unassisted tackles in his debut for the Vikings.

His first interception came late in the third quarter and the second pick came in the final minute to preserve the opening-game win.

Special Teams

Chris Griffin
St. Norbert

A second-year kicker from Oneida, Wis., Griffin was a key in the Green Knights' opening-game win.

Griffin kicked two fourth quarter field goals to erase a two-point deficit after three quarters. Griffin nailed a 27-yard field goal and a 37-yard field goal.

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