September 7
Sam Wagner - Slotback - Lawrence University
Freshman - Salem, Wis.
Wagner made the most of his first college football game and returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown on his first touch. In Lawrence’s 31-24 loss at St. Scholastica, Wagner returned a kickoff early in the first quarter to give the Vikings a 7-3 lead. In 107 seasons of Lawrence football, Wagner is the first freshman to return a kickoff for a touchdown the first time he ever touched the ball. It was Lawrence’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since Nate Nelson returned one for a score against Knox in 2009. Wagner also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass and finished with six catches for 69 yards.
September 13
Josh Pasek - Running Back - Ripon College
Senior - Sleepy Hollow, Ill.
Pasek showed his versatility in Saturday’s 64-19 conference-opening victory over Lake Forest. The senior running back fielded a punt mid-way through the third quarter and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown and a 50-13 Ripon lead. In addition to his only punt return, Pasek also returned three kickoffs for 69 yards, which included a long of 37 yards. He also rushed for 50 yards on six carries and caught three passes for 47 yards, gaining 229 all-purpose yards in the game.
September 20
Jordan Marks - Punter- Illinois College
Freshman - Sullivan, Ill.
Marks highlighted the Illinois College special teams in the teams 27-7 win over Lake Forest College on Saturday afternoon. He punted five times for 213 yards (42.6 avg) and had a long of 58. So far on the season Marks has punted 13 times for 556 yards (42.8 avg) and has had two punts of over 50 yards. He also had pinned the opposition inside the 20 yard line four times. Marks’ 42.8 yard average currently ranks him second in the conference.
September 27
Jacob Gahart - Kicker - Ripon College
Sophomore - Sullivan, Ill.
Gahart made both his field goal attempts on Saturday, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Red Hawks defeated Carroll University 27-24 to take sole possession of first place in the MWC. Gahart was also a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points and averaged 59.2 yards on his five kickoffs.
October 4
Nick Swartz - Defensive Back - Carroll University
Senior - Rockton, Ill.
Swartz gained 93 yards on two kickoff returns to help the Carroll University football team defeat Lake Forest College 15-7. On the season Swartz has 10 kick returns for 256 yards and leads the MWC with a 25.6 yard per return averave. The win improves Carroll to 4-1 overall, 3-1 in the MWC.
October 11
Travis Downey - Kicker - Illinois College
Freshman - Festus, Mo.
Downey was a perfect 2-for-2 kicking field goals and knocked down two extra points, including the game winner, in Illinois College’s 26-25 win over St. Norbert on Saturday afternoon. Downey started off the scoring for the Blueboys in the first quarter when he connected on a 22 yard field goal to give Illinois College a 3-0 lead and then hit a 32 yard field goal early in the second quarter to put the team back on top 6-3. His most important kick of the day, however, came after a Brett Eschman touchdown catch with 1:48 remaining in the game. Downey’s extra point gave the Blueboys a one point lead and was the eventual game winning point.
October 18
Logan Granera - Receiver - Grinnell College
Sophomore - Keokuk, Iowa
Granera put his versatility on display in Saturday’s 31-17 come-from-behind victory over Lawrence University. Not only did he boot a 42-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first half, he also returned two kickoffs for 74 yards including a 50-yard return, punted three times and kicked off six times for a 53.3-yard average. He also had an 18-yard touchdown catch for the final score of the game while finishing with six catches for 69 yards overall. His efforts helped Grinnell rally from a 17-0 deficit with 31 unanswered points as the Pioneers improved to 5-2, their best start since 1998.
October 25
Adam Gruett - Punter - St. Norbert College
Junior - Hilbert, Wis.
Gruett enjoyed a banner day punting in a 58-14 win over Grinnell. Gruett punted four times for an average of 50.8 yards per punt, setting a new St. Norbert game record. Three of Gruett’s punts were inside the Grinnell 20-yard line and the fourth was a touchback. For the game, Grinnell had an average starting field position of its own 19-yard line.
November 1
Dan Sjoquist - Defensive Back- St. Norbert College
Junior - Kingsford, Mich.
Sjoquist paced St. Norbert in special teams during a 37-13 win over Ripon this past Saturday. Sjoquist returned three kickoffs for a total of 81 yards, including a 49-yard jaunt on the second half’s opening kickoff to set the Green Knights up at the Ripon 29-yard line. Sjoquist also blocked a field goal just before halftime to preserve a 21-13 halftime lead.
November 8
Jacob Gahart - Kicker- Ripon College
Sophomore - Elkhorn, Wis.
Gahart made all nine of his extra point attempts in Ripon’s 63-7 victory at Lawrence on Saturday, as he finished the season third in scoring in the MWC and first among kickers. Against the Vikings, Gahart also scored the first touchdown of his career, finding the end zone from three yards out on a fake field goal.