NSIC Players of the Week: Week #10 (11/6)

[wscsuperfan]

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#15 Hayden Ekern (QB, 6-2, 205, Jr., Chicago, Ill. / St. Rita HS) - Minnesota State
- Completed 22-of-33 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns
- Marks the second time in his career that he has thrown for more than 300 yards in a game
- Also recorded 11 rushing yards and two touchdown carries

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#9 Spencer Wehr (LB, 6-2, 230, Sr., Cloquet, Minn. / Cloquet HS) - Bemidji State
- Led BSU with nine tackles, six solo, along with a tackle for a loss in a 27-14 win over MSUM
- Added an interception that was returned 29 yards
- Sealed the game with his interception out near midfield late in the fourth quarter

NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#81 Curt Cox (PK, 6-1, 185, R-Sr., Dodgeville, Wis. / Mineral Point HS) - Minnesota Duluth
- Led the NSIC in kicking points scored with two field goals and four PATs in a 44-32 win over CSP
- Was 2-of-2 on field goals and 4-of-4 on PAT attempts for 10 points
- Had the second longest field goal in the league, a 40 yard effort
- Has played nine straight games without missing a PAT going 38-of-38 over that span
- Named NSIC Specials Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season (9/25/23)

[wscsuperfan]

Others Under Consideration

OFFENSE

Jarod Epperson (AUGIE)
- Rushed for 172 yards on 19 carries to average 9.1 yards per rush
- Reached the end zone on a carry that lifted him over the 3,000-yard mark for his career
- Became the fourth Viking all-time to cross the 3K mark
- Had a long rush of 36 yards
- Had five rushes of 14-plus yards

Brice Peters (BSU)
- Had five catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-14 win over MSUM
- His first touchdown catch of 42 yards helped put the Beavers ahead for the first time
- His second score turned out to be the game-winner with a 14-yard catch over the middle

Traivon Dyson (UMary)
- Caught 6 passes for 160 yards and 2 TDs in UMary’s 32-28 comeback win over SMSU
- Caught a 38 yard TD pass early in the 4th quarter to pull the Marauders within 28-25
- Ranks third in NSIC with 8 TD catches

Watkins-Hogue Kendrick (WSC)
- Had season-high nine catches for 88 yards and three TD's in 28-20 win at Sioux Falls
- Hauled in TD catches of 35, 2 and 5 yards versus Cougars
- Had nine catches on 11 targets with long reception of 35 yards

Sylvere Campbell (WSU)
- Had five receptions for 192 total yards
- Included two touchdown catches, including a 79-yarder
- Averaged 38.4 yards per catch

DEFENSE

Seth Baker (AUGIE)
- Had a forced fumble and a tackle for loss
- Recorded five solo tackles and one assisted tackle
- Forced a fumble in the second quarter as the quarterback was making a move for a first down

Mason Phillips (UMary)
- Had two sacks, recovered a fumble and made five solo tackles in the Marauders 32-28 win over SMSU
- Recovered a fumble on the second play of the game to set up the opening score of the game
- Sacked the SMSU QB on a 4th and 4 play on the UMary 26
- On the 1st play after UMary took a 32-28 lead, Phillips sacked the SMSU QB for a 8 yard loss

Khai West (MSU)
- Recorded two interceptions
- His first interception was in the end zone for a touchback
- The Mavericks would then drive all the way down field to score a touchdown
- His second interception came in the third quarter and he returned it 33 yards to the WSU 30
- The Mavericks would score a touchdown four plays later to go up 35-14
- Also recorded two tackles

Isaiah Bigby (MINOT)
-Near-record for single-game tackles, recording 20 against the Northern Michigan
- The 20 tackles are third-most in Minot State history
- Set Minot State career record with 229 tackles
- Added an assisted tackle for a loss
- Forced a fumble and recovered it

Alex Schall (WSC)
- Recorded team-high 15 tackles in Wildcats' 28-20 win at Sioux Falls
- Credited with 11 solo and four assisted tackles
- Helped WSC defense create three turnovers, resulting in 14 Wildcat points
Clay Schueffner (WSU)

- Racked up 10 total tackles
- Registered a pass breakup
- Seven stops were solo tackles

SPECIAL TEAMS

Avery Book (AUGIE)
- Punted three times for an average of 51 yards
- All three punts traveled at least 50 yards, placing two inside the 20
- Continues to lead the NSIC in punt average and has sent an NSIC-best 15 punts 50-plus yards

Kevin Powell (UMary)
- Hit a 20 yard field goal and made all three extra point attempts in a 32-28 win over SMSU
- Ran for 17 yards and a first down out of punt formation on 4th-and-10
- Lone punt of the day covered 57 yards
- Is 10-of-12 on field goals this season

Trey Vaval (MSU)
- Returned two punts for 33 yards
- Returned three kickoffs for 71 yards

Tristan Root (WSU)
- Had three punts totaling 151 yards
- Averaged over 50 yards per kick
- Dropped one of the three punts inside the Maverick 20 yard line