September 3
Jake Weller - Safety - Illinois College
Senior - Jacksonville, Ill./Jacksonville
Weller nearly willed the Blueboys to a season-opening victory when he intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble and made six tackles in a 23-21 road loss at Millikin. The senior safety’s interceptions both ended Millikin drives deep in Blueboy territory, including a pick in the endzone just before halftime. Weller’s fumble recovery at the Millikin 15-yard line early in the fourth quarter led to an Illinois College touchdown one play later that brought the Blueboys within two points at 23-21.
September 10
Brock Linde - Cornerback - Carroll College
Senior - Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam
Linde had a career evening during Carroll’s 35-6 road win at Beloit on Saturday. The senior cornerback became the eighth player in conference history to intercept three passes in a game, while also recording a team-high seven tackles and blocking a Beloit field goal. Linde returned his first interception, which came with less than a minute remaining in the first half, 51 yards to set up a 33-yard Pioneer touchdown on the next play. The senior cornerback’s second and third interceptions both ended Beloit drives inside the Carroll 35-yard line.
September 17
Jake Zeh - Defensive Tackle - Carroll College
Sophomore - Sleepy Hollow, Ill./Dundee-Crown
Zeh became the second Pioneer in as many weeks to be named the MWC Defensive Performer of the Week after the sophomore defensive lineman helped the Carroll defense earn a shutout in Saturday’s 42-0 win over Grinnell. Zeh recorded six total tackles against Grinnell, with 4.5 coming for a combined loss of 22 yards. The 6-1, 230-pound tackle also had three sacks and recovered a fumble that he forced.
September 24
Ben Westfeldt - Strong Safety - Grinnell College
Senior - Aspen, Colo./Aspen
Westfeldt (3 tackles) made a pair of huge fourth quarter plays to help Grinnell capture its first victory of the season, a 24-19 decision over Lawrence. Leading 21-13 midway through the fourth quarter, the senior safety recovered a fumble forced by Ryan Fletcher at the Lawrence 46-yard line. Nine plays later, the Pioneers kicked a field goal to stretch their lead to 24-13. After cutting the lead to 24-19, Lawrence was driving toward the winning score in the final two minutes when Westfeldt stepped in front of a Viking pass at the Grinnell 10-yard line, allowing the Pioneers to run the clock out.
October 1
John Rappel - Cornerback - St. Norbert College
Junior - Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc
Rappel became the first player in St. Norbert history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game, as the junior cornerback sparked the Green Knights to a 49-14 win over Knox. Rappel’s first theft occurred in the first quarter and was returned 35 yards to put the Green Knights up 14-0. The second interception closed the game’s scoring, as Rappel took the record-braking interception 22 yards to paydirt. He also added 10 tackles, including a pair of tackles for losses, in the contest.
October 8
Josh Kraemer - Cornerback - Ripon College
Junior - Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West
Kraemer led the Red Hawk’s defensive unit in Saturday’s 56-9 win at Beloit. The junior safety intercepted two passes in the game, including a second quarter pick that he returned 53 yards for a touchdown, giving Ripon a 35-3 lead just before halftime. Kraemer, who added a 19-yard kickoff return in the contest, made one tackle in the game. He has team-high three interceptions this season and leads the MWC in kickoff return average (25.4).
October 15
Sam Laes - Safety - Lawrence University
Sophomore - Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon
Laes made several big plays during Lawrence’s 51-20 victory over Knox at home on Saturday. The sophomore safety, who finished with six tackles in the game, recorded an interception and recovered a fumble in Knox territory that resulted in Lawrence touchdowns on the ensuing possessions. He also recorded his first career touchdown on a fake punt when he caught a pass from Eric Aspenson, broke several tackles and cut back across the field for a 42-yard score.
October 22
Matt Casper - Defensive End - Carroll College
Freshman - Dousman, Wis./Kettle Moraine
Casper highlighted a solid all-around performance with his first career touchdown during Saturday’s 51-21 win at Knox. The freshman defensive end made four tackles in the game, including a half sack and tackle for loss, but his biggest impact came on a pair of fumble recoveries. On Knox’s second play from scrimmage, Casper fell on a fumble at the Prairie Fire 20-yard line that led to the Pioneers first touchdown of the game. His second recovery punctuated a 31-point second quarter, as the 6-3, 240 pounder rumbled 48 yards to the endzone with four seconds remaining in the first half.
October 29
Cole Norman - Cornerback - Monmouth College
Junior - Peoria, Ill./Richwoods
Norman had a hand in three turnovers during Monmouth’s 26-23 overtime victory over Illinois College on Saturday. With 39 seconds remaining in regulation, Norman intercepted a Blueboy pass at the one-yard line to preserve a 20-20 tie and force overtime. The junior cornerback also added another interception, forced a fumble that was recovered by the Scots and made a tackle in the contest.
November 5
Ben Hackbart - Defensive Back - St. Norbert College
Sophomore - Sussex, Wis./Hartland Arrowhead
Hackbart finished with a game-high 15 tackles and provided the game-changing play in St. Norbert’s 31-24 come-from-behind win at Illinois College on Saturday. With the game tied at 17-17 in the third quarter, the sophomore defensive back stepped in front of a Blueboy pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Green Knights the lead for good. He also recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, as St. Norbert improved to 23-0 under Jim Purtill when scoring a defensive touchdown.
November 13
Kevin Penza - Linebacker - Lawrence University
Sophomore - Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon
Penza registered his fifth double-digit tackle day of season in Lawrence’s 37-30 loss at Macalester on Saturday. The sophomore linebacker finished with 11 tackles, two shy of his high for the season, had one tackle for a loss, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Penza finished the season with a team-high 90 tackles, including 12 tackles for losses.