September 6
Nathan Palkovic - Kicker/Punter - Monmouth
Sophomore - Peoria, Ill./Woodruff
Palkovic had a strong performance in the Scots 40-26 victory over Concordia. The sophomore averaged 39.8 yards punting, finished 4-for-5 on extra points and went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, including a new school and career long. Palkovic pushed the Scots lead to 10-6 with a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter, before nailing the record-breaking 45 yarder in the fourth quarter. His previous long was 34 yards.
September 12
Joe Dziki- Kicker/Punter - Lake Forest
Sophomore - Antioch, Ill./Antioch
Dziki helped the Foresters win the field position battle during a 20-7 win over Grinnell on Saturday. Dziki averaged 43.7 yards on seven punts, including a long of 64 yards and one ball within the 20-yard line. Diziki, who ranks second in the MWC in punt average (40.2), also went 2-3 on extra points.
September 19
Brian Jachimek- Kicker - Carroll College
Sophomore - Midlothian, Ill./Marist
Jachimek was 7-of-7 on extra point attempts and was also perfect on his only field goal attempt during Carroll’s 52-28 MWC victory over Illinois College. Jachimek’s 10-point performance was highlighted by a 20-yard field goal.
September 26
P.J. Hilbert - Quarterback - Lawrence Uni.
Senior - Lake Villa, Ill./Antioch
The Vikings backup quarterback, who has only attempted five passes this season, played the role of hero in Lawrence’s 38-36 win over Carroll despite not taking a snap. The 6’4” Hilbert blocked Brian Jachimek’s 33-yard game-winning field goal attempt as time expired. The block gave head coach Chris Howard his first victory at Lawrence and snapped a 10 game MWC losing streak for the Vikings. The block was the second in the game for Hilbert, as the senior had already swatted a third quarter extra point attempt.
October 3
Isaac Hamilton - Cornerback - Carroll College
Senior - Lake Villa, Ill./Antioch
Hamilton made a huge impact on the Pioneer special teams unit during Carrol’s 42-13 win over Ripon on Saturday. In addition to returning a pair of kickoffs for 59 yards, Hamilton also blocked a Red Hawk punt that resulted in a safety. The win over Ripon puts Carroll in a tie for second-place in the league standings with a 3-1 MWC mark.
October 10
Kyle Wetzel - Running Back - Lake Forest
Freshman - Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney
Wetzel scored his first collegiate touchdown in the Foresters 28-14 victory over Knox. Wetzel capped a 28-point first quarter when he picked up a punt that had been blocked by Kevin Malone and returned it 37 yards for a score.
October 17
Neil Magruder - Defensive Back - Knox
Senior - Bourbonnais, Ill. Bishop MacNamara
Magruder’s effort in the return game was one of the biggest reasons the Prairie Fire scored 57 points, their highest offensive output of the season, in a 57-31 victory over Grinnell. Magruder returned six punts for 65 yards and four kickoffs for 101 yards, including long returns of 20 and 44 yards, respectively. The Knox offense started beyond its own 33-yard line nine times and in Grinnell territory four times following Magruder returns. The senior defensive back also recorded a team-high 11 tackles and returned an interception 33 yards.
October 24
A.J. Phillips - Running Back - St. Norbert
Freshman - Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon
Phillips had another strong performance in the return game during the Green Knights 40-14 victory over Ripon on Saturday. The freshman running back returned three punts for 73 yards, including a highlight reel return that went for 30 yards. Phillips also returned a pair of kickoffs for 40 yards. He currently leads the MWC in kickoff (24.9) and punt return (15.7) average.
October 31
Josh Gould - Punter - Carroll
Sophomore - Chicago, Ill./Mt. Carmel
Gould helped keep the Pioneers in their contest against undefeated MWC champion Monmouth with several big plays. Carroll eventually fell 35-27, but Gould helped win the field position game by placing three of his four punts within the 20-
yard line. Two Gould punts landed within the 5-yard line and another within the 10. The sophomore punter averaged 33.5 yards per punt and had a long punt of 45 yards. He also used his arm in the contest, completing a 31-yard pass on a fourth quarter fake punt that led to a Carroll touchdown four plays later.
November 7
Adam Fletcher - Wide Receiver - Carroll
Senior - Norwalk, Wis./Brookwood
Fletcher ended a record-breaking career for the Pioneers with a solid all-around performance in Carroll’s 42-20 win over Grinnell. Fletcher returned three punts for 81 yards and one kickoff for 18 yards, helping set up a pair of offensive touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 160 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
November 14
Bryan Althouse - Kicker - Lawrence University
Sophomore - Madison, Wis./Madison West