September 7
Tyler Krzewina, Lawrence
Krzewina, a sophomore safety from Kaukauna, Wis. (Kaukauna), was a key to Lawrence’s 30-7 victory over Knox on Saturday. Krzewina had an interception, broke up two passes in the end zone, recorded a sack, had five tackles, and forced a fumble that led to Lawrence’s first touchdown. Krzewina picked up his sixth career interception in the fourth quarter. Earlier, he batted away what looked to be a pair of sure touchdown passes when the game was still in doubt. Krzewina also sacked Knox quarterback Anthony McClenathan in the first quarter and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Lawrence. The Vikings scored a touchdown on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.
September 14
Mitch Wilson, Illinois C.
Wilson, a junior defensive lineman from Rantoul, Ill. (Rantoul HS), raced 31 yards with a pass interception and scored in
Illinois C.’s win over Lawrence. He also finished with seven assisted tackles.
September 21
Jeff Whiteside, Illinois C.
Whiteside, a senior defensive back from Jerseyville Ill. (White Hall-North Greene HS), had a pair of interceptions in Illinois College’s win at Carroll Saturday and finished with four solo stops and three assists. He also broke up a pass. With the game’s outcome still in the balance, Whiteside made his first pick on the final play of the third quarter, returning the ball three yards to midfield. On Carroll’s first series in the fourth quarter, he intercepted a pass at the Carroll 35 and returned it to the Carroll 3-yard line, setting up the Blueboys’ fourth touchdown.
September 28
Casey Rentmeester, St. Norbert
Rentmeester, a senior from Green Bay, Wis (East HS), led St. Norbert’s defense to a shutout win of Knox, which was held to 111 yards of offense including 16 passing. The senior linebacker had a team-high eight tackles with a forced fumble, two quarterback sacks and two tackles for loss.
October 5
Zach Davidson, Ripon
Davidson, a junior defensive back from Byron, Ill., helped Ripon to a victory over Carroll has he picked off two Pioneer passes and returned one ten yards for a touchdown. He also recorded 2.5 tackles, one for a loss of two yards, as well as running in a two point conversion accounting for eight points on the day. Davidson also had three pass breakups.
October 12
Willie Thompson, Illinois C.
Thompson, a senior defensive tackle from Carthage, Ill. (Carthage HS), led a determined Blueboy defense by recording four tackles for lost yardage and forcing two Ripon fumbles in Illinois College’s victory over the Red Hawks. Thompson led both teams with 2.5 sacks, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass. His totals totals also included eight solo tackles and seven assists for a final tally of 11.5.
October 19
Chris Albanese, Carroll
Albanese, a sophomore linebacker from Milwaukee , Wis.(Greenfield ), led the Carroll defensive unit in a narrow loss to defending MWC Champion St. Norbert. Albanese recorded a season-high 16 tackles (8 solo, 8 assisted) and forced three Green Knight fumbles. He also had two tackles for loss of yardage and had one pass break-up.
October 26
Tyler Krzewina, Lawrence
Krzewina, a sophomore safety from Kaukauna, Wis. (Kaukauna HS), returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded a game-high 17 tackles in Lawrence’s loss at Grinnell. Krzewina, who also had three passes defensed, intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. It was Krzewina’s fourth interception of the season and the ninth of his career. It was also his first collegiate touchdown.
November 2
Brian Short, Illinois C.
Short, a senior linebacker from Eldred, Ill. (Carrollton HS), registered a personal-best and season-high 24 tackles in Illinois College’s loss at Knox. His totals include a career-high 14 solo tackles, along with 10 assists. Short’s day featured 1.5 tackles for lost yards (11), along with 1.5 sacks for minus-11.
November 9
Ben Creamer, St. Norbert
Creamer, a senior linebacker from Hancock, Wis. (Plainfield Tri-County HS), paced a St. Norbert defense with a career
performance in the Green Knights’ win over Lake Forest in the season finale. Creamer had a team-high nine tackles, but six went for a loss totaling 32 yards. He also had two sacks totaling a loss of 24 yards, and had one pass defensed.
November 16
Joe Vander Zanden, Lawrence
Vander Zanden, a freshman linebacker from Kimberly, Wis. (Kimberly), led the Lawrence defense in its suffocating attack against Macalester. Vander Zanden recorded a game-high 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. He also intercepted a pass and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Lawrence. Spearheaded by Vander Zanden, Lawrence limited Macalester to 58 yards rushing on 32 carries.