September 8th
Tony Baratti-Linebacker-Beloit
Junior
Tony Baratti had six tackles, 3 solo, with 2.0 sacks for 10 yards, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and an interception he returned for 7 yards as Beloit defeated MacMurray College 39-22 in the season opener on Saturday.
September 14th
Ryan Fletcher-Linebacker-Grinnell
Junior-Brookfield, Wis.
Fletcher played a big part in allowing the Pioneers to nearly knock off highly-touted St. Norbert College on Saturday. He had 2.5 sacks, including one that forced a fumble which resulted in a Grinnell field goal. Fletcher also had seven tackles and two pass breakups.
September 21st
D.J. Jackson-Defensive Back-Illinois College
Senior-Webster Groves, MO.
Senior defensive back D.J. Jackson of Illinois College played a prominent role Saturday in the Blueboys’ 21-7 victory over visiting Lake Forest College. He intercepted a Foresters’ pass at his own one-yard line and raced 77 yards before being tackled at the visitors’ 22-yard line. That turnover put the Blueboys in position to score the game’s first touchdown. Jackson finished the day with five solo tackles (including two stops behind the line of scrimmage) and three assists. He also broke up a pass. On special teams, Jackson had two kickoff returns for 68 yards (including one return for 46), and three punt returns for 15 yards.
September 28th
Ryan Anderson-Linebacker-Ripon
Senior-Racine, Wis.
Andersen led the Red Hawk defense to its second consecutive shutout Saturday, defeating Illinois College 14-0. Andersen, who has led Ripon in tackles every game this season, recorded a team-best eight tackles (five solo) against the Blueboys, two of which went for a loss. Andersen also recorded 1.5 sacks and broke up two passes.
October 5th
Matt Frelich-Defensive End-Lawerence
Senior-Maribel, Wis.
Frelich turned in a huge performance in Lawrence’s 35-19 loss to Illinois College. Frelich had a season-high eight tackles, including seven solo, and included in that total were 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also scored his first career touchdown when he dropped into coverage, intercepted a Mitch Niekamp pass near the sideline and raced untouched 13 yards for the score. Frelich also recorded two pass breakups, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
October 12th
Marquis Bradley-Linebacker-Grinnell
Junior-Wichita, Kan.
Frelich turned in a huge performance in Lawrence’s 35-19 loss to Illinois College. Frelich had a season-high eight tackles, including seven solo, and included in that total were 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also scored his first career touchdown when he dropped into coverage, intercepted a Mitch Niekamp pass near the sideline and raced untouched 13 yards for the score. Frelich also recorded two pass breakups, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
October 19th
Marcus Ruff-Linebacker-Monmouth
Junior- Avon, Ill.
Monmouth College linebacker Marcus Ruff led the defensive charge in a 35-13 win over Ripon as the Fighting Scots took over sole possession of first place in the Midwest Conference. The junior started the game with a bang, recovering a Red Hawk fumble at the Ripon 16-yard line to set up Monmouth’s first score. Ruff when on to record 16 tackles, including 12 solos, and broke up two passes. His 16 tackles in the game was more than half his season total.
October 26th
Anthony Goranson-Defensive End- Monmouth
Senior- Bartlett, Ill.
Monmouth College defensive end Anthony Goranson played a big part in shutting down the Lake Forest offense in the Fighting Scots’ 51-14 win over the Foresters Saturday. The senior stuffed the Foresters with eight tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for 20 yards. Goranson leads the team with six sacks for 46 yards and 14.5 tackles for loss for 74 yards. He is tied for fifth with 40 total tackles.
November 2nd
Calvin Zirkle- Defensive Back- Knox
Junior- Kankakee, Ill.
Zirkle was the main factor in shutting down Lake Forest’s high powered passing attack, as he constantly covered the Forester’s top receivers all day, breaking up five passes in the process and making 3 tackles. In doing so Zirkle led a defensive back core that limited a Lake Forest team, coming into the game averaging over 200 yards of passing a game, to only 93 yards and helped the Prairie Fire force five interceptions in a 12-7 win for the Prairie Fire’s first of the season.
November 9th
Dan Sjoquist- Defensive Back- St. Norbert
Sophomore- Kingsford, Mich.
Sjoquist led St. Norbert to its second consecutive shutout with a 49-0 win over Illinois College, the first time the Green Knights have ended the season with consecutive shutouts since 1952.
Sjoquist had a team-high seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, and had two passes defensed as the Blueboys passed for just 60 yards.
November 16th
Brian Janssen- Safety- Lawerence
Senior- Green Bay, Wis.
Brian Janssen made a game-saving interception in the final seconds in Lawrence’s 21-17 nonconference victory at Minnesota-Morris this past Saturday. Janssen intercepted Morris quarterback Derrick Foss at the Lawrence 5-yard line on a second-and-goal play, and that allowed Lawrence to hold on for the victory. Janssen added seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, to go along with his second interception of the season. The Lawrence defense stopped Morris three times inside the Vikings’ 15-yard line in the final seven minutes.