September 8
Jeremy Winter - Linebacker - Carroll University
Senior - Madison, Wis./East
Winter recorded eight tackles to lead the Carroll University defensive unit in a 55-14 victory over North Park University in the 2008 season opener. Winter forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble, and had three pass break-ups from his linebacker position. Carroll’s win over North Park snapped an eight-year non-conference losing streak.
September 15
Ryan Andersen - Linebacker - Ripon College
Junior - Racine, Wis./St. Catherine’s
Andersen did a little bit of everything Saturday afternoon, leading the defense, in Ripon’s 14-3 win over Lake Forest. Andersen had a team-high 10 tackles, including two for a loss, while also recording an interception and a sack. He also broke up a pass. This was the first time in 65 games that the Red Hawk defense did not allow a touchdown.
September 22
Jake Zeh - Defensive Tackle - Carroll University
Senior - Sleepy Hollow, Ill./Dundee-Crown
Zeh played a key role in helping Carroll improve to 3-0 on the season with a 31-12 victory at Grinnell. Zeh recorded eight total tackles. Among his eight tackles, two were quarterback sacks and three more were tackles for loss. He also had one fumble recovery and five quarterback hurries.
September 29
Joe Breisch - Defensive Back - St. Norbert College
Senior - River Grove, Ill./East Leyden HS
Breisch helped St. Norbert College to a stellar defensive effort in a 62-0 rout of Lake Forest College this past Saturday. The Green Knights held Lake Forest to 12 yards of total offense and four first downs, including minus-28 yards rushing. Breisch had four tackles (one short of the team high), including 2.5 tackles-for-loss and two quarterback sacks. He also recorded a safety.
October 6
Joshua Kraemer - Defensive Back - Ripon College
Senior - Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West
Kraemer was a big part of Ripon College’s outstanding defensive effort in Saturday’s 28-10 victory at Carroll University, which saw the Red Hawks get seven takeaways. Kraemer was responsible for three of those takeaways, all coming in the final quarter. In that quarter, he recorded a sack and forced a fumble on the play, which was recovered by the Red Hawks. He also intercepted two Pioneer passes, which helped preserve the victory. Kraemer also made eight tackles on the day, including three for loss.
October 13
Brett Maloney - Linebacker - Grinnell College
Senior - Wheaton, Ill./St. Francis
Maloney, a 6-2, 230-pound senior, entered the game ranked second in NCAA Division III in tackles per game and came up with yet another big effort, recording 17 stops (6 solos, 11 assists) as well as getting a key interception as Knox was driving down the field to potentially tie the game. For the year, Maloney has 89 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four pass breakups.
October 20
Marc Artozqui - Linebacker - Monmouth College
Senior - Peoria, Ill./Richwoods
Monmouth’s Marc Artozqui’s 17 tackles was just shy of the school record, as he led the Fighting Scots to sole possession of first place in the Midwest Conference with a 38-35 come-from-behind win over Ripon College. Artozqui helped the Scots defense hold the Ripon option game to just 170 yards rushing.
October 27
Jeremy Winter - Linebacker - Carroll University
Senior - Madison, Wis./East
Winter played a major role in helping Carroll University’s defensive unit shutout Knox College this weekend. The Pioneers claimed a 14-0 victory, earning its second shutout of the season. Winter recorded eight total tackles, including 2 ½ tackles for losses and one sack. He also added one pass break up. Carroll’s defense held Knox’s offense, which was averaging 290 total yards per game and 204 rushing yards per game, to 183 total yards and 60 yards rushing.
November 3
Jeremy Winter - Linebacker - Carroll University
Senior - Madison, Wis./East
Winter recorded nine tackles, including two quarterback sacks, to lead Carroll to a 34-14 win over Lawrence. Winter gave Carroll a 7-0 lead when he returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. Winter also forced a fumble and had one pass breakup. Winter, who had a game-high nine tackles, all solo, led Carroll’s defense in holding Lawrence to minus-58 yards rushing.
November 10
Tony Baratti - Linebacker - Beloit College
Sophomore - Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect
Baratti had 14 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception in Beloit’s 34-12 win over Grinnell in the season finale. The third-quarter interception was returned 59 yards and set up Beloit’s final score. He finished his season with 120 tackles, the fifth-highest season total in Beloit history, while intercepting four passes and recovering four fumbles. The four fumble recoveries rank second for a season.
November 17
Mike Gostisha - Defensive End - Lawrence University
Junior - Appleton, Wis./East
Gostisha piled up a game-high 10 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a sack, to lead Lawrence to a 21-13 nonconference win over Minnesota-Morris this past Saturday. Gostisha’s 10 tackles was a season high and tied his career high. He recorded a key sack to snuff out a Morris drive in Lawrence territory midway through the fourth quarter with the Vikings holding an eight-point lead.