MIAC Football Athletes of the Week
11/16/2009 5:08:44 PM
MIAC Football: Offensive Player of the Week
St. Olaf College sophomore running back Leon Clark (Rochester, Minn./Century) rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns, including a 94-yard score that gave St. Olaf a 31-20 lead, in Saturday's 34-20 win over Hamline. The 261-yard day is the second-best effort in school history and gave him 1,084 for the season, which ranks fourth all-time. His 1,000-yard season is St. Olaf's first since 2001. Clark was also a weapon on special teams, returning two kicks for 81 yards. His second return, a 62-yarder to the Hamline 18, set up the team's go-ahead touchdown with 11:07 left in the fourth. On the day, Clark totaled 357 all-purpose yards.
MIAC Football: Defensive Player of the Week
Gustavus Adolphus College senior middle linebacker Tony Palma (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) registered 24 total tackles including two tackles for loss and forced a fumble to help the Gusties defeat Concordia 20-19 on Saturday in Moorhead. Palma's 24 tackles (8 solo, 16 assisted) set a new Gustavus single game record for total tackles. The old mark was 21 set by Isaac Sieling against Concordia in 2004. Palma also became only the 14th player at Gustavus to record 100 tackles in a season as he finished with 46 solos and 62 assists for 108 tackles. In addition, Palma finished the season ranked first in the MIAC in tackles in conference games with 93 (11.6 tackles per game).
MIAC Football: Special Teams Player of the Week
Gustavus Adolphus College junior kick returner Greg Lane (Chaska, Minn.) returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown with 39 seconds remaining in regulation to help the Gusties stun Concordia 20-19 in Moorhead on Saturday. The Cobbers made a field goal with 54 seconds remaining to increase their lead to 19-13 and then on the ensuing kickoff Lane caught the ball at the Gustavus 14-yard line, broke one tackle and received several key blocks as he sprinted up the sidelines for the touchdown. Lane returned three kicks for 123 yards in the game. It was the second time he has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his career. Lane finished third in the MIAC in kick return average this season at 28.2 yards per return (13 returns for 366 yards).
MIAC Football Athletes of the Week
