KANSAS CITY, Mo. – John Brown (Pittsburg State), Alex Whitehill (Fort Hays State), and Greg Zuerlein (Missouri Western) have been named MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Nov. 12 as selected by a conference SID panel.

MIAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
John Brown, WR, Pittsburg State
Brown matched a school record with five touchdowns in No. 9 Pitt State’s 51-28 victory over Missouri Southern Saturday (Nov. 12) in the Sonic Miner’s Bowl.  Brown caught five passes for a career-high 146 yards, including touchdown grabs of 76 and 13 yards. The Homestead, Fla., native also carried the ball four times for 34 yards and three TDs, scoring on runs of 1, 3 and 25 yards.  Brown compiled 224 all-purpose yards in the contest, helping the Gorillas claim the 2011 MIAA Championship with the victory over the visiting Lions.

Others Nominated: Tommy Corwin, UCM; Michael Hill, MWSU; James Franklin, NWMSU.

MIAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alex Whitehill, LB, Fort Hays State
Whitehill had a huge afternoon on defense for the Tigers. With 21 tackles against the Griffons, he set a new all-time FHSU single-season record for tackles with 164 in a season. It broke the mark of 150 set by Junior Hartig in 1979. The 164 tackles were just five shy of the NCAA Division II single-season record. Late in the game, Whitehill set a new NCAA Division II record for assisted tackles in a game with his 106th of the season. It passed the old mark of 105 set by Brian Holliday of Fayetteville State in 2002. The senior from McPherson, Kan., also set a career-high for tackles in a game with 21. He recorded the second interception of his career and returned it 37 yards to the MWSU 9-yardline, which set up a field goal to pull the Tigers within four points at 21-17 in the second quarter. Whitehill recorded double digit tackles in 9 of 11 games this year and reached at least 20 three times. He continues to lead NCAA Division II in tackles.            

Others Nominated: Alexis Reedus, UCM; Ben Jackson, MWSU; Gus Toca, PSU; Nic Abbate, TSU.

MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Greg Zuerlein, K, Missouri Western
Zuerlein nailed two more field goals against the Tigers. The senior from Lincoln, Neb., also had 10 kickoffs with three being for touchbacks. Zuerlein has made 18 consecutive field goals, which is an MIAA record, and he has made 20 total field goals, a new single season record by a Griffon kicker. During his current 18 straight field goals, 14 of them have been from 30+ yards. He is a perfect 5-for-5 from 30-39 yards, 3-for-3 between 40-49 yards and 6-of-6 from 50+ yards. He connected on all seven of his extra point attempts as well. Zuerlein scored 13 of the Griffons’ 55 points in the game.

 Others Nominated: Jordan Simmons, NWMSU; De’Vante Bausby, PSU; Eric Phillips, TSU.

 2011 MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week
9/5 – Offense: Dane Simoneau, QB, WU; Defense: Gus Toca, DE, PSU; Special Teams: John Brown, RS, PSU
9/12 – Offense: J.B. Clark, QB, TSU; Defense: David Bass, DE, MWSU; Special Teams: Aaron Jamieson, K, UCM, Andy Mundwiller, PR/WR, TSU.
9/19 – Offense: Jamar Howard, WR, UCM; Defense: Nate Dreiling, LB, PSU; Special Teams: Jon Thomas, RS, PSU
9/26 – Offense: Tommy Corwin, QB, UCM, Landon Zerkel, WR, MSSU; Defense: Ryon Phillips, DL, MSSU, Spencer Worthington, DE, PSU; Special Teams: Jeremy Linn, K, WU
10/3 – Offense: John Brown, WR, PSU, Tommy Corwin, QB, UCM; Defense: Nate Dreiling, LB, PSU; Special Teams: Greg Zuerlein, K, MWSU
10/10 – Offense: Justin Cooper, RB, WU; Defense: Dakota Palan-Johnson, DE, WU; Special Teams: Tarrell Downing, WR/RS, MWSU
10/17 – Offense: Trevor Adams, QB, NWMSU; Defense: Ryon Phillips, DE, MSSU; Special Teams: Jake Craig, P, PSU.
10/24 – Offense: Blake Christopher, QB, NWMSU; Defense: Nate Dreiling, LB, PSU; Special Teams: Ne’Ronte Threatt, WR/KR, MSSU
10/31 – Offense: Michael Hill, RB, MWSU; Defense: David Bass, DE, MWSU; Special Teams: Jordan Simmons, KR, NWMSU
11/7 – Offense: LaDarrian Page, RB, ESU; Defense: Derek Lohmann, S, ESU; Special Teams: Greg Zuerlein, K, MWSU    
11/14 – Offense: John Brown, WR, PSU; Defense: Alex Whitehill, LB, FHSU; Special Teams: Greg Zuerlein, K, MWSU