KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Michael Hill (Missouri Western), David Bass (Missouri Western), and Jordan Simmons (Northwest Missouri) have been named MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Oct. 29 as selected by a conference SID panel.
MIAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michael Hill, RB, Missouri Western
Hill had another outstanding game for the Griffons accumulating 297 all-purpose yards, which includes a career best 246 on a career high 41 carries. Hill’s 41 carries breaks the Griffons single-game record which was 40 by three different players. The last to do it was Derrick Pitts vs. Central Missouri in 2003. Hill was just 37 yards shy of tying the career-high for yards in a game, which is 283 by Tony Williams vs. Missouri-Rolla in 1996. The Griffons improved to 5-0 when rushing for over 200 yards in a game finishing with 356 against the Bearcats. Western also finished with over 500 yards of total offense for the second consecutive week. The junior from St. Joseph, Mo., gave the Griffons a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter catching a 13-yard pass from Travis Partridge. He led the Griffons with four catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Hill is just 23 yards shy of 1,000 yards on the season. He is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Others Nominated: Lavance Taylor, UCM; Adrian Abner, ESU; DeJuan Beard, WU.
MIAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Bass, DE, Missouri Western
Bass continues to dominate opposing offensive lines as he tied the single game Missouri Western record for sacks in a game for the second time this season with four against the Bearcats. The junior from St. Louis, Mo., had six tackles with five being for a loss of 19 yards. Bass is just one tackle for a loss for tying the single season record. He has 17.5 with two games to play. Eric McDowell has the record with 18.5 in 2003. He also has 13 sacks on the season which is two behind McDowell’s 15 which he set in 2003 as well. Bass is also three sacks from breaking the career record for sacks. Bass has 27.5 while the leader Kinney Redding has 30.5, which was set from 1974-77. Bass helped the Griffons hold a team under 100 yards rushing for the third time this season, allowing the Bearcats just 44.
Others Nominated: Devin King, UCM; Wayne Burgess, ESU; Herman Hopson, LU; Marty Pfannenstiel, WU.
MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jordan Simmons, KR, Northwest Missouri
Simmons returned his second kickoff for a touchdown against the Lions, shifting the momentum to the Bearcat sideline. Simmons’ 98-yd return was the second of the season and third of his career. The junior from Kansas City, Mo., finished with 206 yards of all-purpose yardage, adding two touchdowns out of the backfield for Northwest to give him 34 career scores and move him to eighth all-time in Bearcat history.
Others Nominated: Kevin Gaddis, ESU; Josh Blanton, LU.
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