INDIANAPOLIS – Three more student-athletes with standout performances received nods for Great Midwest Athletic Conference Football Players of the Week awards for Week 7 as announced Monday morning.
Tiffin (6-1, 4-0) remained in the driver’s seat of the conference standings after rolling against Alderson Broaddus (0-7, 0-4) at home. The Dragons have won five straight and should be knocking on the door of the new AFCA Coaches Poll.
Findlay (5-2, 4-1) won its fourth straight and the regular-season finale against Tiffin is looking more and more like the potential championship game. The Oilers pulled away from defending league champion Hillsdale (4-3, 2-1) as the Chargers were dealt their first league loss.
Ohio Dominican (4-2, 3-1) controlled its matchup against Kentucky Wesleyan (0-7, 0-4) as EJ Colson had a big day on the ground with three TD’s, nearly identical numbers to Tiffin’s JaQuan Hardy.
Lake Erie (3-4, 2-2) continued to impress as the Storm routed Taylor, an NAIA opponent in Indiana. Walsh (1-6, 1-3) was able to get the offense going and took West Liberty to overtime in a close finish during a Super Region 1 matchup.
The first Super Region 1 rankings for NCAA Championship qualification will be coming out next Monday, Oct. 28. One team from the league will also be represented in the America’s Crossroads Bowl Game with an opponent from the Great Lakes Valley Conference in early December.
Offensive Player of the Week
Matt Winzeler
Findlay
Quarterback
Junior
Toledo, OH (St. John’s Jesuit/ASA College Miami)
Winzeler was surgical in his precision dissecting the defense for Week 7 as Findlay’s offense put up over 40 points vs. Hillsdale, a game with future conference championship implications.
The junior QB had 21 completions for nearly 200 yards through the air and accounted for five touchdowns, including one with his legs.
It was a balanced attack for Rob Keys and his offense as the ground game also churned out 221 yards. Everyone contributed in a highly-anticipated rematch from last year’s meeting between the two teams.
Winzeler’s first touchdown was a 5-yard run in the first quarter. He then connected with TE Luke Stuffel for a pair of scores in the second quarter and spread the wealth in the second half to Jacob Brown and Tanner Schroeder.
This is Winzeler’s second weekly honor of the season. He has completed 55 percent of his pass attempts for over 1,500 yards and an impressive 14:4 touchdown to interception ratio.
Defensive Player of the Week
Myles Williams
Walsh
Defensive Back
RS Sophomore
Akron, OH (St. Vincent-St. Mary HS)
Williams is from the same high school as NBA icon LeBron James and his Week 7 performance patrolling in the secondary was just as notable for the Cavaliers.
The RS sophomore contributed directly to three different turnovers forced by the Walsh defense against West Liberty.
He had two interceptions and recovered a fumble -- all while still totaling double-digit tackle totals with 12 (seven solo, five assisted) for the day.
The Walsh defensive line has been stout all year, leading the league in sacks, and vs. the Hilltoppers, the secondary is getting their due.
Williams’ contributions were imperative for Walsh to even get to overtime and bid for win No. 2 of the season. The Cavaliers picked off WLU QB’s three times on the day as Zach Sturmi returned one 51 yards for a pick six.
Williams tied for the team lead in tackles vs. West Liberty with Sal Sidebotham.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Jayshon Bester
Lake Erie
Wide Receiver
Freshman
Cleveland, OH (Collinwood HS)
At a diminutive 5-8, Bester turned on the burners for just the eighth kickoff return for a TD over 90 yards in conference history.
The speedy freshman returner brought one back to the house 91 yards as Lake Erie more than doubled up Taylor on the road for the program’s third win of the season.
Bester joins elite company in the Great Midwest record books along with NFL players Keelan Cole and Ashton Dulin along with former AB all-conference returner Maurice Thomas, among the company.
Bester’s return came with 12:43 in the fourth quarter, immediately answering a Trojans’ scoring drive that made the score 35-13.
Bester had two returns in the game totaling over 100 yards as Lake Erie polished off a 42-20 victory.