INDIANAPOLIS – Findlay and Alderson Broaddus were presented with Great Midwest Athletic Conference Football Players of the Week awards as the 2019 regular season is coming to a conclusion.
Week 10 saw No. 25-ranked Tiffin pass its most recent test with flying colors, holding off Hillsdale at home. The Dragons have won seven straight and remain in the driver’s set for the conference championship.
The championship picture is still a bit fuzzy as three teams can theoretically tie for first in the league standings at the end of Week 11. Tiffin’s chance to run the table will climax with a tough road matchup at Findlay this weekend.
Findlay made a statement against Ashland and has just one league loss. So does Ohio Dominican after the Panthers attacked Lake Erie through the air for its fourth win in a row.
Tiffin and Ohio Dominican remain ranked in Super Region 1 for the second week in a row, but both programs are finding it difficult to move the needle in the eyes of the selection committee.
Still, a three-way tie for co-league champions is still a possibility. ODU’s last game of the regular season won’t be an easy one on the road at defending conference champion Hillsdale.
Hillsdale’s Week 10 outcome assured that the league would have to wait again for its first back-to-back champion in football. Alderson Broaddus secured its first win of the season against Walsh – the Battlers go into the G-MAC Founders Cup game with some momentum after RB Nicolas Bishop had a big day.
With all the possibilities boiling down to Week 11, there still doesn’t seem to be a clear cut indication of who the conference will be represented by in the inaugural America’s Crossroads Bowl game either.
Offensive Player of the Week
Nate Slagel
Findlay
Running Back
Senior
Loveland, OH (Loveland HS)
At 5-11, Slagel is a tough downhill runner bouncing off defenders like a bowling ball between the tackles and in the open field.
He may have been behind the depth chart behind RB’s like Daouda Sylla and Brian Benson in recent years, but his numbers and contributions have been as notable as anyone towards UF’s success.
Slagel’s Week 11 outburst vs. Ashland included making an impact in the ground game and the passing attack as he accounted for four touchdowns in Findlay’s 53-18 thrashing vs. the Eagles at home.
Already with a four-touchdown game on his resume vs. Alderson Broaddus earlier this season, Slagel matched that output with runs of 17 and 18 yards and catches of 19 and 27 yards on Saturday.
Slagel averaged 9.5 per carry for 143 yards on the ground and caught two passes for 46 yards.
All told, he had 189 yards of total offense as Findlay’s offense became the first team to score 50+ points on Ashland since 2005 when Michigan Tech scored 51.
In 10 games this year, the senior is fourth in the conference in yards per carry (7.4) and is ranked third in the league with nine touchdowns. Going into Week 11, he has 685 yards on the season and his 11 total touchdowns is third in the Great Midwest.
Defensive Player of the Week
Christopher Jefferson
Findlay
Defensive Back
Sophomore
Euclid, OH (Benedictine HS)
Jefferson’s breakthrough season continued as he tied the single season Findlay program record with his ninth interception of the season.
The sophomore’s contributions were paramount in stifling an Ashland offense to just 18 points on the day.
Jefferson also racked up double-digit tackle totals from his DB position, tying for the team lead with 11. He also contributed to another +1 in the turnover column with a forced fumble and recovery.
This is his second conference defensive weekly honor for the current season and the playmaking ballhawk is putting together numbers worthy of All-American candidacy.
Jefferson already owns the conference single-season record in INT’s and he is among four players in the league with 3 INT’s in a single game this year. He is currently tied for the NCAA DII lead in interceptions along with Bowie State's Demetri Morsell.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Austin Hampton
Alderson Broaddus
Kicker
Sophomore
Virginia Beach, VA (Bayside HS)
As a freshman, Hampton was tabbed by the coaches as a second team all-conference pick. His Week 10 performance allowed the Battlers to record their first win of the season in a conference matchup vs. Walsh.
Hampton had a field goal and converted three extra-point tries as the Battlers won 24-17.
He made a 38-yard attempt to give AB a 10-3 lead towards the early part of the third quarter. Hampton also provided a lift on kickoffs, averaging close to 60 yards on five different attempts.
Hampton then capitalized with PAT’s on three TD runs by Nicolas Bishop inside the red zone.
The sophomore has been good when given the opportunity to kick field goals this year, making 4-for-6. His 38-yarder was a season long.