Player of the Week honors for football were announced by the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
Offense – Dillon Turner, Quarterback (Dakota Wesleyan University)
Dakota Wesleyan quarterback Dillon Turner is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Offensive Player-of-the-Week. Turner, a senior from Salem, Arkansas, passed for 267 yards and three touchdowns, guiding the Tigers to their second win of the season. He was efficient through the air going 21-of-30, while also carrying the ball 10 times for 68 yards and a pair of scores. Turner ranks No. 4 in total passing yards (729) in the NAIA and No. 3 in total offensive yards (805). The 17th-ranked Tigers will travel to Crete, Neb., to take on the 11th-ranked Doane University Tigers. Kick off will be at 1pm.
Defense – Tarence Roby, Defensive Back (Concordia University)
Concordia defensive back Tarence Roby is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player-of-the-Week. Roby, a senior, from Rockford, Illinois, equaled a GPAC and NAIA record by returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of Concordia’s 24-6 win over Ottawa (Kan.). The play marked Roby’s fifth career touchdown. The highlight made its way to ESPN’s SportsCenter on Saturday night. In addition, Roby collected three tackles and totaled 222 all-purpose yards on returns. Concordia, who was receiving votes in the latest poll, will travel to Orange City, Iowa to take on an undefeated Northwestern team. Kick off will be at 1pm.
Special Teams – Connor Niles, Wide Reciever (Morningside College)
Connor Niles of Morningside College is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. Niles, a junior, from Sioux City, Iowa, returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown with 45 seconds left in the first half to send the Mustangs into the intermission with a 28-10 lead against NCAA Division II Truman State en route to a 35-30 triumph. Niles is second in the nation with an average of 231.7 all-purpose yards per game. The 4th-ranked Mustangs have the week off before returning to action against Northwestern on September 30.
