(Ann Arbor, MI) - The Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League announced their weekly awards Monday afternoon and Gabe Whitmore has been named the defensive player of the week, while Luis Gomez was named special teams player of the week. Gomez has also been named NAIA special teams player of the week. Both players helped lead the Cardinals to their 4th consecutive victory to remain undefeated in their 2021 campaign as they took down Taylor on the road in a thrilling 17-14 overtime victory in Indiana.
Whitmore controlled the Trojans offense by recording 7 total tackles, 6 of which were done solely by himself. He also had an integral interception that help keep Taylor from finding the end zone. The Cardinals' defense held Taylor to under 250 yards of offense and stopped 75% of the Trojans' 3rd down conversions.
Luis Gomez finds himself back atop the awards list for the second straight week as special teams player of the week. Gomez kicked two extra points for the Cardinals after their two touchdowns against Taylor and was asked to punch a 35 yards field goal through the uprights in overtime to put the pressure on the Trojans. Gomez was able to convert the field goal and allow the Cardinals' defense the opportunity to win the game with a stop, which they were able to block the game-tying field goal attempt from Taylor.
The NAIA recently released the second rankings of the 2021 season in which they placed the Cardinals 6th in the nation after their 4-0 start to the season. The Cardinals will look to continue their winning ways on Saturday at Cardinal Stadium as they look to knock off Madonna in their first matchup in school history.
March 1st Player of the Week Honors
Casey Rauch – MSFA Mideast League Special Teams Player of the Week
Alex Hinojosa – MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week
March 8th Player of the Week Honors
Casey Rauch – MSFA Mideast League Special Teams Player of the Week
Casey Rauch – NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week
Ryan Fish – MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week
Ryan Fish – NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week (Defensive)
March 15th Player of the Week Honors
Keviontae Brown – MSFA Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week
Luis Gomez – MSFA Special Teams Player of the Week
Aaron Rahn – NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week (Defensive)
March 22nd Player of the Week Honors
Gabe Whitmore – MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week
Luis Gomez – MSFA Special Teams Player of the Week
Luis Gomez – NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week
