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BAY CITY, Mich. - Ferris State University freshman quarterback Jason Vander Laan (Frankfort, Ill./Chicago Christian) was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) "Offensive Player of the Week" after leading the Bulldogs to a 40-24 road win at No. 3 Grand Valley State University last Saturday. Wayne State University junior defensive end Andrew Matt (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt) earned "Defensive Player of the Week Honors," while Lake Erie College sophomore line backer Tanner Wells (Carrollton, Texas/Parish Episcopal) was tabbed "Special Teams Player of the Week."
GLIAC Football Offensive Player of the Week:
Jason Vander Laan - Ferris State (FR, QB, 6-4, 222, Frankfort, Ill./Chicago Christian)
Ferris State University redshirt freshman quarterback Jason Vander Laan keyed the Bulldogs to their first win over rival Grand Valley State since 1999 on Saturday night (Oct. 6) at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale. Vander Laan engineered FSU's comeback from a 17-0 first quarter deficit as the Bulldog offense rolled up 536 total offensive yards. The 6-4 rookie ran for 185 yards and two scores on 23 carries, which included a 63-yard touchdown run to tie the contest midway thru the second quarter and a six-yard keeper for FSU first score. In the air, he completed 10-of-17 passes for 79 yards.
GLIAC Football Offensive Weekly Honor Roll: Anthony Taylor - AU, Monterae Williams - UF, Anthony Misfud - HC, Anthony Bilal - LE, Matt Curtain - MT, Christian Jessie - NM, Cameron Jackson - NU, Brandon Schoen - OD, Jeff Janis - SV, Dominique White - TU, Toba Olarewaju - WU, Ben Walker - WS.
2012 GLIAC Offensive "Players of the Week": (9/4) J. Janis - SV; (9/10) H. Parling - GV; (9/17) C. Belton - UF; (9/24) J. Janis - SV; (10/1) I. Grimes - GV; (10/8) J. Vander Laan - FS.
GLIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week:
Andrew Matt - Wayne State (JR, DE, 6-2, 241, Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt)
Wayne State junior defensive end Andrew Matt only made three tackles, but had a fumble recovery, an interception, recorded a sack and blocked a field goal in the Warriors' 24-21 win over Hillsdale. His fumble recovery came on the opening drive of the second half with WSU leading 17-14. Matt blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt on the 15th play of a Hillsdale drive that went into the fourth quarter and proved to be the difference in the game. He later combined with Steve O'Shell on a sack with 2:18 remaining in the game that forced a fumble that was recovered by WSU.
GLIAC Football Defensive Weekly Honor Roll: Jamie Meder - AU, Tayo Moss - FS, Feraris Golden - UF, Nick Galvan - HC, Lloyd Phillips - MU, Joe Bitterman - NU, Di'Andre Harrison - OD, Jeff Heath - SV, Cameron Trudell - WU.
2012 GLIAC Defensive "Players of the Week": (9/4) E. Hardy - OD; (9/10) D. Pittman - HC; (9/17) B. Eakins - OD; (9/24) T. Moss - FS, (10/1) L. Francis - MU; (10/8) A. Matt - WS.
GLIAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week:
Tanner Wells - Lake Erie (SO, OLB, 6-3, 215, Carrollton, Texas/Parish Episcopal)
Lake Erie College sophomore line backer Tanner Wells did a bit of everything in his first start at safety in Storm's 38-35 win at Notre Dame College on Saturday night. He made a game and career-high 16 tackles (eight solo), including a tackle-for-loss, and intercepted a pass in the end zone on defense and scored a 48-yard touchdown run on a fake punt on the Storm's opening drive as LEC picked up its first victory of the season. Wells currently ranks second on his squad with 41 tackles this season while recording four tackles-for-loss and a sack.
GLIAC Football Special Teams Weekly Honor Roll: Austin Kantola - FS, Seth White - UF, Matt Eltringham - HC, Michael Snyder - OD, Scott Stanford - SV, Stefan Terleckyj - WS.
2012 GLIAC Special Teams "Players of the Week": (9/4) R. Williams - GV; (9/10) C. Jackson - NU; (9/17) S. White - UF; (9/24) R. Williams - GV; (10/1) A. Cason - MT; (10/8) T. Wells - LE.
