BAY CITY, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 9 of the 2017 football season. Ashland University junior tailback Andrew Vaughn earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Saginaw Valley junior cornerback Ryan Verhelst captured GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors along with Ashland University senior kicker Aidan Simenc who claimed GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Andrew Vaughn, Ashland
Ashland University junior tailback Andrew Vaughn had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game and fifth of 2017 in the No. 12-ranked Eagles' 30-10 win at Wayne State on Oct. 28. Vaughn ran 21 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and added four catches for 27 yards, in the victory. Vaughn has rushed for 332 yards and four scores in the last two games.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Ryan Verhelst, Saginaw Valley
Saginaw Valley junior cornerback Ryan Verhelst recorded a career-high nine tackles in SVSU's 14-9 home victory over regionally-ranked Tiffin University on Saturday. Verhelst had two interceptions and a pass breakup as well, stopping two key Tiffin drives in SVSU territory, including one late in the fourth quarter when the Dragons were driving. Verhelst now has five interceptions for the season, which is tops in the GLIAC.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Aidan Simenc, Ashland
On a cold, windy day in Detroit, Ashland University senior kicker Aidan Simenc hit all three field goals and all three extra points, and knocked six of seven kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks in the No. 12-ranked Eagles' 30-10 win at Wayne State. Simenc's field goals came from 21, 41 and 25 yards, and he became Ashland's No. 2 all-time leading scorer, now with 280 career points.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Nick Watson (TU), Dre'On Kemp (GVSU), Ryan Conklin (SVSU), Jake Mayon (NMU), Garrett Young (MTU), Vashon Nutt (NU), Jahaan Brown (FSU)
DEFENSE: James Prater Jr. (AU), Carrington Contee (TU), Kye Black (DU), Collin Schlosser (GVSU), Pat Ryan (NMU), Cody Goldsworthy (MTU), Charles Williams (NU), Zach Sieler (FSU)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Jerred McGuire (DU), Brandon Wadley (GVSU), Tyler Marcus (SVSU), Deandre Caldwell (NMU), Eric Kostreva (MTU), Scott McCormick (NU), Wyatt Ford (FSU)
Follow the action on Twitter @GLIACsports and use the hashtag #GLIACFB
