GVSU's Kotpoka & Gorball, WSU's Eggleston Earn GLIAC Football Players of the Week

GVSU's Kotpoka & Gorball, WSU's Eggleston Earn GLIAC Football Players of the Week

GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following week seven of the 2019 football season. Grand Valley St. junior Quarterback Cole Kotopka garnered GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while freshman teammate Josh Gorball earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors, along with Wayne State Senior Linebacker Leon Eggleston who was awarded GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. 


OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cole Kotopka- Grand Valley St.

Grand Valley State junior QB Cole Kotopka completed 18-of-25 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns (76, 63, 58, 50, 12) in the Lakers' 45-17 victory at Northern Michigan. Kotopka averaged 22.3 yards per completion and all five TD passes were thrown to five different receivers. Four of Kotopka's TD passes covered 50 yards or more. His 402 passing yards ranks as the sixth-best total in GVSU football history and his five TD passes ranks third all-time. In addition, Kotopka rushed for 51 yards on three carries for 453 yards of total offense which ranks sixth all-time in GVSU annals. 


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Leon Eggleston - Wayne State

Wayne State University senior outside linebacker Leon Eggleston (Sylvania, Ohio / Southview) has been selected GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. After a dropping a potential pick six in 2018 against Ashland, Eggleston redeemed himself in 2019, by recording two interceptions including a pick six.  His other interception came in the final 30 seconds of the first half and in the end zone preventing a probable AU score. In addition to his nine tackles, Eggleston also had a forced fumble. The last Warrior to have two interceptions in a game was Ronny Brant at Walsh on Sept. 2, 2017 (a span of 28 games).  Eggleston also becomes the first WSU defensive player to earn the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week award twice in the same season (going all the way back to 1975 when WSU joined the GLIAC and also played in the MIFC).
 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Josh Gorball - Grand Valley St.

Grand Valley State RS Freshman kicker Josh Gorball has been named the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Lakers’ 45-17 victory over Northern Michigan. Gorball was 6-for-6 in point after attempts and kicked a career-long 35-yard field goal. In addition, Gorball kept Northern Michigan’s average starting field position at the 28-yard line after kickoffs. On the season Gorball is 28-for-28 in PATs and 4-for-4 in field goals.

 


HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE: Jalen Lewis (NU), Haiden Majewski (DU), Austin Brenner (AU), Deiontae Nicholas (WSU), Chris Nelson (SVSU), Ben Hartley (MTU), Connor Bruinius (NMU), Sy Barnett (FSU)

DEFENSE: Dylan Zagula (NU), Liam Cavanaugh (DU), Justin Moore (AU), David Still (SVSU), Isaac Darkangelo (NMU), Glacier Wallington (MTU), Austin Edwards (FSU) 

SPECIAL TEAMS: Alex Spicuzzi (NU), Austin Brenner (AU), Darece Roberson (WSU), Connor Luksic (SVSU), John Kwiecinski (NMU), Evan Gornick (MTU) Jackson Dieterle (FSU)

 

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