DU's Whittaker, GVSU's Swanson and SVSU's Thomason awarded with GLIAC Football Week 7 honors

Posted: Oct 17, 2022

GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following week seven of the 2022 football season. Davenport grad student quarterback Jason Whittaker was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Grand Valley State junior linebacker Abe Swanson earned defensive player of the week honors and Saginaw Valley State junior linebacker Derek Thomason received special team player of the week accolades.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jason Whittaker, Davenport

Quarterback Jason Whittaker shook off a rocky start by tossing a school-record six touchdown passes in Davenport's 47-43 win over Wayne State. The Panthers improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC as Whittaker went 30-for-49 for 369 yards and had a passer efficiency rating of 153.1. He completed touchdowns to four different receivers and engineered the game-winning drive culminated by a nine-yard touchdown pass to Alonzell Henderson with nine seconds left for the winning score. Whittaker set the single-season school record with 20 touchdown passes and has thrown for 300 or yards in three of the last four games for the Panthers. His completion and attempt totals were also school records.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abe Swanson, Grand Valley State

Grand Valley State junior linebacker Abe Swanson turned in another stellar individual performance and led a defense that limited then #1-ranked Ferris State to 20 points, 136 rushing yards and 126 total yards below their season average as the #2 Lakers claimed a 22-21 victory. Swanson tallied seven total tackles (4 solo/3 assisted), 1.5 tackles for loss (-6) and recovered a fumble with just over three minutes. Swanson keyed a defense that tallied 10.0 tackles for loss (-45) and 3.0 QB sacks (-24). Ferris State was limited to 53 total plays, 13 first downs and converted just 2-of-11 third downs. The Bulldogs had eight possession that resulted in five plays or less and five drives that produced 10 yards or less.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Derek Thomason, Saginaw Valley State

The Saginaw Valley State University football team got back in the win column with a 38-14 victory at home over No. 8 University of Indianapolis on Saturday. The scoring started with Derek Thomason blocking a punt and returning the ball for a 21-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. Thomason also recorded a team-high nine tackles, including six solo on defense. For his efforts, Thomason has been named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. The Ypsilanti, Mich., native is the first Cardinal to win the award this season.

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE: Andrew Brito (SVSU), Mylik Mitchell (FSU), Jack Provencher (GVSU), Jason Whittaker (DU), Darius Willis (MTU)

DEFENSE: Braxton Blackwell (MTU), Brendan Boman (DU), Caleb Murphy (FSU), Michael Woolridge (SVSU)

SPECIAL TEAMS: Quentin Beck (FSU), Trace Hrgich (GVSU), Kyle Wojahn (DU)

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