GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 9 of the 2023 football season. Davenport senior quarterback Jason Whittaker was selected GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Grand Valley State senior linebacker Abe Swanson was honored as GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Grand Valley State senior kicker Josh Gorball was named GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second-consecutive week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jason Whittaker, Davenport
Jason Whittaker helped propel the Davenport football team to 8-0, 4-0 GLIAC record by leading a fourth-quarter comeback on Saturday against visiting Saginaw Valley State. Down 21-9 with 9:22 to play, Whittaker helped lead two touchdown drives with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Garrett on 3rd-and-goal with 7:52 remaining. The Panthers got the ball back at their own eight-yard line with 1:39 left. Whittaker completed five passes on the 12-play drive and with 11 seconds left he rushed for a 10-yard score on 4th-and-goal to give DU the lead for good. Whittaker threw for 255 yards and two scores and rushed for 31 yards and the winning score to keep the undefeated season intact.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abe Swanson, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State senior linebacker Abe Swanson tallied a season-high 13 tackles, 1.0 QB sacks (-7), 1.0 tackle for loss (-7) and a QB hurry as the #2 Lakers claimed a 44-13 victory over Michigan Tech. Swanson led a defense that limited MTU to -4 yards rushing on 22 attempts and 161 yards of total offense on 54 plays (2.9 ypp). The Lakers held the Huskies to 30 yards of total offense on 24 plays in the second half, including six drives (17 plays) that resulted in -4 yards. Swanson, who has 48 tackles, 5.5 TFL (-57), 3.0 QB sacks, two interceptions and five QB hurries, leads a defense that 48.8 yards rushing per game and 283.5 yards of total offense.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Josh Gorball, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State kicker Josh Gorball connected on a 49-yard field goal and converted five point after attempts in the #2 Lakers' 44-13 win over Michigan Tech. Gorball's field goal pushed the GVSU lead to 24-10 in the third quarter. Gorball has kicked the two longest field goals in the GLIAC this season (53 and 49 yards) in back-to-back games and leads the GLIAC kick scoring points with 68.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Terrance Brown (SVSU), Trinidad Chambliss (FSU), Cade Peterson (GVSU), Kendall Williams (WSU)
DEFENSE: Micah Cretsinger (SVSU), Jaden Davis (WSU), Julius Wilkerson (DU), Jason Williams (FSU)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Maxx Fisher (WSU), Brandon Gielow (DU), Ryan Heicher (SVSU), Brady Rose (FSU)
