Rochester, Mn-
In Week 8 of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference football season, all squads wrapped up their non-Divisional schedules with a final cross-Division contest. After completion of the games on Saturday, eight teams prepared for the MCAC Playoffs, which begin on Sunday, October 29th. Strong individual performances were found in several contests as the fall seasons begins to wind down; the best of those who were nominated have been tabbed as Players-of-the-Week in the eighth weekly edition of MCAC Football.
MCAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week, Eastern Division:
Eastern Division top-seed Central Lakes College served up one of it's best offensive outings in their last regular season contest of 2017. Central Lakes quarterback Quentin Skinner threw for 307 yards rushing, leading the Raiders to a 37-22 Week 8 victory. Skinner, a freshman from Minneapolis/Patrick Henry H.S., accounted for three touchdowns for CLC against M State to wrap up the regular season. With his dominant performance, Skinner helped Central Lakes remain in the top spot in the Eastern Division at 7-1 overall. In the MCAC quarterfinal playoff round, Central Lakes College will host Vermilion Community College on Sunday, 10/29. The contest will kickoff at 1:30pm in Brainerd.
MCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week, Eastern Division:
The Mesabi Range College offense has been putting up some solid numbers this fall MCAC play; however, in Week 8, Mesabi Range defensive lineman Justin Hooks put up a host of strong numbers of his own in MRC's loss to NDSCS this past Saturday. Hooks, a freshman from Kissimmee, Florida, had 6 total tackles for the MRC defense, but most of his work was done behind the line of scrimmage. Hooks recorded 1.5 sacks for a total of 18 defensive yards and had a pass breakup. The majority of his tackles were for losses, totaling an impressive 25 yards and four of his tackles were solo stops. Hooks and Mesabi Range College will face Rochester Community & Technical College next week, traveling for a first round playoff game in Rochester, Minnesota, for a 1:30pm contest against the Yellowjackets.
MCAC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week, Eastern Division:
Central Lakes kicking specialist Antoine Akundu performed well across a range of duties on Saturday in the Raiders 37-22 win against M State. Akundu was a perfect 5-of-5 on PAT duty, raising his overall season mark to 17-of-19 in PAT's, good for a 89% success rate. Akundu also kicked off four times for over 120 yards and a touchback. CLC opens up defense of their 2016 MCAC Football Championship when they host Vermilion Community College next Sunday. Central Lakes finished the regular season with a 4-1 Divisional mark and a 7-1 overall record in MCAC Football.
Quarterfinal Contests & Kickoff Times for MCAC Football on Sunday, October 29th, 2017:
Ridgewater College at Dakota College-Bottineau, Bottineau, ND. Kickoff at Noon.
Vermilion Community College at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, Mn. Kickoff at 1:30pm
Mesabi Range College at Rochester Community & Technical College, Rochester, Mn. Kickoff at 1:30pm
North Dakota State College of Science at Northland Community & Technical College, Thief River Falls, Mn. Kick-off at 1:30pm
For more information on the 2017 Minnesota College Athletic Conference football season, be sure to bookmark these links:
MCAC Football Schedule/Results
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference website main page is: http://www.mcacsports.org/landing/index
Join our Social Media feeds today! The MCAC is on Facebook and Twitter.
This release sponsored in part by Gopher Sport.
Gopher Sport, based in Owatonna, is an industry leader in Physical Education, sports and fitness equipment. Gopher Sport is dedicated to providing programs and departments with the products to improve fitness, develop skills, create fun and reach a high standard of learning and living. Gopher Sport has diligently served teachers, coaches and athletic directors around the world for over 65 years.
About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.