Rochester, MN-
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has released its first weekly football awards of 2021. These awards are for the week of August 23-29 and sponsored by the Marines.
Minnesota State - Fergus Falls and Rochester Community and Technical College each have a pair of athletes earning the award this week. Nate Hayden (QB) and Matthew Croteau (LB) earn an offensive and defensive player-of-the-week award for their outstanding performances while leading their MSFF Spartans team to their first victory since 2018. Dylan Ingram (RB) and Ethan Forthun (K) earn an offensive and special teams player-of-the-week award for leading the RCTC Yellowjackets to an early season win.
After an incredible defensive outing for Central Lakes College, Charles Dressel takes home a defensive player-of-the-week honor as well.
Each week throughout the 2021 season, two offensive, two defensive, and a special teams athlete will be named players-of-the-week, based on nominations submitted by MCAC member football programs.
As MCAC teams compile games and statistics, keep tabs on Conference leaders at the following links:
MCAC Statistical Leaders: https://mcacsports.org/sports/fball/2021-22/leaders
MCAC Standings: https://mcacsports.org/sports/fball/2021-22/standings
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MCAC FootballOffensive Players-of-the-Week |
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Nate Hayden Fr. / QB Flower Mound, TX
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Minnesota State - Fergus Falls freshman quarterback, Nate Hayden (Flower Mound, TX), opened his college career with a stellar performance to secure a win for the Spartans an earn an Offensive Player-of-the-Week award. This was the first win for the Spartans program since 2018. Hayden completed 33 of 45 passes for 418 yards and 4 touchdowns in his team's win. MSFF is now 1-0 on the season and will play at Central Lakes College on Saturday, September 4 at 1:30 PM. |
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Dylan Ingram Fr. / RB Memphis, TN
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Dylan Ingram, freshman running back for Rochester Community and Technical College has been named Offensive Player-of-the-Week after leading the powerful ground game of the Yellowjackets and earning a win for RCTC. Ingram had 20 carries and rushed for 147 yeards and 5 touchdowns in the victory. RCTC is 1-0 on the young season, and hosts Itasca Community College on Saturday, September 4 at 1:30 PM. |
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Other Notable Offensive Performers: Terrence Isaac, Jr. (WR, Vermilion CC): 8 receptions for 201 yards and 1 touchdown TJ Owens (QB, NDSCS): 7-14 passing for 36 yards, 13 rushes for 97 yards and 1 touchdown |
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MCAC FootballDefensive Players-of-the-Week |
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Charles Dressel So. / LB Mounds View, MN
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Charles Dressel, freshman linebacker for the Central Lakes College Raiders, earns a defensive player-of-the-week award with his highlight reel of defensive domination this past weekend. The Mounds View, MN native secured 17 tackles, 13 of which were solo. In addition, he sacked the Itasca quarterback twice. Although the Raiders didn't get the win, Dressel gave his future opponents something to fear. Central Lakes College will return to action on Saturday, September 4 at 1:30 PM as they host Minnesota State - Fergus Falls. |
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Matthew Croteau Fr. / LB Avanel, NJ
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Minnesota State - Fergus Falls freshman linebacker, Matthew Croteau, helped anchor a strong defensive performance for his Spartans as they secured a win over Minnesota West and earned him defensive player-of-the-week honors. Croteau, from Avanel, NJ, had 8 tackles with 3 of them for losses. He also had 1 sack in the victory, which came on 4th down on the goalline just before the halftime intermission. With the win, the Spartans are 1-0 and travel to Central Lakes on Saturday to play at 1:30 PM. |
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Other Notable Defensive Performers: Manny Garcia (LB, NDSCS): 3 tackles with 1.5 for loss, 1 sack and 2 fumble recoveries Connor Loy (LB, RCTC): 4 solo and 6 assisted tackles, .5 sacks, .5 tackles for loss |
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MCAC FootballSpecial Teams Player-of-the-Week |
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Ethan Forthun Fr. / K Dexter, MN |
Rochester Community and Technical College freshman kicker, Ethan Forthun (Dexter, MN), scored 10 points for his Yellowjackets team to help them pick up their first win of the season. Forthun was 4-4 on extra point attempts and 2-3 on field goal attempts. He booted a 33 yard field goal in the contest, and also had 3 punts for 82 yards. One of the punts ended up inside the 20 yard line. RCTC hosts Itasca Community College on Saturday, September 4 at 1:30 PM. |
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Other Notable Special Teams Performers: Carsen McKnight (K, MSFF): 5 for 5 on PAT's, 8 for 421 yards on kickoffs with an average of 52.6 yards/kickoff |
This release sponsored by:
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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.