Rochester, MN-
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) has released its week 4 football awards for the week of September 13-19. The MCAC Football Player-of-the-Week awards are sponsored by the U.S. Marines.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College - Fergus Falls has two players named in this week's awards. Rondarius Gregory, Spartans running back, earns an Offensive Player-of-the-Week award with his 161 yards of rushing and 101 yards receiving in his team's win over Vermilion Community College; and Alieu Conteh earns a Special Teams Player-of-the-Week award as he had 110 yards on 2 kickoff returns which included an 89 yard touchdown return.
#5 ranked Rochester Community and Technical College also produced two award winners this week. Quarterback Billy Maples takes home an Offensive Player-of-the-Week award after going 8 for 14 with 108 yards passing, and three touchdowns including one rushing TD. The Yellowjackets linebacker, Connor Loy, claims the Defensive Player-of-the-Week honor with his 8 tackles and recovery of two fumbles with one returned for a touchdown.
Defensive back, Vito Richards, had three tackles and an interception return for a touchdown to help lead his Central Lakes College Raiders to their first win of the season. With his effort, Richards was named Defensive-Player-of-the-Week.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College's kicker, Mike Peralta, has been named a Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honoree after going 3-3 in field goals, 2-2 in extra points, and averaging 48.8 yards per kickoff.
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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Rondarius Gregory Fr. / RB Nashville, TN
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Minnesota State - Fergus Falls running back, Rondarius Gregory, rushed for 161 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns to earn a Offensive Player-of-the-Week honor. The freshman from Nashville, TN also had 8 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Gregory now has 356 yards rushing this season and averages 6.2 yards per carry, and he is averaging 10.1 yards per reception as well. The Spartans are now 3-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. They return to the field on Saturday to host #3 ranked Itasca Community College. |
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Billy Maples So. / QB Smithville, MO
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Billy Maples, sophomore quarterback for Rochester Community and Technical College has been named Offensive Player-of-the-Week. Maples completed 8 passes on 14 attempts and threw for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns in his team's rout of Mesabi Range College. The Smithville, MO product also ran once for four yards and a touchdown. Rochester Community and Technical College is now 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in MCAC play, and the Yellowjackets travel to Minnesota West CTC on Saturday. |
| Other Notable Offensive Performers |
Demetrius Coleman (Wide Receiver, NDSCS): 3 receptions for 15 yards |
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MCAC FootballDefensive Players-of-the-Week |
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Conner Loy Fr. / LB Wanakee, WI
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Conner Loy, freshman linebacker for #5 Rochester Community and Technical College, earns Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors with his four solo tackles and four assisted tackles on Saturday, one for a loss of yardage. The Wanakee, WI native also forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Loy now has 28 tackles on the season and has recovered two fumbles. The Yellowjackets are 3-1 on the season, 2-1 in conference play. They travel to Minnesota West to play on Saturday. |
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Vito Richards Fr. / DB Inver Grove Heights, MN
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Central Lakes College freshman defensive back, Vito Richards, was instrumental in securing the win for the Raiders and earned him Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors. Richards had three tackles, two pass break ups, and an interception that he returned 60 yards for a touchdown. The Inver Grove Heights product led his team to their first win of the season. The Raiders are now 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in conference play. Central Lakes travels to Mesabi Range to play on Saturday. |
| Other Notable Defensive Performers |
Joseph Tarnue (DB, RCTC): One pass break-up, two interceptions, and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown Reggie Morrow (DB, NDSCS): two solo and an assisted tackle, one pass break-up, and one defensive touchdown Joey DeMarco (DB, MSFF): Six tackles, 3 pass break-ups, and two interceptions |
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MCAC FootballSpecial Teams Player-of-the-Week |
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Mike Peralta Fr. / Kicker Racine, WI |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College freshman kicker, Mike Peralta, was 3 for 3 on field goals with a long of 39 yards, and 2 for 2 on extra points to earn the Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. Peralta also averaged 48.8 yards per kickoff (6 for 293 yards) in his team's narrow loss. The Bluejays move to 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in the MCAC. Minnesota West hosts #5 Rochester Community and Technical College on Saturday. |
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Alieu Conteh Fr. / Defensive Back and Kick Returner Somerset, NJ |
Alieu Conteh, Minnesota State - Fergus Falls' kick returner, had two kick returns for 110 yards including an 89 yard return for a touchdown. The freshman from Somerset, NJ has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in back-to-back weeks, and is a co-recipient of the Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honor. Alieu is averaging 42.0 yards per kickoff return this season. The Spartans are now 3-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. They return to the field on Saturday to host #3 ranked Itasca Community College. |
| Other Notable Special Teams Performers |
Ethan Forthun (K/P, RCTC): 9 for 10 on extra points, and a 44 yard punt Marselio Mendez (WR, NDSCS): 64 yard punt return for a touchdown |
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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.