Sunday, October 22, 2023
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

St. Thomas running back Hope Adebayo, Presbyterian linebacker Alex Herriott, and Drake punter/kicker Shane Dunning earned the Pioneer Football League's Week 8 Player of the Week awards.

Offensive

Hope Adebayo, St. Thomas (Junior, Running Back, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota)

Adebayo’s two-touchdown, 197-yard outing helped St. Thomas secure a bounce-back 38-6 victory at Stetson Saturday. He began the day with a 67-yard touchdown run to stake the Tommies to an early lead. Adebayo added a 49-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter, extending the UST lead to 31-0. He also had runs of 28 and 26 yards in his 13-carry outing before seeing his day end after the second touchdown run.

Others Nominated

• Jyran Mitchell, Butler (Grad., Running Back, Chicago, Ill.) ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries at Dayton.
• Drew Van Vleet, Dayton (Fr., Quarterback, Richmond, Ind.) completed 30-of-48 passes for 184 yards against Butler, setting a program freshman record for completions.
• Trey Radocha, Drake (Sr., Wide Receiver, Austin, Texas) caught the game-winning Hail Mary pass to cap a four-reception, 61-yard performance at San Diego.
• Rowan Keefe, Valparaiso (RFr., Quarterback, Park Ridge, Ill.) came off the bench at halftime and completed 9-of-12 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns at Davidson.
• Coulter Cleland, Davidson (So., Quarterback, Racine, Ohio) ran for 46 yards and passed for 148 yards against Valparaiso, completing 11-of-16 passes and passing for a touchdown.
• Amin Woods, Marist (RJr., Running Back, Cornwall, N.Y.) had 111 rushing yards on 27 carries and reception of three yards at Presbyterian.

Defensive

Alex Herriott, Presbyterian (Junior, Linebacker, Hanahan, South Carolina)

Herriott led all PFL tacklers with 16 stops during Week 8, leading a Presbyterian defense that did not allow a touchdown in a 19-10 PFL loss to Marist Saturday. His 16-tackle outing is the third-best effort in the league this season and helped Presbyterian hold Marist to 185 offensive yards and one field goal. Herriott had six stops in both the first and fourth quarters, and Marist only gained a first down twice on plays he was involved in.

Others Nominated

• Jeremiah Jackson, Butler (So., Linebacker, Indianapolis, Ind.) recorded 11 tackles (eight solo) and forced a fumble at Dayton.
• Nathan Arthur, Dayton (RSr., Linebacker, Cincinnati, Ohio) had a game-best 12 tackles (three solo) against Butler.
• Tom Shefte, Drake (Jr., Defensive Lineman, Littleton, Colo.) posted six tackles (five solo) and had two sacks at San Diego.
• Julian Rawlins, Davidson (Jr., Defensive Lineman, Huntersville, N.C.) had three tackles (two solo), two sacks, and a pass breakup against Valparaiso.
• Jaheel Holmes, Morehead State (Sr., Linebacker, Moreno Valley, Calif.) had a career-best 13 tackles and a tackle for loss at Tarleton State.
• Luke Herzog, St. Thomas (Sr., Linebacker, Mendota Heights, Minn.) recorded nine tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurry at Stetson.
• Angelos Vokolos, Marist (RSo., Linebacker, Sewell, N.J.) finished with four tackles (one solo) and a strip-sack that Marist recovered and returned for a touchdown at Presbyterian.

Special Teams

Shane Dunning, Drake (Senior, Punter/Kicker, Muskego, Wisconsin)

Dunning became the seventh FCS kicker to convert four field goals this season, helping Drake secure a 25-22 PFL victory at San Diego on Saturday. He scored 13 points on a day he went 4-of-4 on field goals, hit his one PAT, and averaged 37.5 yards on six punts with three downed inside the 20-yard line. Dunning opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal before extending the lead to 6-0 with his 26-yard field goal. He capped the first half with his first 50-yard field goal for a 9-7 halftime lead before adding a second 50-yarder in the third quarter to provide a 12-10 lead.

Others Nominated

• Luka Zurak, Butler (RJr., Punter/Kicker, Cleveland, Ohio) was responsible for 10 points, converting all three field goals (24, 46, and 36 yards), all four PATs, and averaged 45.5 yards on his two punts at Dayton.
• Justin Butler, Valparaiso (RSr., Return Specialist, Lynwood, Wash.) averaged 45 yards on two kick returns, including a 68-yard return.
• Tristan Allen, Davidson (Sr., Punter, Lexington, S.C.) averaged 52 yards on two punts, including a 68-yard boot, and one downed inside the 20-yard line against Valparaiso.
• Stephen Shagen, St. Thomas (So., Kicker, Park City, Utah) connected on a 40-yard field goal and all four PATs in a seven-point outing at Stetson.
• Joe Neubecker, Marist (Fr., Punter, Troy, Mich.) averaged 39.1 yards on eight punts and had five downed inside the 20-yard line at Presbyterian.