Player of the Week
Wayne Gilmore
Teamkong

Sometimes fans have a hard time looking at the good things that occur when their team loses a game.

It must be a safety mechanism fans use, to always go negative when the results are not what they would have liked.

Pitt State did not beat Northwest Missouri again, and it sucks.  But as a fan, we were treated to one of the best small college atmospheres ever.  Last year it was a weeknight game.  Sure the crowd was bigger, but this year’s atmosphere was better.

It was a great game.  Northwest Missouri has a very good team.  They have great athletes, just like we do.  They made the plays when they had to, and we did not.

Football is a team game, and the Gorilla Football team lost that game, not an individual.

But there are positives from that game, and the biggest positive of all was the play of the defensive line, and in particular Mark Stephen.  He is the Teamkong Player of the Week.

The 6’4’’ 288 pound defensive tackle from Bishop Carroll in Wichita made the most of senior day.  He was part of a defensive line that sacked QB Josh Lamberson eight times!  They were key in only allowing the Bearcats 36 yards rushing.

Stephen’s contribution to this team effort was substantial.  He led the team in tackles with five unassisted, and 2 solo stops.  He had two QB sacks himself.  He spent the better part of the afternoon fighting double teams, and was in the Bearcat backfield often.

While this is his first Player of the Week honor, he has had a great senior campaign.  After moving from defensive end this year, Stephen has joined with Aaron McConnell to form one of the best defensive lines in DII.

With the Gorillas making the playoffs today, Stephen and the rest of the seniors get at least one more game.  They will make the most of their opportunity and lead the Gorillas to victory in Grand Forks.