| 2007
Players of the Week
 Austin Brown named NAIA National Player of the Week
Oct. 22, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The sixth 2007 NAIA weekly football awards were handed out and these student-athletes were honored: Austin Brown of McPherson (Kan.) was named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week, Brandon Minch of Nebraska Wesleyan was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week and Thez Robinson of Northwestern Oklahoma State was named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week, for the week ending on Sunday, Oct. 21.
Brown, a 6-1, 175 lbs., freshman cornerback from Lawton, Okla., helped preserve the 17-14 upset at Ottawa (Kan.) last Saturday. Brown's special teams play was the difference as he blocked two kicks - a PAT and field goal attempt. His PAT block came after the Braves scored the game's first touchdown and his send-back on the field goal came just before the final period. At that point, McPherson trailed just 6-3 before pulling out the victory. On the season, Brown has blocked seven PATs or field goals in seven games.
Minch, a 6-1, 230 lbs., senior defensive lineman from Elmwood, Neb., was part of a defense to shut out Hastings (Neb.) and limit the Mustangs to 228 yards of offense. Overall, he had seven tackles, 4.0 sacks, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble in the 14-0 victory. He single-handedly forced three Hastings punts as he posted two solo sacks and a quarterback-hurry on third-down plays. As a team, Nebraska Wesleyan finished with six sacks, five pass break-ups, three interceptions and held the opposing quarterback to 10-of-27 passing.
Robinson, a 6-1, 205 lbs., senior running back from Lyons, Ga., established a school record in the 59-14 win over Peru State (Neb.). Breaking a 50-year old record, Robinson totaled five rushing touchdowns and came 12 yards shy of the school standard for yards rushing in a game. On the day, he had 245 yards on 20 totes for a 12.3 yards per carry average. Currently, he ranks 10th in the NAIA in rushing yards per game (113.9 ypg) and eighth in scoring (9.8 ppg). He has rushed for 100-plus yards in five straight games including two straight over 200.
*****
 Artis named KCAC Football "Offensive Player of the Week"
Aazaad Artis, McPherson College junior, was named the KCAC Men's football “Offensive Player of the Week” for his play in the Bulldogs’ 17-13 win at Ottawa University on October 20, 2007.
Artis rushed for 156 yards on 33 attempts and two touchdowns to become just the second player to rush for more than 100 yards against Ottawa University this fall.
Aazaad’s 156-yard performance against the Braves was his second straight 100+ rushing game, following his 163 yards on 14 carries against Haskell Indian Nations University.
The 5’8”, 185-pound Artis’ 14 rushing touchdowns on the season ties him for fifth in touchdown scoring among NAIA athletes with an average of 12.0 points and 2.0 touchdowns per game. Among players having played only seven games, his 14 touchdowns currently rank second. His 84 total points scored ranks sixth among all NAIA players.
“Aazaad is a special player and a good person and student,” said McPherson head coach Brian Ward. “He is as tough as they come. After 33 carries, you’d think he would be a little tired, but he continued to get better with every carry.”
For the 2007 season, Artis has rushed for 580 yards and 14 touchdowns on 109 attempts, an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Earlier this season, Aazaad rushed for four touchdowns against Kansas Wesleyan University.
The win by the Bulldogs was their second straight game on the Braves’ home field after losing at Ottawa 17 straight times going back to 1968. The win was only McPherson’s third since 1958 and eighth overall victory at Ottawa in 38 games played there dating back to 1929.
Artis is a 2005 graduate of Paradise Valley High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and transferred to McPherson College last spring from Phoenix (Ariz.) College.
*****
Brown named KCAC Football "Special Teams Player of the Week"
Austin Brown, McPherson College freshman, was named the KCAC Men's football “Special Teams Player of the Week” for his play in the Bulldogs’ 17-14 victory at Ottawa University on October 20, 2007.
Brown blocked two kicks, depriving the Braves of four points, and was also credited with three tackles from his defensive back spot.
Austin first blocked the PAT kick following Ottawa’s touchdown on the Braves’ opening possession of the game.
With just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter, and McPherson trailing 6-3, Brown blocked away a 44-yard field goal attempt by Ottawa, setting up a short field for McPherson which led to the Bulldogs’ go-ahead touchdown early in the final period.
The blocks were Brown’s sixth and seventh of placement kicks this season.
“Austin has blocked seven kicks this year, and none bigger than those on Saturday,” said McPherson head coach Brian Ward. “Those four points ended up being the difference in the football game.”
“Austin has that special knack for blocking kicks. You can’t teach that quality.”
Through seven games, Brown is credited with 15 tackles, two of which were for lost yardage including one quarterback sack. He has also forced two fumbles, broken up four passes, and intercepted two.
The win by the Bulldogs was their second straight game on the Braves’ home field after losing at Ottawa 17 straight times going back to 1968. The win was only McPherson’s third since 1958 and eighth overall victory at Ottawa in 38 games played there since 1929.
Brown is a 2007 graduate of Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma.
*****
 Eason
named Football Gazette “National Special Teams Co-Player of the
Week”
Travis
Eason, McPherson College freshman, was named “NAIA National Special
Teams Co-Player of the Week” by Don Hansen's Football Gazette for
his play in the Bulldogs' 41-23 Homecoming win over Haskell Indian
Nations University on October 13, 2007.
Eason attempted and converted
his first two field goal attempts as a collegian and was a perfect
five for five on PAT kicks. His field goals were from 35 and 44
yards, the longer being was just one yard short of the McPherson
school record.
The results of his six kickoffs
included two touchbacks and his own recovery of an on-sides kick.
“It's great for Travis as
well as our special teams to have him receive this national recognition,”
said McPherson head coach Brian Ward. “Travis has stepped up and
accepted the challenge that comes with being a college kicker. We're
glad to see him recognizes this way.”
Travis is now 19 of 22 on
PAT kicks and a perfect two for two on field goals.
Eason is a 2007 graduate
of East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Joining Eason as Football
Gazette's national co-player of the week were Derek Doerfler of
Baker University and Shane Longest of St. Xavier University.
*****
 Paulson
named KCAC Football “Defensive Player of the Week”
McPherson
College redshirt sophomore Jeff Paulson was named the KCAC football
“Defensive Player of the Week” for his play in the Bulldogs' 41-23
Homecoming win over Haskell Indian Nations University on October
13, 2007.
Making his first start on
the defensive side of the ball as a collegian, Paulson was credited
with ten tackles, six unassisted, two tackles for nine yards of
lost yardage, and one pass broken up.
“Jeff Paulson may be the
best player on our team,” said McPherson College head coach Brian
Ward. “ They say that leadership is judgment and not knowledge.”
“I chose not to move Jeff
to s afety three weeks ago an d it may have cost us a win or two.
N ow , I mo ve him and he gets this honor! My judg ment was obviously
lacking! He is a great player and person, and whatever honors
he receives, he works hard to earn it.”
Paulson also ran for 26 yards
on his only offensive attempt, converting an early fourth and seven
for a first down.
Through six games, Paulson
has rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries and caught
seven passes for 70 yards.
A 2005 graduate of Limon,
Colorado, High School, Paulson was named to the 2006 All-KCAC second
team as a running back.
*****
Eason
named KCAC Football “Special Teams Player of the Week”
Travis
Eason, McPherson College freshman, was named the KCAC Men's football
“Special Teams Player of the Week” for his play in the Bulldogs'
41-23 Homecoming win over Haskell Indian Nations University on October
13, 2007.
Eason attempted and converted
his first two field goal attempts as a collegian and was a perfect
five for five on PAT kicks. His field goals were from 35 and 44
yards, the longer being was just one yard short of the McPherson
school record.
The results of his six kickoffs
included two touchbacks and his own recovery of an on-sides kick.
“Travis has been solid all
year,” said McPherson head coach Brian Ward. “ He l ooks forward
to pressure kicks.”
“Travis really em braces
the pressure that comes with being a college kicker. We're glad
to see him recognizes this way.”
Eason is now 19 of 22 on
PAT kicks and a perfect two for two on field goals.
Eason is a 2007 graduate
of East Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
*****
 Harrison
named KCAC Special Teams POW
McPherson College junior
punter Ripp Harrison was named to the KCAC football “Special Teams
Player of the Week” for the week of September 17-23, 2007.
Harrison
punted six times averaging 38.5 yards per punt with zero yards of
return yardage in the Bulldogs' 34-21 loss at Southwestern. Three
of Harrison 's punts were downed at the 2, 4, and 11-yard lines
of the Moundbuilders. One of the six punts was partially blocked
and traveled just nine yards beyond the line of scrimmage, dropping
his average for the night from 44.6 yards to the final 38.5 yards.
“Ripp had an outstanding
night,” said Brian Ward, McPherson College head coach. “We
had a punt tipped that only went about 15 yards (officially nine
yards). If it weren't for that one, he would have averaged well
over 40 yards per punt.”
“He has worked hard to get
where he is, and he is only getting better. He is an outstanding
representative of our football program and our institution.”
Harrison
came on to take over the Bulldogs' punting duties midway through
game two and averaged 35.3 yards per punt with a longest of 57 yards,
one downed inside the 20-yard line, and no return yardage against
Kansas Wesleyan.
Harrison is a 2005 graduate
of McLouth High School in McLouth, Kan.
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