Sept. 17, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The second 2007 NAIA weekly football awards were handed out and these student-athletes were honored: Craigh Cornelius of Montana-Western was named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week, Lane O'Connor of Bethany (Kan.) was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week and Joel Stevens of Evangel (Mo.) was named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week, for the week ending on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Cornelius, a 5-10, 170 lb. sophomore wide receiver from Renton, Wash., was a big reason for Montana-Western's upset of then-No. 7 Montana-Northern last Saturday. In the 45-38 road win, Cornelius set a school all-time high with 257 receiving yards. He had 10 receptions and three touchdowns including the game-winner with 1:57 left on the clock. Montana-Western entered into the Top 25 for the first time this year at No. 25 after the victory.

O'Connor, a 6-0, 185 lb. freshman defensive back from Bleiblerville, Texas totaled 9.5 tackles, including six solo stops in the Swedes 21-14 win at Briar Cliff (Iowa). He added 2.0 sacks, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, three pass break-ups and one forced fumble.

Stevens, a 6-0, 190 lb. junior defensive back/kick returner from Fruitland, Idaho, set the tone for Evangel in the 34-7 home win over Central Methodist (Mo.). On three punt returns, he averaged 41.3 yards including a 75-yard return for a touchdown following the game's first punt. He added a 45-yarder to set up his team's second touchdown of the day.

Offensive Nominees:
Dayton Edwards, Hastings (Neb.); Matt Rich, Belhaven (Miss.); X'Zavier Bloodsaw, Texas College; Tyler Degenhardt, Sterling (Kan.); Cris Reisert, Ohio Dominican; Craig Moore, Quincy (Ill.); Ben Kisner, Lindenwood (Mo.); Josh Kittell, Jamestown (N.D.)

Defensive Nominees:
Logan Denning, Dakota State (S.D.); Justin Ficklin, Bacone (Okla.); Jacob Zsuppon, Quincy (Ill.); Dan
Hromada, Malone (Ohio); Gabe Guthrie, Georgetown (Ky.); Owen Koeppen, Carroll (Mont.); Phil Schroer,
Nebraska Wesleyan; Marquette Floyd, Missouri Valley; Enjai Bush, Langston (Okla.)

Special Teams Nominees:
Hunter Meade, Cumberlands (Ky.); Gavin Rodriguez, Hastings (Neb.); Shane Longest, St. Xavier (Ill.); Troy
Van Blarcom, Kansas Wesleyan; Robert Stevens, Mayville State (N.D.); Aaron Vermillion, Northwestern
Oklahoma State; Colton Woods, Montana-Western

2007 Composite Award Winners:
WEEK 1:
Offense: Craig Hector (Northwestern (Iowa)) - SR, QB
Defense: Marc Samson (Montana State-Northern) - SR, DB
Special Teams: Matt Eberspacher (Nebraska Wesleyan) - FR, PK
WEEK 2:
Offense: Craigh Cornelius (Montana-Western) - SO, WR
Defense: Lane O'Connor (Bethany (Kan.)) - FR, DB
Special Teams: Joel Stevens (Evangel (Mo.)) - SR, DB/KR