Sept. 24, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The third 2007 NAIA weekly football awards were handed out and these student-athletes were honored: Jerome Messam of Graceland (Iowa) was named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week, Joe Slabaugh of Ohio Dominican was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week and Nolan Williams of Texas College was named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week, for the week ending on Sunday, Sept. 23.

Messam, a 6-4, 250 lb. junior running back from York, Ont., rushed for 235 yards on 23 carries in No. 24 Graceland's 42-21 win at Avila (Mo.). He averaged 10.2 yards per carry and found the end zone four times including a 99-yard score. He also posted two catches for 18 yards. In four games this year, Messam has gone over the century mark rushing and has averaged 152.8 yards.

Slabaugh, a 6-1, 210 lb. junior defensive back from Akron, Ohio made an impact on defense for No. 6 Ohio Dominican. In the 46-13 road win at then-No. 22 McKendree last week, Slabaugh posted 7.0 total tackles including six solo efforts. He returned a fumble 54 yards in the third quarter which extended ODU's lead to 26-13. Then, he picked off his third pass of the season, returning it 52 yards for a score. He also added 1.0 tackle-for-a-loss for four yards.

Williams, a 5-8, 170 lb. senior wide receiver/kick returner from Atlanta, Texas helped Texas College earn its first win of 2007. He accounted for 21 of the team's 33 points in the 33-27 overtime win against Howard Payne. He opened up third-quarter action with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. With just over six minutes remaining, Williams then took a kickoff to the end zone from 88 yards out and handed TC a 27-24 lead. In the overtime period, he tossed a 25-yard pass for the game-winner. He averaged 56.8 yards on four kickoff returns and 9.0 yards on two punt returns, he connected on 3-of-4 PATs, caught three balls for 31 yards and rushed twice for 32 yards.

Offensive Nominees:
Michael Hayward, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Nolan Williams, Texas College; Michael Coppock, Southwestern
(Kan.); Allen Ervin, Lambuth (Tenn.); Bernard Payton, Malone (Ohio); Brian Lee-lauduski, Southern
Oregon; Donald Strand, Dakota State (S.D.); Chad Miller, Langston (Okla.); Matt Komac, Montana Tech;
Mark Schlueter, Dana (Neb.)

Defensive Nominees:
Travis Norris, Pikeville (Ky.); Justin Ficklin, Bacone (Okla.); Jacob Zsuppon, Quincy (Ill.); Justin Conley,
Hastings (Neb.); Austin Stack, Southern Oregon; Jamil Abdullah, Lindenwood (Mo.); Tyrell Anderson,
South Dakota Tech; Brandon Kaufman, Bethel (Kan.); Phil Lenoue, Carroll (Mont.)

Special Teams Nominees:
D'Artagnan Dai-Re, Doane (Neb.); Ripp Harrison, McPherson (Kan.); Bill Mckeon, St. Xavier (Ill.); Julian
Tyler, Bethel (Tenn.); Derrel Hutsona, Southern Oregon; Joe Sanchez, South Dakota Tech; Eric Edwards,
St. Francis (Ill.); Ryan Smith, Baker (Kan.); Brian Guisti, Rocky Mountain (Mont.)

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: Jared Stevens (Evangel (Mo.)) - SR, KR
WEEK 3:
Offense: Jerome Messam (Graceland (Iowa)) JR, RB
Defense: Joe Slabaugh (Ohio Dominican) JR, DB
Special Teams: Nolan Williams (Texas College) - SR, WR/KR