Oct. 1, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The fourth 2007 NAIA weekly football awards were handed out and these student-athletes were honored: Brandon Kaufman of Bethel (Kan.) was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, Shane Longest of St. Xavier (Ill.) was named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week and Cris Reisert of Ohio Dominican was named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week, for the week ending on Sunday, Sept. 30.

Kaufman, a 6-0, 190 lb. senior defensive back from Moundridge, Kan., returned one interception for a touchdown and had another pick in the 20-0 win at Bethany (Kan.). Kaufman's first interception came under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as Bethany was driving. He stepped in front of a pass in the end zone to thwart a potential Bethany score. His second pick came late in the fourth as he returned it 60 yards where his team was able to run out the clock. He also added three solo tackles, four assists and one sack for the Threshers. Kaufman is tied for No. 2 in the country with four total interceptions this year.

Longest, a 5-11, 180 lb. senior placekicker/punter from Wilmington, Ill., made all of his points count in the 13-10 St. Xavier win over then-No. 12 Walsh (Ohio). He nailed a 43-yarder in the first quarter for the game's first points before hitting from 31-yards out in the third quarter to give his team a 6-0 lead. Overall, he was 3-for-3 between his field goal and PAT attempts. He averaged 46.0 yards in three punts and forced two touchbacks of his four kick-offs. On they season, Longest leads the NAIA with 10 field goals and is second with a 43.8 yards per punt average.

Reisert, a 6-2, 205 lb. junior quarterback from Cincinnati, Ohio led his club to a 30-20 upset against then-No. 2 St. Francis (Ind.). He threw for 310 yards on 34-of-46 passing and added three passing scores. All three of his TD tosses came in the first half and staked the Panthers to a 23-13 halftime edge. Reisert continued his streak of superb passing as he has thrown for more than 300 yards in all five games this year and has averaged an NAIA-best 380.6 yards/game. Ohio Dominican snapped the 54-game regular season winning streak of St. Francis.

Offensive Nominees:
Bam Harmon, Langston (Okla.); Mario Whitney, William Penn (Iowa); Pat Ealy, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Adam Langvardt, Sterling (Kan.); Nick Banks, Minot State (N.D.); Ronnie Jankovich, Bethel (Tenn.); Jon Davis, Azusa Pacific (Calif.); Corey Warner, Montana Tech; Tyler Swanson, Midland Lutheran (Neb.); Thez Robinson, Northwestern Oklahoma State

Defensive Nominees:
Brandon Kennard, Langston (Okla.); Casey Weidenbacher, St. Xavier (Ill.); Steve Moravec, McKendree
(Ill.); Chris Honeycutt, Cumberlands (Ky.); Kenny Simmons, Azusa Pacific (Calif.); Brian Schaefering,
Lindenwood (Mo.); Bryce Petersen, Jamestown (N.D.); Zach Richardson, Carroll (Mont.); Lantz Mathers,
Northwestern Oklahoma State; Brett Mertens, Concordia (Neb.)

Special Teams Nominees:
Josh Warren, Doane (Neb.); William Brasel, William Penn (Iowa); Kraig Tafoya, Black Hills State (S.D.);
Merf Trout, Graceland (Iowa); Moses Cochran, Cumberlands (Ky.); Michael Montez, Bethel (Kan.); Sean
Kelly, Montana Tech; Korey Williams, Northwestern Oklahoma State

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
WEEK 4:
Offense: Cris Reisert (Ohio Dominican) - JR, QB
Defense: Brandon Kaufman (Bethel (Kan.)) - SR, DB
Special Teams: Shane Longest (St. Xavier (Ill.)) - SR, PK/P