Junior quarterback Mitch Hendricks earned MIAC Athlete-of-the-Week honors for the third straight week thanks to his performance in Saturday's 5-0 win over Carleton. Photo courtesy of Sport PiX - Mankato, Minnesota.
St. Paul – For the fourth time in the past five weeks, Gustavus Adolphus quarterback Mitch Hendricks (Jr., Bemidji, Minn.) has been named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week, as voted on by the MIAC sports information directors.
On Saturday against Carleton, Hendricks treated the Homecoming crowd of more than 3,100 spectators to a 50-0 win and another superb passing display. With a 42-yard pass to Matt Boyce (Jr., Excelsior, Minn.) on the first offensive play from scrimmage, and then a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Sorensen (So., St. Peter, Minn.) – Sorensen’s first career touchdown – three plays later, the Bemidji product set the tone for what was another efficient and surgical aerial attack.
Throughout the course of the afternoon, Hendricks connected with six different receivers, completed 24 of his 28 passes (85.7%) for a total of 383 yards, and threw four touchdown passes. To along with Sorensen’s grab, his touchdowns included a 30-yard strike to Matt Boyce up the seam, a 49-yard wheel up the sideline to DaiVon Poole (Fr., San Antonio, Texas), and a 47-yard deep post to Matt Boyce with just :32 seconds remaining in the half.
To go along with his prowess in the passing game, Hendricks also showed off his ability as a runner with a team-high 69 yards on four carries. Of those 69 yards, 61 of which came on a designed draw that saw the junior break through Carleton’s second level and outrun its secondary into the end zone for what was the team’s longest play from scrimmage this season.
So far this season, Hendricks has thrown four or more touchdown passes in all five games and has eclipsed 350 yards passing four straight weeks. He leads NCAA Division III in passing touchdowns (24), passing yards (1,967), completion percentage (79.9%), and points responsible for (156), ranks second in passing yards per game (393.4) and passing efficiency (215.3), and third in total offense (412.2). Inside the red zone, Mitch has been even more impressive. When the Gustavus offense reaches its opponent’s 20-yard-line, he is 19-for-20 with 12 touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown.
Thanks to Hendricks’ arm, Gustavus boasts the second-ranked passing offense in the nation, averaging 405.6 yards per game. The Gusties rank ninth in both total offense with a 538 yards per game average and scoring offense with a 47.8 points per game average. Matt Boyce currently leads the country in receiving yards (725) and receiving touchdowns (11), while Gabriel Boyce (Jr., Excelsior, Minn.) ranks 10th in yards (574) and 31st in touchdowns (5).
More important than Hendrick’s stat line is the Gustavus football team’s record. Not since the 1998 season has a Gustie squad began the year 5-0 overall. At 3-0 in the MIAC, Gustavus will head to Northfield next weekend to face St. Olaf College at 1:00 p.m. on Manitou Field. The Oles head into the weekend at 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the MIAC.
Success is SO sweet and the memories being made are awesome! Wishing you a healthy season Mitch! Congrats to you and the whole team!!!!!!!!!!!!