Article courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC Assistant Executive Director
MIAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week
Mitch Hendricks, Gustavus
Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji
The Gustavus football team pulled off one of the more remarkable wins in recent memory, scoring two touchdowns in the final 29 seconds to upset No. 23/24 Concordia Saturday in St. Peter, Minn. Senior quarterback Mitch Hendricks (Bemidji, Minn.) accounted for five total touchdowns in the win, including two scoring passes in a 15-second span to lift the Gusties to their remarkable win. For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Hendricks Monday with his second MIAC Football Athlete-of-the-Week award of the 2015 season.
Hendricks started his day with an 85-yard touchdown pass and ended with a 33-yard scoring strike to give his team the improbable victory, and he had plenty of other highlights in between in Gustavus’ 41-34 win over the Cobbers. Hendricks was 25-for-41 for 363 yards and four scores through the air, and he ran for 39 yards and a touchdown as well, and his numbers were the best by an opposing quarterback against the tough Concordia defense this season. This season, Hendricks leads the MIAC in passing yarsd (2,876), passing yards per game (319.6), passing touchdowns (32) and completions (224) and his completion percentage (68.5) ranks second. The Gustie quarterback ranks in the top six nationally in passing yards, yards per game and touchdowns.
Thanks to the big win, Gustavus improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC to take sole possession of third place. The win was the Gusties first over Concordia since 2010, and first at home since 2000. Gustavus received votes in both the D3football.com Top 25 and the AFCA Division III Coaches’ Poll Monday, and it will close the season with another ranked foe. The Gusties host No. 4-ranked and undefeated St. Thomas Saturday in St. Peter, Minn., at 1:10 p.m. to conclude the 2015 regular season.
MIAC Football Defensive Player-of-the-Week
Iker Ortiz-Hidalgo, Gustavus
Cancun, Mexico / Universidad Tec Milenio
The Gustavus football team turned in a win for the ages Saturday, scoring 14 points in the final 29 seconds to upset No. 23/24 Concordia 41-34. The strong play of Gustie junior defensive lineman Iker Ortiz-Hidalgo (Cancun, Mexico/Universidad Tec Milenio) helped keep his team in position to pull off the comeback win as he made a number of big plays on defense, including a key fourth-quarter fumble recovery. For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Ortiz-Hidalgo Monday with the MIAC Football Defensive Player-of-the-Week ago.
Ortiz-Hidalgo had a huge game on the defensive line, as he racked up seven total tackles (three solo, four assists), a sack, three tackles-for-a-loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His sack pushed Concordia back 14 yards and his three tackles-for-a-loss pushed the Cobbers back a total of 18 yards. His fumble recovery came at a key point in the fourth quarter as Concordia had the ball on Gustavus’ 25-yard line with a one-point lead. This season, Ortiz has 24 tackles (11 solo) with three sacks, two tackles-for-a-loss, and two fumble recoveries. In MIAC games, he’s eighth in the MIAC in sacks and second in fumble recoveries.
Thanks to the big win, Gustavus improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC to take sole possession of third place. The win was the Gusties first over Concordia since 2010, and first at home since 2000. Gustavus received votes in both the D3football.com Top 25 and the AFCA Division III Coaches’ Poll Monday, and it will close the season with another ranked foe. The Gusties host No. 4-ranked and undefeated St. Thomas Saturday in St. Peter, Minn., at 1:10 p.m. to conclude the 2015 regular season.