BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its football Athlete of the Week awards this afternoon, with Gustavus quarterback Michael Veldman (Jr., Becker, Minn.) earning the Offensive Player of the Week honor and Matt Berkner (Jr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) receiving the Defensive Player Of The Week award.
The Gusties closed out their 2017 season with a 52-0 victory over Carleton College at Hollingsworth Field on Saturday, marking the first shutout against a conference opponent since Gustavus shutout Carleton 50-0 in 2014.
After missing the previous four games due to injury, Veldman returned to the lineup for the season finale, completing 20-of-28 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns, including a career-long 83-yard touchdown pass while rushing for a career-high 32 yards. Veldman averaged a MIAC-high 321.8 passing yards per game in his six starts this season.
Berkner guided the Black and Gold defensive effort, collecting eight tackles (five solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss and his team-leading second interception of the season, helping the Gusties limit the Knights to 150 yards of total offense.