Article courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC Assistant Executive Director
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The high-flying Gustavus offense was at its best Saturday in a decisive 49-0 win over Lake Forest in the Gusties’ 2015 home opener. Senior quarterback Mitch Hendricks (Bemidji, Minn.) had a huge game with 353 passing yards and six total touchdowns in the win, to put him in the top five in the nation in both categories. For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Hendricks Monday with the MIAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week award.
Hendricks’ final stat line included 28-for-35 passing (80 percent) for 353 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He averaged 10.1 yards per attempt, and his touchdown passes traveled 7, 36, 5, 16 and 23 yards. He also started the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run and finished with 14 yards on two carries. This season, Hendricks leads the MIAC in passing yards (738), touchdowns (nine), yards per game (369.0), completions (53) and completion percentage (.791). He is ranked second nationally in touchdown passes and seventh in passing yards, and this is his fourth MIAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week award in the last two seasons.
Thanks to Saturday’s high-scoring win, Gustavus improved to 2-0, and it received seven votes in the D3football.com Top 25 poll and was the seventh team listed in the “Others receiving votes” category. The Gusties will aim for a 3-0 start in prime time as it heads to Hamline – which is also 2-0 – for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Klas Field Saturday night in St. Paul, Minn.