Kansas City, Mo. – Central Missouri’s Garrett Fugate has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Football Offensive Athlete of the Week. Lindenwood’s Connor Harris has been named the Defensive Athlete of the Week while UCO’s Seth Hiddink earned Special Teams Athlete of the Week honors.
Offensive Athlete of the Week
Garrett Fugate, QB, Central Missouri
Fugate accounted for 448 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the Mule’s 54-10 win over Missouri Southern. The Mule’s racked up a school-record 705 yards of total offense in the game and Fugates 448 yards of total offense are the fourth highest single-game total in UCM history and the most for anyone outside of former Harlon Hill winner Eric Czerniewski. He was 21-of-29 (72.4%) passing for 343 yards and two touchdowns and he also ran for 105 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown. The 6-3 junior quarterback is a native of Overland Park, Kan. where he competed at Blue Valley Northwest High School.
Defensive Athlete of the Week
Connor Harris, LB, Lindenwood
Connor Harris set a career-high with 24 tackles against Emporia State, the most in NCAA DII for a single-game this season. He had 11 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles. He had LUs only sack, had 1.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup. Four of his tackles, including his sack, came on third down plays and forced a punt. He also had one tackle on fourth down which caused a turnover on downs. Harris performance led a strong showing by LUs defense, which held Emporia State to 24 points below its season average, and held it to 1.0 fewer yards per play than its season average. The 6-0 junior linebacker is a native of Lee’s Summit, Mo. where he competed at Blue Springs South High School.
Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Seth Hiddink, K, Central Oklahoma
Hiddink scored 12 points in UCOs 36-24 win over Nebraska-Kearney, hitting all three field goal tries and all three extra point attempts. He had a pair of 39-yard field goals in the first quarter and then hit a 27-yarder in the final seconds of the second to pull the Bronchos within 17-16 at the break before making his only two extra point attempts in the second half as UCO rallied for the win. The 6-4 junior kicker is a native of Wylie, Texas where he competed at Wylie High School.
— MIAA Press Release —