Jamar Howard (Central Missouri), Nate Dreiling (Pittsburg State), and Jon Thomas (Pittsburg State) have been named MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Sept. 17 as selected by a conference SID panel.

MIAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jamar Howard, WR, Central Missouri

Howard had a career day catching nine passes for a UCM school-record 230 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 2:33 to play in the game as the Mules passed for over 400 yards and racked up 532 yards in total offense. The senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, averaged 25.6 yards per catch. He set-up UCM’s first score of the game with a 71-yard catch and run to the ESU 13-yard line. With the Mules trailing 21-10 just before halftime, he broke free from the defense for a 40-yard touchdown reception to pull UCM to within 21-17 at the break. Howard had two key catches on the game-tying drive, including a 12-yarder on 3rd and 7 as UCM tied the game at 38-38. On the game-winning drive, he hauled in a 36-yard catch to set UCM up at the ESU 33. On 2nd and 5 from the ESU 9, he pulled down his second touchdown of the game to give UCM the 45-38 lead. Howard’s 230 yards broke the 42-year old school-record of 228 receiving yards, which was set by Eddie Coates in 1969.

MIAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nate Dreiling, LB, Pittsburg State

Dreiling led a Pitt State defense that forced four turnovers and limited Truman to 53 net rushing yards in a 27-26 victory Saturday (Sept. 17).  The Gorillas allowed just a pair of field goals and a fourth-quarter touchdown in the contest, as the Bulldogs also recorded a pair of defensive scores with an interception return and a blocked punt return.  Dreiling, a Hutchinson, Kan., native, recorded a pair of drive-halting interceptions while logging a team-leading 10 tackles.  The Gorillas limited reigning MIAA Offensive Player of the Week J.B. Clark to 16-for-40 passing with two QB sacks and four interceptions.

MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jon Thomas, RS, Pittsburg State

Thomas sparked the Pitt State offense with a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, just seconds after the No. 19 Gorillas had fallen behind 13-0 to Truman Saturday (Sept. 17).  The senior from Raytown, Mo., returned three kickoffs for a 48.0-yard average in the contest.  He also caught three passes for 42 yards in the game, including a pair of grabs on Pitt State’s final possession as the Gorillas drove 65-yards for the game-winning score in a 27-26 victory over the Bulldogs.

— MIAA News Release —