Players of the Week - No. 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The third installment of the 2011 NAIA National Football Players of the Week were announced on Monday by the national office: Ross Bauman of Saint Francis (Ind.) was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, Josh Hollingsworth of Faulkner (Ala.) was named NAIA Offensive Player of the Week and Terry Stecker of Kansas Wesleyan was named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 12 – 18. These winners were chosen out of a pool of player of the week performers among 10 conferences and independents.

Bauman, a 6-1, 225 pound, senior linebacker from Jimtown, Ind., recorded St. Francis’ first interception return for a touchdown since 2008 in the 33-7 victory against McKendree (Ill.) on Sept. 17. His 62-yard return with 8:14 remaining in the fourth quarter capped a stand-out performance overall for the Cougars’ defense. He posted seven tackles (one solo), one quarterback hurry and notched another interception in the first quarter. His pick for a score ranks him second on the all-time school chart. He was integral to a defense that held McKendree to 57 passing yards and 218 total yards of offense.

Hollingsworth, a 6-0, 210 pound, sophomore quarterback from Hamilton, Ala., set three Faulkner single-game records in the 48-41 loss to Huntingdon (Ala.) on Sept. 17. His 39 completions, 519 passing yards and five scores broke the school’s record. He finished the day 39-of-53 passing for a .735 completion percentage and averaged 13.3 yards per completion. The passing yards and total offense (511) are NAIA single-game highs this season.

Stecker, a 5-10, 170 pound, freshman kicker from Plano, Texas, connected on the game-winning 46-yard field goal in the 24-21 win against Sterling (Kan.) on Sept. 17. His kick as time expired lifted Kansas Wesleyan to its first victory over Sterling in eight years. He was also 3-for-3 on PAT attempts.

Offensive Nominees: Taylor Parsons, William Penn (Iowa); Brett Giesen, Kansas Wesleyan; Jason Rice, SAGU (Texas); Adam Wiese, Marian (Ind.); Thomas Reynolds, Menlo (Calif.); Kevon McGrew, Benedictine (Kan.); Kevin Sampson, Eastern Oregon; Nate Hauptman, Nebraska Wesleyan; Brandon Large, Dakota State (S.D.); John van den Raadt, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

Defensive Nominees: Cody Fanning, Doane (Neb.); Adam Tondini, St. Francis (Ill.); Ben Miller, Cumberland (Tenn.); Nolan Doss, Menlo (Calif.); Nate Bruto, Ottawa (Kan.); D. Brumbaugh, Southern Nazarene (Okla.); Jacob Grosz, Mayville State (N.D.); Moses Kato, Benedictine (Kan.); J.T. Fitzgerald, Rocky Mountain (Mont.); Spencer Danielson, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

Special Teams Nominees: Phil Thramer, Doane (Neb.); Elliot Allen, St. Francis (Ill.); Leon Spears, Quincy (Ill.); Jesse Vaughn, Evangel (Mo.); Jake McLain, Mayville State (N.D.); Chris Jones, Northwestern Oklahoma State; Marquis Terrell, Pikeville (Ky.); Matt Ritter, Carroll (Mont.).

2011 Football Players of the Week (Offense; Defense; Special Teams)
Week 1: Brandon Smith, Northwestern (Iowa); Reece Green, Marian (Ind.); Marcus Bratton, UVa-Wise (Va.)
Week 2: Chris Ware, Eastern Oregon; Vincent Aguilar, Trinity International (Ill.); Levi Cockle, Peru State (Neb.)
Week 3: Josh Hollingsworth, Faulkner (Ala.); Ross Bauman, Saint Francis (Ind.); Terry Stecker, Kansas Wesleyan