By MATT PIKE
For the second time this season, Missouri Western State University quarterback Isaiah Tate has been named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
Tate, who earned the honor in the opening week of the season against Augustana, had another record setting performance against Fort Hays State on Saturday. After tying the program single game record for passing touchdowns in a game in the loss against Augustana with four, and tying the program record for touchdowns in a single game with five, Tate broke those records against the Tigers.
The Griffons beat Fort Hays State 46-29 with Tate going 28-of-40 for 429 yards through the air and six touchdowns. Along with breaking the program record for touchdowns, Tate's 429 passing yards rank third and his 28 completions rank fourth in program history. Tate also added 20 rushing yards to finish with 449 yards of total offense, the sixth-most individual single-game total offense yards in program history.
While Tate was the lone Griffons winner, MoWest also saw defensive back Mayes Doggan nominated for Defensive Player of the Week. Doggan recorded one tackle on the night, but intercepted Hays quarterback Major Cantrell two times, out of the three interceptions Cantrell threw against MoWest. Kicker Mason Grove was also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week for the Griffons after Grove, the kickoff specialist, had four touchbacks on the day of his eight kickoffs.
Northwest Missouri State also had two nominees for awards. While Tate's record setting performance was hard to top, Bearcats running back Quincy Torry was nominated for Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in Northwest's 19-14 loss to Central Oklahoma. Linebacker Eli Bertz was nominated for Defensive Player of the Week leading the Bearcats in tackles in the loss with 11, one for loss, and also recording a sack.
Bearcats punter Davis Barr was also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week. Barr had five punts on the night for Northwest, two landing inside the 20 yard line and sailing 50+ yards. Barr's longest punt in the game went 56 yards to pin the Bronchos at their own 25 yard line on a drive that ended with Northwest forcing a punt.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.