MW Players of the Week: Newcomer NDSU Sweeps Awards

LAS VEGAS, Nev., -- The Old Trapper Mountain West Football Players of the Week for games played in Week Zero were announced on Monday.

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North Dakota State quarterback Nathan Hayes has been tabbed as the MW Offensive Player of the Week, while teammate junior linebacker Donovan Woolen was named MW Defensive Player of the Week. Bison senior place-kicker Drew Klein earned MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while NDSU defensive end Blake Schiltz was selected as MW Freshman of the Week.

It is the first career MW weekly honor for Hayes, Woolen, Klein and Schiltz.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

NATHAN HAYES, NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Senior, Quarterback, West Chicago, Illinois / St. Charles East HS

• In his first career start, completed 14 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in North Dakota State’s 33-7 victory over Jacksonville State.
• On the Bison’s first drive, completed four-of-four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
• Early in the second quarter, helped set up the go-ahead field goal when he completed a 20-yard pass on 4^th-and-12.
• Threw a 44-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, capping an 88-yard scoring drive.

• Played just over three quarters in NDSU’s FBS debut and only attempted one pass in the second half.
  
  

• Made first career start at middle linebacker in North Dakota State’s 33-7 win against Jacksonville State.
• Recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops.
• Led a Bison defense that held Jacksonville State, last year’s No. 5 rushing offense nationally, to just 85 yards on the ground and 170 total yards.

• In North Dakota State’s 33-7 victory over Jacksonville State, converted all seven attempts, including four field goals and three PATs.
• In his first game as the Bison’s No. 1 placekicker, made field goals of 34, 44, 42 and 48 yards.
• His 15 points were the second-most nationally scored in Week 0.

• Registered a sack in North Dakota State’s FBS debut, a 33-7 win over Jacksonville State.
• Contributed to the lopsided victory when he recovered a fumble in the end zone, giving the Bison a 20-point lead in the third quarter.
• Part of a defensive unit that limited Jacksonville State, last year’s No. 5 rushing offense nationally, to just 85 yards on the ground and 170 total yards.