GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 8 of the 2024 football season. Ferris State junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was honored as GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive week while Bulldog teammate junior defensive back Jalen Jones was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. Davenport senior returner/wide receiver Antjuan Collins received GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trinidad Chambliss, Ferris State
Ferris State University junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss had another big performance as the Bulldogs knocked off top-ranked rival Grand Valley State 34-7 in the Anchor-Bone Classic on Saturday before a sellout crowd at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale. The FSU signal caller led FSU to an impressive road win as he scored three touchdowns and accounted for more than half of FSU’s total offensive yards in the game. Chambliss ran for a game-high 122 yards rushing on 22 carries, averaging 5.5 yards an attempt, and scored three times on the ground as Ferris State rolled up 249 yards rushing against one of the country’s top defensive units. He also completed 11-of-19 throws for 114 yards in the passing game. Chambliss led FSU on six scoring drives in the game as the Bulldogs improved to 7-1 overall and took over sole possession of first place in the GLIAC standings with a 4-0 conference mark.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jalen Jones, Ferris State
Ferris State University defensive back Jalen Jones helped lead the Bulldogs to an impressive road win over top-ranked rival Grand Valley State on Saturday before a sellout crowd in the Anchor-Bone Classic as FSU pulled out a 34-7 triumph. Jones tallied six tackles for the FSU defense and produced both a tackle for loss and an interception in a strong defensive effort. His play helped the Bulldog defense limit GVSU to only 229 yards of total offense in the game, including only 155 yards rushing which was well below the Lakers’ average. The Bulldog defense also came up with three turnovers and a sack in the victory as FSU moved to 7-1 overall and took over sole possession of first place in the GLIAC standings with a 4-0 conference mark.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Antjuan Collins, Davenport
Antjuan Collins became the first Panther to return two kickoffs for a touchdown when he opened the third quarter with an 87-yard kick return to the house in a 19-14 win at Roosevelt. Earlier this year, he returned a 96-yard kick return in the first quarter at Michigan Tech to set a new school record for longest kick return. This season, Collins has 432 kick return yards which is second in a season at Davenport. In addition, he currently ranks fifth in NCAA Division II in kickoff return average (33.2) and is one of eight players in Division II to return two kicks for a touchdown this season.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Terrence Brown (Saginaw Valley State), JoShawn Lewis (Wayne State), Brandon Michalak (Michigan Tech), Cody Tierney (Grand Valley State)
Defense: Micah Cretsinger (Saginaw Valley State), Kobe Hayward (Grand Valley State), Owen Watson (Michigan Tech)
Special Teams: Eli Gordon (Saginaw Valley State), Jaxon Lippert (Michigan Tech), Luke McLean (Grand Valley State), Mitchell Middleton (Ferris State)
