GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 2 of the 2024 football season. Ferris State junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Michigan Tech senior defensive back Hunter Buechel was recognized GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Grand Valley State junior punter Trace Hrgich was honored as GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trinidad Chambliss, Ferris State
Ferris State University junior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss led the seventh-ranked Bulldogs to a decisive 43-3 home win over visiting Ashland on Saturday night at Top Taggart Field. Chambliss completed 23-of-30 passes for 286 yards and two scores while also running for two more touchdowns in the big home win. He engineered an offense that totaled more than 500 yards and helped the Bulldogs build a commanding early lead as FSU held a 36-3 edge at halftime. It marked his second consecutive game accounting for four or more scores.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hunter Buechel, Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech senior defensive back Hunter Buechel, hailing from Lake Mills, Wisconsin, led the Huskies with seven total tackles, two tackles for loss (12 yards) a sack (nine yards) and a forced fumble in the 21-6 win over Hillsdale. The win was the sixth-straight against the Chargers lifting Michigan Tech to a 2-0 record at Kearly Stadium this season. He followed up his game clinching pass breakup from the 4 OT thriller in the Huskies home opener against South Dakota Mines on Sept. 5 with a forced fumble on the three-yard line to stop a potential score before the end of regulation in the win against Hillsdale.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trace Hrgich, Grand Valley State
Junior punter Trace Hrgich averaged 46.5 yards per punt on eight punts with a long of 61 yards and dropped three inside the Colorado State-Pueblo 20 yard line and two inside the 10 yard line as GVSU claimed a 24-21 victory at #22 Colorado State-Pueblo. CSU-Pueblo average starting position following a punt was its 22 yard line.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Champion Edwards (Wayne State), Alex Fries (Michigan Tech), Mason McKenzie (Saginaw Valley State), Avery Moore (Grand Valley State), Elizin Rouse (Northern Michigan)
Defense: Austin Alward (Davenport), Niles King (Grand Valley State), Henry Leonard IV (Saginaw Valley State), Sefa Saipaia (Ferris State)
Special Teams: Taariik Brett (Ferris State), Brandon Gielow (Davenport), Brenden Lach (Michigan Tech)
