GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 0 of the 2025 football season. Michigan Tech redshirt sophomore quarterback Alex Bueno earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, Davenport redshirt sophomore defensive back Markell Gilford has been named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Ferris State senior kicker Mitchell Middleton received GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alex Bueno, Michigan Tech
In his first career quarterback start, Bueno led the Huskies to their first nationally-ranked win since the season opener in 2019, besting No. 16 Bemidji State 37-17 in the season opener at Kearly Stadium on Thursday night. The Rochester Hills, Michigan, native led the team in rushing for a game-leading 102 yards and a touchdown in 16 carries while also completing 62.5 percent of his passes (15-for-24) for 188 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Markell Gilford, Davenport
Davenport redshirt sophomore defensive back Markell Gilford had a pivotal play in the 21-12 win at Gannon on Saturday as his second quarter 100-yard interception return for a touchdown gave DU a 14-6 lead. The interception return was the longest in school history breaking the previous record of 70 yards set by Robert Clanton. Gilford also was able to record five tackles after two tackles in seven games played last season.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mitchell Middleton, Ferris State
Ferris State University senior specialist Mitch Middleton had a busy day in the top-ranked Bulldogs’ 34-17 home win over #9 Pittsburg State in the season opener on Thursday night at Top Taggart Field. Middleton averaged 52.5 yards per punt on four tries while pinning the Gorillas inside the 20-yard line all four times. He also averaged 57.5 yards per kickoff on six attempts with a touchback. His played helped FSU avenge last year’s season-opening setback to the Gorillas and was the Bulldogs’ 15th-straight win overall.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Wyatt Bower (Ferris State), Cephus Harris (Davenport), Mason McKenzie (Saginaw Valley State), Andrew Schuster (Grand Valley State)
Defense: Tim Allen (Ferris State), Christian Boivin (Saginaw Valley State), Jimmy Downs (Grand Valley State), Joe Marano (Michigan Tech)
Special Teams: Matthew Bacik (Grand Valley State)
