Czerniewski, Taylor, Thomas Earn Weekly Awards

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Missouri's Eric Czerniewski, Washburn's Jahmil Taylor and Pittsburg State's Jon Thomas have been named MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Aug. 26-28 as selected by a conference SID panel.
 
MIAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Eric Czerniewski, QB, Central Missouri
Czerniewski broke a Central Missouri record that had stood since 1986 on Saturday, throwing for 435 yards in a 60-13 win on the road at Southwest Baptist. The old record of 432 yards was held by Jeff Phillips, set against Missouri-Rolla in 1986. Czerniewski also broke his own record of 32 completions with 37 in the contest out of 46 attempts (80 percent), and broke the record for the most yards of total offense in a game (also held by Phillips) with 422 yards. Czerniewski's five touchdown passes set a career high as well. The Mules also set team records for passing yards (485) and completions (40). Czerniewski became just the fourth player in MIAA history to surpass 8,000 career yards, and sits behind only three players on the all-time MIAA passing charts. The senior from Montgomery City, Mo., tossed three TD's in the first half, including one to Seth Mason with four seconds remaining to make it a 23-7 halftime lead. Czerniewski had 275 yards at the break, and threw his final pass of the night with 12:22 left in the game for a TD to Adam Parks, breaking the record and making it 46-13.
 
Others Nominated: Jordan Godberson, OL, ESU; Mike Garrison, QB, FHSU; Steven Sumpter, RB, MSSU; Harnish Ayora, RB, TSU; Joe Hastings, WR, WU.

MIAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jahmil Taylor, LB, Washburn
Taylor helped the Ichabods hold the Orediggers to under 10 rushing yards while recording the final sack and fumble on Colorado Mines' 2nd and 10 at the Washburn 33, which was recovered by the Ichabods with WU holding on to a 34-29 lead with 2:13 to go in the game. The sophomore from Aurora, Colo., finished with six tackles, including four solo stops, a tackle for loss of seven yards, a sack for loss of seven yards and the forced fumble.
 
Others Nominated: Joe Carter, LB, UCM; Daniel Webb, DL, ESU; Spencer Worthington, DE, PSU; Patrick Blackwell, DE, TSU.

MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jon Thomas, RS, Pittsburg State
Thomas sparked the Pitt State squad with an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown that helped the Gorillas overcome a 7-0 deficit. The play, with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter, proved to be Pitt State's only first-half scoring. Thomas, a junior from Raytown, Mo., compiled 206 all-purpose yards in the game, averaging 42.0 yards per punt return, 31.0 yards per kickoff return while catching three passes for 60 yards, including a 28-yard third-quarter touchdown. His punt return score was Pitt State's first such play since the 2000 season, and it was two yards shy of the school record for longest punt return (86 yards in 1969).
 
Others Nominated: Adam Parks, WR, UCM; Matt Rosenhamer, LB, ESU; Tyler Kimbrough, K, FHSU; Dallas Herndon, K/P, MSSU; Steve Ivanisevic, PK, WU.

2010 MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week
8/30 – Offense: Eric Czerniewski, QB, UCM; Defense: Jahmil Taylor, LB, WU; Special Teams: Jon Thomas, RS, PSU