MIAA Names Football Players of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dane Simoneau (Washburn), Gus Toca (Pittsburg State) and John Brown (Pittsburg State) have been named MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Sept. 1-3 as selected by a conference SID panel.

MIAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dane Simoneau, QB, Washburn
Simoneau completed his first 14 passes and 16 of 18 en route to a school-record 452 yards, completing 27-of-40 attempts with five touchdowns, snapping the previous high-water mark set by Mike Atkins in 1979 against Missouri Western (418 yards). Simoneau threw touchdowns to five different receivers. The Salina, Kan., product completed 22-of-28 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes, tossing touchdown passes to four different players.

Others Nominated: Tommy Corwin, UCM; Blake McAhren, FHSU; Zac Dickey, PSU.

MIAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gus Toca, DE, Pittsburg State
Toca led a dominant effort by the Pitt State defense in the Gorillas' 34-7 season-opening victory over Missouri Western Thursday (Sept. 1). The Waco, Texas, native who prepped at Blue Springs (Mo.) High School, logged a team-leading six tackles with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 quarterback sacks. He also forced a fumble near the Pitt State goal line, after a Gorillas turnover gave the Griffons the ball at the PSU 14 in the third quarter. Toca logged two of Pitt State's five quarterback sacks in the contest as the Gorillas made 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage overall. The Gorillas forced four turnovers and limited the Griffons to 191 total yards, including 112 rushing yards, in the contest – with 60 yards coming on a TD scamper in the game's final two minutes.

Others Nominated: Korey Allison, FHSU; Marty Pfannenstiel, WU.

MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
John Brown, RS, Pittsburg State
Making his Pitt State debut, Brown sparked Pitt State to an early 7-0 lead with an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown against Missouri Western Thursday (Sept. 1) in the season opener for both schools. The Homestead, Fla., native compiled a game-high 201 all-purpose yards in the contest, averaging 22.4 yards on five punt returns. He also caught a team-leading four passes for 70 yards, including a 44-yarder that set up another Pitt State score. Brown transferred to Pitt State from Coffeyville Community College, where he redshirted in 2010. He played his freshman season at Division II Mars Hill (N.C.) College.

Others Nominated: Ethan Kosjer, FHSU; Scott Groner, MWSU.

2011 MIAA Football Student-Athletes of the Week
9/5 – Offense: Dane Simoneau, QB, WU; Defense: Gus Toca, DE, PSU; Special Teams: John Brown, RS, PSU