Monday, Oct. 23, 2006

   FINDLAY, Ohio – University of Saint Francis inside linebacker Brian Kurtz has gone and done it again -- been named Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Player of the Week on defense for his play on Oct. 21 in the Cougars 34-13 win over No. 23 Malone College.

   And the Bishop Luers High School graduate wasn’t done with just his MSFA award, his second in a row and third this season. This week he has added the NAIA National Defensive Player-of-the-Week.

   “It’s a great team award because without the play of our D line and our DBs, I wouldn’t have been able to make as many tackles as I did,” Kurtz said. “Because of the pressure we put on Reifsnyder, I was able kind of lay low for the pick.”

Kurtz had a 65-yard interception return for touchdown in the USF win over Malone to cap off a 13-tackle effort. It is the seventh time this season the 6-foot-1, 220-pound inside linebacker has led the USF defense in tackles this season. He moved up to No. 3 on the USF career tackles list with 327 and needs 11 to move up to No. 2.
   He is averaging 10.9 tackles per game, No. 8 in NAIA and No. 3 in the MSFA.

 Kurtz’ honor pushed the USF number to six this season. USF senior QB Eric Hooks has been named twice and sophomore running back Doug Wasylk one time. Kurtz was also named for his play against Pikeville on Sept. 16. He has been nominated for the award four time this season.

    The Cougars, who are ranked No. 2 behind Carroll College in Helena, Montana, have won 48 consecutive regular season games and 56 of their last 59 games. USF travels to Greensburg, PA to play Seton Hill University in a non-conference game on Saturday (Oct. 28). Kickoff is 1 p.m. USF has been ranked No. 2 for 26 consecutive NAIA Top 25 Ratings.

USF NAIA Players of the Week  -- 7 players, 10 honors

1998 --            Kiante Lindsay (TB)
1999 --            Jeremy Dutcher 2 times (WR); Jason Coriano (LB)
2000 --            Jeremy Hibbeln (QB)
2001 --            Jason Coriano (LB); Jeremy Hibbeln (QB)
2002 --            None
2003 --            Chris Bramell (QB)
2004 --            None
2005 --            Paul Carter (DB)
2006 --            Brian Kurtz (LB)
 

                                                     -- GO USF --