INDIANAPOLIS – Quincy University redshirt junior quarterback Nick Lonergan and redshirt freshman linebacker Nate Rueckemann, along with Saint Joseph's College junior linebacker Joel Wimbley, have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Players of the Week in football, it was announced by the league office Monday.
Lonergan was tabbed GLVC Offensive Player of the Week, Wimbley was picked Defensive Player of the Week, while Rueckemann was named Special Teams Player of the Week.
Wimbley and the SJC defense had their hands full Saturday in a 30-27 home win against Southwest Baptist, owners of the GLVC's best passing game under the direction of quarterback Willie Tindal. The Pumas forced SBU to throw short most of the day, taking away the long pass that has led to much of the Bearcats' passing attack this season. The pass rush proved to bothersome as Wimbley made a game-high 11 tackles, nine of which were solo stops, including two-and-a-half sacks. In addition, Wimbley provided a key stop for Saint Joseph's as SBU was primed to score, but the Coral Springs, Florida, native intercepted a Tindal pass in the end zone to end the drive. This is Wimbley's first career weekly honor, and he is the first Puma defender to win the award since Gary Yeoman on Sept. 15.