INDIANAPOLIS – William Jewell College senior quarterback DJ Balazs and junior kicker Zane Kitchell, as well as McKendree University sophomore lineman Lucky Baar, have been named the final Great Lakes Valley Conference Players of the Week in football, it was announced by the league office Monday. 

Balazs was tabbed GLVC Offensive Player of the Week, Baar was picked Defensive Player of the Week, while Kitchell was named Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
Baar turned in one more big performance for the year in helping the Bearcats’ to a 28-21 season-ending victory at Quincy. The Chicago, Illinois native registered seven total tackles on the day from his left defensive end position. Of his seven tackles, five went for loss, including four quarterback sacks. For good measure, Baar forced a fumble on his final sack with less than two minutes to play, which was recovered by the Bearcats to thwart the Hawks’ final drive of the afternoon.  He also picked up his first career interception with a diving grab of a batted pass with Quincy driving in the red zone in the third quarter. Baar had four multiple-sack games during the Bearcats’ five-game win streak to close the 2014 season. For the year, Baar closed with school-record totals of 26 ½ tackles for loss and 18 quarterback sacks. He also finished third on the McKendree squad with 64 total tackles.  He was recognized as GLVC Defensive Player of the Week three times in the last month, as he was also honored on Oct. 20 and Nov. 3.  McKendree closed out the season earning four of the league’s final five defensive accolades as A.J. Wentland picked up the award last week.