Saint Joseph’s College junior quarterback Billy VandeMerkt , Urbana University senior defensive end Perry Jenkins, and Missouri S&T senior return specialist Carlton Westbrook have earned the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s inaugural football weekly awards.  VandeMerkt has been named GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors, Jenkins earns Defensive Player of the Week, and Westbrook takes home Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.

VandeMerkt, a native of Riverside, Ill., played an integral role in Saint Joseph’s 36-34 come-from-behind victory at Valparaiso on Thursday – a win which marked the first-ever GLVC football victory for the conference.  Trailing 34-30 and pinned on the SJC 7-yard line with 3:01 on the clock, VandeMerkt drove the Pumas down field in 12 plays, completing eight of 10 passes for 87 yards.  On the night, he finished with 303 passing yards on 21-of-38 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.  On the ground, VandeMerkt also rushed for 52 yards on six carries for an average of 8.7 yards per rush.