The Northwest Missouri State University football team swept all three of this week's MIAA football player of the week awards presented by Mammouth Turf.
Senior Spencer Phillips (Tabor, Iowa) earned the defensive player honor, while junior Parker Sampson (Kansas City, Missouri) captured the special teams player award and sophomore Braden Wright (Elkhorn, Nebraska) notched the offensive player nod.
Phillips secured four tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a quarterback sack and a safety in helping Northwest to a 36-33 double-overtime victory on the road against Fort Hays State. Phillips and Brody Buck combined on a safety with 4:15 left in the second quarter when they stuffed FHSU running back TeCorey Tutson in the end zone to give Northwest a 19-17 lead. It was Northwest's first lead of the game after trailing 17-0 early in the second quarter.
Sampson handled all the special teams kicking duties and booted a 38-yard game-winning walk-off field goal to defeat Fort Hays State, 36-33. Sampson was 2-for-2 on field goals - 41 yards, 38 yards. His 41-yarder in the second quarter evened up the matchup after Fort Hays State had jumped out to a 17-0 lead. The 38-yard field goal came after Northwest has forced a FHSU fumble in the second overtime. After three running plays set up the ball near the left hash mark, Sampson split the uprights from 38 yards away for the 36-33 victory. Sampson punted seven times for a 39.7 average. Three of his punts were downed inside the 20. Sampson had a 64-yard punt that was downed at the 1-yard line and on the next play by the FHSU offense, Northwests Spencer Phillips and Brody Buck recorded a safety by tackling running back TeCorery Tutson in the end zone giving Northwest its first lead of the game at 19-17 with 4:15 left i the second quarter. Sampson had five kickoffs in the game and all five resulted in touchbacks.
Wright engineered a 17-point comeback and then led Northwest to a 36-33 double-overtime victory at Fort Hays State. Wright was responsible for all four Bearcat touchdowns in the road triumph. Wright rushed for a game-high 96 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown, while going 23-of-43 passing for 279 yards and three touchdown tosses. Wrights 1-yard run in the second quarter got Northwest on the board trailing 17-7 with 12:31 left in the second quarter. He then connected with Imoni Donadelle on a 42-yard touchdown pass to pull Northwest to within three points with 10:32 left in the second. Wrights nine-yard touchdown shovel pass to Justin Rankin gave Northwest a 26-20 lead with 8:24 remaining in the third quarter. In the first session of overtime, Wright again hooked with Donadelle on a 5-yard scoring strike to give the Bearcats a 33-26 advantage. In the second overtime, Wright guided Northwest for three plays and then cleared the way for a 38-yard game-winning field goal from Sampson.
Northwest will take on the University of Central Missouri Mules at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bearcat Stadium. A share of the MIAA football regular season title will be on the line. Northwest enters Saturday's game with a record of 9-1 and ranked No. 14 in the AFCA top 25 poll, while Central Missouri is 10-0 and ranked No. 11 in the AFCA poll.
Northwest has captured 11 MIAA player of the week awards in the 2019 season.
Northwest's MIAA Players of Week - 2019
Sam Phillips, LB - Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9)
Braden Wright, QB - Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16)
Jerrell Green, DB - Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
Imoni Donadelle, RET/WR - Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 30)
Parker Sampson, PK - Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 7)
Marqus Andrews, TE - Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 14)
Sam Phillips, LB - Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 14)
Zach Pierce, DL - Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
Braden Wright, QB - Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11)
Spencer Phillips, DL - Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 11)
Parker Sampson, PK - Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 11)
--- Northwest Athletics ---