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From the WIAC -- 

WIAC Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week
(Week of September 23 - 29)

FOOTBALL

Offense

Austin Belot, Junior (Neenah, Wis.), Running Back of UW-Eau Claire

Belot led the Blugold offense in their 21-19 win over No. 6-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn. on Sept. 28. UW-Eau Claire never trailed in its first win over the Tommies with its first score coming off a 24-yard rush from Belot. He would find the end zone again in the second quarter with a 77-yard run that put the Blugolds up 21-7 going into the half. Belot would finish the game with 142 yards on 23 carries (6.2 yards per carry). He has tallied over 120 yards in each of the season’s first three games, in addition to scoring twice in all three contests.

Also nominated:

UW-Platteville, Tyler Knigge, Senior, Wide Receiver, Waukesha, Wis. (South)
UW-Stout, Josh Nitek, Sophomore, Running Back, Blair, Wis. (Blair-Taylor)

Defense

Victor Martinelli, Junior (Milton, Wis.), Linebacker of UW-Eau Claire

Martinelli led the Blugold defense that held No. 6-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) to 19 points in a 21-19 win on Sept. 28. The Tommies entered the contest averaging 71.5 points per game. Martinelli forced a fumble on St. Thomas’ first play from scrimmage, which led to UW-Eau Claire’s second touchdown to give the Blugolds a 14-0 lead. He led the Blugold defense with 14 tackles (nine solo), three quarterback hurries, two tackles for a loss and a sack. The Blugold defense stopped the Tommies on both of their two-point conversion attempts, including the last with just seven seconds remaining in the game and held the Tommies to 1-for-7 on fourth down conversions.

Also nominated:

UW-Platteville, Tyler Reinhardt, Senior, Safety, Slinger, Wis.
UW-Stout, Kierre Rhodes, Senior, Cornerback, St. Paul, Minn. (Johnson)

Special Teams

Alec Benzinger, Junior (Waukesha, Wis./Mukwonago), Kicker/Punter of UW-Stout

Benzinger had a career-day in a 29-21 win at California Lutheran University on Sept. 28. He was 3-for-3 in extra points, was 2-for-3 in field goals and averaged 38.0 yards on four punts. Benzinger booted a 22-yard field goal to put UW-Stout up 10-0 late in the first period. He was just short on a 52-yard field goal attempt as time wound down in the first half, then kicked a career-best 36-yard field at 14:59 of the fourth quarter to give UW-Stout a 22-7 lead. Benzinger averaged 38.0 yards per punt, pinning one punt inside the 20, and getting off a career-best 56-yard punt to the California Lutheran 21. On Benzinger’s final punt of the day, he booted the ball to the California Lutheran 9 and, with a six yard return, the Kingsmen were on their own 15 with about two minutes left in the game. Four plays later, the Kingsmen turned the ball over on a strip-sack by Scott Gustafson to preserve UW-Stout’s win.

Also nominated:

UW-Platteville, Drew Rakers, Senior, Long Snapper, Elm Grove, Wis. (Brookfield East)