FREELAND, Mich.-- Trine's Mitchell Fair has been named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
Fair (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty) had a career-best game in Saturday's 27-25 victory over Kalamazoo. The senior recorded a career-high seven tackles (four solo), including a sack-and-a-half and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Three of Fair's tackles were third-down stops. He also forced a fumble on a fourth-down play that led to a Trine touchdown on the ensuing drive. Fair is being honored as a conference player of the week for the first time in his Trine career.
After being a contributing member to the playing rotation along the defensive line the last three seasons, Fair has taken advantage of an expanded role in his senior campaign. Fair has set career-highs with 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. He has also forced and recovered a fumble, both career-firsts.
Fair and the rest of Trine's senior class will be honored this Saturday, Nov. 7 as the Thunder host Hope. Kickoff in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium is slated for 1 p.m. The game will also serve as Trine's Veteran's Day salute.
Trine enters Saturday's contest 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the MIAA. The Thunder can clinch at least a share of the conference title by winning the last two games of the season.