HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – Senior Jake Gladieux of Trine University football has been named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week after his performance as a returner in a win against Adrian College.
It is the first time this season that a Thunder student-athlete has been named to the award and the first time in Gladieux's career that he has been named a football athlete of the week.
On Saturday, Gladieux posted three returns, two on kickoffs and one on a punt, as the team held off Adrian College to win 27-21. All told he finished the game with 103 return yards.
He began the day with a 20-yard return on the opening kickoff, a solid effort, but really began to make an impact on the contest in the second quarter.
He first returned a punt 28 yards, moving deep into the offensive zone. The play ended with him drawing a penalty and giving the offense a first and goal opportunity which they turned into their second touchdown of the game. He finished off the the quarter with a 65-yard kickoff return that gave the Thunder a chance to add a field goal before halftime making the score 17-7.
Behind the win the team improved to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play. They will continue their season when they travel to face Olivet College next Saturday, Oct. 15. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m.