MIAC FOOTBALL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg College defensive lineman
Edmond Smith (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./North HS) was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Football Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in
Augsburg's 35-10 victory over Carleton, the conference announced on Monday.
Smith led the Auggies with a career-high 16 tackles (five solo), including a half-sack, 2.0 tackles for-loss and a fumble recovery, in Augsburg's win on Saturday over the Knights. The 16-tackle effort was Smith's second double-digit tackle effort of the season.
A defensive tackle, Smith was one of the keys to Augsburg's second-half comeback, as the Auggies rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit with 35 unanswered points in the second half. Augsburg's defense limited the Knights' offense to just 63 total yards in the second half -- 10 passing yards and 53 rushing yards. The Auggies also forced four Carleton turnovers, with each sparking Augsburg scoring drives. Augsburg's defense limited the Knights to 280 yards of total offense in the game.
Smith had seven assisted tackles, including 1.5 for-loss, in the second half. He was part of at least one tackle on five of Carleton's eight second-half drives. He recovered a fumble with 2:18 left in the game that started Augsburg's final scoring drive of the afternoon.
On the season, Smith leads the team in tackles (42, 19 solo), tackles for-loss (8.5 for 26 yards) and sacks (4.0 for 18 yards). He currently stands second in the MIAC in tackles per-game (overall stats) at 10.5.
Smith is the fourth Auggie to earn MIAC Football Player of the Week honors this season. Running back
Tyler Maxwell (FY, Prior Lake, Minn.) earned
Offensive Player of the Week honors following Augsburg's 28-20 win over Hamline on Sept. 17, and following Augsburg's 32-31 win over St. John's on Sept. 24, quarterback
Marcus Brumm (SR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS) and defensive back
Tyler Phillips (SR, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) earned
MIAC Player of the Week honors, Brumm on offense and Phillips on defense.
Augsburg is unbeaten at 4-0 overall, 3-0 in MIAC play, setting up a matchup of unbeatens next Saturday (10/8) at 1 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field, as Augsburg hosts St. Thomas (5-0 overall, 3-0 MIAC). The 4-0 start marks the third time in school history that Augsburg has started a season 4-0 (1973 and 2008 seasons), and the fifth time that Augsburg has been unbeaten after its first four games of the year (Augsburg started 2-0-2 in 1928, 3-0-1 in 1929, 5-0 in 1973 and 4-0 in 2008).
