Nov 9, 2015

Danny Puknaitis named CCIW Offensive Player of the Week

Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton senior running back and team captain Danny Puknaitis has been named this week's CCIW Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. The honor is the first career Player of the Week award for Puknaitis.

The selection of Puknaitis marks the seventh time this season that the conference Player of the Week honors have been awarded to a member of the 'orange and blue'. He is the third different offensive player to earn the award this season for the Thunder, joining Andrew Bowers and Sola Olateju.

Puknaitis led the Thunder in rushing on Saturday afternoon as Wheaton clinched a berth to the NCAA Tournament with a 40-27 victory at Illinois Wesleyan. Puknaitis ran the ball 24 times for 92 yards and caught three passes for 38 yards. He converted touchdown runs of five yards in the first quarter and one yard in the fourth quarter.

For the season, the senior running back is tied for the second on the team with five rushing touchdowns. His 62 carries and 263 yards rushing are both third-highest on the team. A Second Team All-CCIW running back a season ago, Puknaitis ran for 575 yards and five touchdowns. He is currently just 87 yards shy of 1,000 career rushing yards.

The third-ranked Thunder will conclude their regular season on Saturday, November 14 when Wheaton hosts Carthage for a 1 PM kickoff at McCully Stadium.Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Andrew Bowers

5' 9"

Junior

#23

Sola Olateju

5' 10"

Sophomore

#32

Danny Puknaitis

5' 10"

Senior

Players Mentioned

Andrew Bowers

5' 9"

Junior

#23

Sola Olateju

5' 10"

Sophomore

#32

Danny Puknaitis

5' 10"

Senior