Luke Bazacas and Andrew Studebaker earn CCIW Player of the Week honors

Wheaton, Ill. (9/26) Wheaton college senior Luke Bazacas and sophomore Andrew Studebaker have been named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Players of the Week, for the fourth week of the 2005 season. Bazacas was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week and Studebaker earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. The duo helped lead Wheaton to a convincing 48-7 victory against Hope College last Saturday at home. Wheaton (3-0) will open the conference portion of its schedule at North Central (3-0) on Saturday night at 7 PM.

Bazacas (LEFT), a senior tailback, ran for a career-high 170 yards on 25 carries Saturday, as he averaged 6.8 yards per carry. The Thunder captain scored two second half touchdowns to help secure the victory for Wheaton. Bazacas has run for 383 yards in three games this season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, with three touchdown runs. He is second in the CCIW with an average of 127.7 rushing yards per game. Bazacas and the Thunder backfield have put Wheaton in second place in the CCIW in rushing offense, with an average of 236.3 yards per game.

Defensive end Andrew Studebaker (RIGHT) collected three tackles for lost yardage of -18 yards on Saturday. The talented sophomore recorded two quarterback sacks (-16 yards) and salso forced a fumble and recovered it for the second consecutive game. Studebaker helped lead a solid effort by the entire Thunder defensive line in Saturday's win against Hope, as Wheaton tallied seven quarterback sacks in the win. Studebaker has five total sacks this season, including four solos and is tied for the CCIW lead in sacks, with 1.67 per game. He is also the conference leader in forced fumbles (0.67 per game) and fumbles recovered (0.67 per game). He has eight total tackles for lost yardage, including five solos and is tied for fourth in the conference in tackles for lost yardage with 2.17 per game.

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