Trojans Sweep MSFA Weekly Honors Following Historic Win
UPLAND, Ind. – Dakohta Sonnichsen, Jeremiah Mansfield and Lucas Shilts teamed to sweep the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Player-of-the-Week awards following TU's 91-28 win at Madonna. The sweep marked the third time this fall that Taylor had taken all three of the MSFA Mideast League honors in a week.
Sonnichsen was named the MSFA Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week following a three touchdown day. Sonnichsen found the end zone on three of his four touches in the game, taking touchdown runs of 65 and 49 yards, returning a kick 95 yards for a score and hauling in a 20-yard reception. Sonnichsen closed the day with 229 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, averaging 57.3 yards per touch.
Mansfield repeated as the MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week with three more sacks to move into second in the NAIA with 12 sacks on the season. In addition to his second-straight outing with at least three sacks, Mansfield posted six total tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the Taylor victory.
Shilts was named the MSFA Mideast League Special Teams Player of the Week after setting a new MSFA single-game record with 13 made point-after tries. Shilts provided the seventh point on each of Taylor's record 13 touchdowns, going 13-for-13 in PATs.
The MSFA weekly honor is the first for Sonnichsen, the second for Mansfield and the fourth for Shilts during their time with the Trojans. The trio of MSFA Player-of-the-Week awards moves Taylor's total number of weekly league honors for the fall season to 25, with the football team accounting for 15 of those selections.
Sonnichsen, Mansfield, Shilts and the Trojans (8-2, 3-1 MSFA) will close their regular season on Saturday, November 16 against Concordia (5-5, 3-1 MSFA) at noon, with Senior Day festivities beginning at 11:40 am inside Turner Stadium.