Dawson Brown  of Becker was named MIAC Football Offensive Player-of-the-Week last week for his performance on special teams in Bethel’s second-straight win to open MIAC play — a 58-21 victory over Carleton Saturday. 

 

The freshman outside linebacker’s  performance — which included a pair of blocked punts (one for a touchdown) was honored Monday by the MIAC sports information directory. 

Brown's first special teams heroics came early in the second quarter when teammate Landon Mathis blocked a Knights' punt. The ball headed for the pylon, where Brown scooped it up and fell into the end zone for a special-teams touchdown. 

 

Brown struck again in the third quarter, this time blocking the punt himself, which was recovered by teammate Eric McGregor at the Carleton four-yard-line to set up another Royal's score. 

 

He also made an impact on defense with five tackles and a pass breakup. This season, Brown has 13 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup, a blocked punt and a touchdown.

 

Thanks to Saturday's win, Bethel is off to a 2-0 start in conference play, and the team improved to 3-1 overall in 2015. The Royals moved up in both of the national polls, ascending to No. 20 in the D3football.com Top 25, and to No. 23 in the AFCA Division III Coaches' Poll. The Royals will face their toughest test in conference play thus far Saturday with a huge trip to Moorhead to face (RV) Concordia at 1 p.m.