Valpo Football Announces Week 5 Team Awards
The Valparaiso University football program has announced its team awards for Week 5 of the season following this past weekend’s victory over Southwest Minnesota State.
The team has named freshman running back Brian Thomas (Apopka, Fla. / Orlando Christian Prep) and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Mason Smith (Hershey, Pa. / Martin County) its Offensive Players of the Week, while senior linebacker Mohamed Kamara (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Kalamazoo Central [Hope]) garnered the team’s Defensive Player of the Week nod. In addition, freshman linebacker Max Samuel (Edina, Minn. / Edina) was recognized as Special Teams Player of the Week, while junior linebacker Jimmy Pouba (Chicago, Ill. / Lyons [College of The Sequoias]) achieved the team’s Hammer Hit.
The Beacons have also recognized the following Scout Team Players of the Week – redshirt freshman wide receiver Matt Martin (San Diego, Calif. / Mission Hills) on offense, redshirt freshman linebacker Justin Jurmu (Marquette, Mich. / Marquette) on defense and freshman Isaiah Fowler (Gary, Ind. / Chesterton) on special teams.
Thomas was the team’s leading rusher by achieving 34 yards on eight carries in a 16-15 win over the Mustangs. Kamara shared the team lead with five tackles including a tackle for loss. Four of his five tackles came in the fourth quarter including a key stretch on Southwest Minnesota State’s final drive where he made tackles on three consecutive plays. Samuel blocked a punt in the second quarter, the team’s third blocked punt of the season, helping set up Valpo with first-and-goal on the SMSU 3-yard line.
With nonconference play in the books, the team will make its first PFL road trip of the season this week by visiting Drake on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.
