GRAND FORKS, N.D.--Senior wide receiver Weston Dressler, senior punter Brent Halfmann and junior inside linebacker Brett Holinka have each claimed North Central Conference weekly awards, announced today by the conference office.
Dressler, a Bismarck, N.D., native, has been named NCC Offensive Co-Player of the Week after catching 10 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns in UND's 31-27 win at South Dakota on Saturday, a victory that snapped USD's school-record 23-game home winning streak. Each of Dressler's three touchdowns gave the Sioux the lead, including the game-winning catch midway through the fourth quarter. Dressler, a Harlon Hill Trophy candidate, caught scoring strikes of 19, 31 and 18 yards and became the first player in UND history to record two 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Dressler shares the award with Minnesota Duluth quarterback Ted Schlafke and South Dakota running back Amos Allen.
Halfmann, a native of Stephen, Minn., claimed NCC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after enjoying his finest performance of the season on Saturday. Halfmann punted three times for a 53.3-yard average, with each of his three punts traveling more than 50 yards. One of his punts went for a season-long 56 yards and another was downed at the USD 1-yard line.
Holinka was named NCC Defensive Co-Player of the Week after sealing UND's victory with back-to-back sacks on South Dakota's final two plays from scrimmage. With the Coyotes on the UND 12-yard line and driving for the potential winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining, Holinka sacked USD quarterback Noah Shepard one 3rd and 4th-down to preserve the Sioux win. Holinka also finished with a career-high 13 tackles, including three solo efforts.
Holinka shares the award with Nebraska-Omaha linebacker Jeff Souder.
It is the sixth career player of the week honor (two offensive, four special teams) for Dressler, and the first each for both Halfmann and Holinka.
UND (9-1) hosts NSIC champion Winona State (10-1) on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division II postseason.
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