November 11, 2024

HELENA, Mont. –  The eleventh edition of the 2024 Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Football Players-of-the-Week featured winners from Southern Oregon, Montana Western, and Montana Tech.
 
Offensive Player of the Week:  Gunner Yates, Southern Oregon Yates, a sophomore running back from Coquille, Ore., is the Offensive Player of the Week.

Yates rushed for 228 of his 269 yards in the first half as No. 16 Red Raiders took a 35-6 lead, rolling to a 49-21 home victory over Eastern Oregon.  He rushed for a 65-yard touchdown run on his first touch of the game and later had a 67-yard burst. 

Yates reclaimed the NAIA lead in rushing/yards per game (137.0 yards per game) and became the first SOU to log 25 rushing touchdowns in a season.

This is Yates’ third career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

Defensive Player of the Week: Keegan Muffich, Montana Western Muffich, a junior linebacker from Butte, Mont., is the Defensive Player of the Week.

Muffich delivered a game-changing interception with a return for 29 yards in Bulldog defense in their win over No. 14 Carroll, staying in the hunt for the Frontier Conference title.  No. 4 ranked UMW handed the Saints their first conference loss of the season, which denied CC for their chance for an outright conference title. 

Muffich also had a team high seven tackles, with five being solo tackles. 

This is Muffich’s third career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Dylan Root, Montana Tech Root, a freshman kicker from Boulder, Mont., is the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Root kicked a pair of 34-yard field goals as No. 10 ranked Orediggers cruised to a 54-14 home victory over MSU-Northern.  He was also 6-for-7 on PAT extra-point kicks.

Root collected 12 points in the game for Montana Tech. 

This is Root’s second career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.