CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) football teams competed in week nine of the 2025 season.
 
Around the League:
HCAC Football Schedule
 
Athletes of the Week: 
Offensive Player of the Week:
Marshall Kmiecik (Michigan City, Ind.) Franklin College | Quarterback | Sophomore - Kmiecik put up a career-high 429 yards on 27-of-42 passing in Franklin's 59-57 3OT victory over Bluffton, tossing six touchdown passes. He also ran for a team-high 64 yards and another score, and he completed two-point throws in the second overtime to keep the game alive and the third to score the winning points.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Haidyn Bulmer (New Castle, Ind.) Franklin College | Safety | Junior - Bulmer made some big plays in Franklin's wild 59-57 triple overtime win over Bluffton — none bigger than his game-ending tackle for loss on the Beavers' two-point conversion in the third OT. The junior also blocked an extra point during regulation and ranked second on the team with eight tackles, including five solo stops.

Special Teams Player of the Week:
Jordan Fonda (Floyds Knobs, Ind.) Franklin College | Wide Reciever | Junior - Fonda was a pivotal force in the Grizzlies' wild 59-57 triple-overtime victory over Bluffton. He blocked what could have been the game-deciding field goal in the first overtime, keeping Franklin's hopes alive in the eventual win. He also snared a team-high nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns offensively, adding a two-point conversion grab in the second half of regulation.
 
Notable Performances:
Offense:

• Tywaun Clark (Toledo, Ohio) Bluffton University | Quarterback | Sophomore - Clark completed 18-of-32 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns as Bluffton fell at Franklin (59-57) in triple overtime. He added 21 rushes for 114 yards, adding up to 394 yards of total offense.
• Curbian Shelby (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Wide Reciever | Junior - Shelby led the Panthers past Otterbein on Saturday. The junior wide receiver had five receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns. 
• Eli Aston (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | Sophomore - MSJ wideout Eli Aston put up monster numbers in the Lions win over Manchester, and set a new school record for touchdown catches in a season. Despite playing only one series in the second half, he hauled in 8 passes for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns. The third touchdown was the 18th for Aston on the season setting a new MSJ single-season record. His 18 TDs have him currently tied for the lead in the category nationally. 
• Alexander Marstellar (Lynchburg, Va.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Running Back | Junior - Alexander Marsteller led the Rose-Hulman offense in the team's shutout win over Anderson with a score of 38-0. Marsteller totaled 198 yards rushing with one rushing touchdown. His rushing touchdown came on a 66-yard run that put the team ahead 31-0 in the third quarter. Marsteller also recorded two catches for 42 yards and one receiving touchdown. 

Defense:

• Garron Jenkins (Greenville, Ind.) Hanover College | Defensive Line | Senior - Jenkins helped lead the Panthers past Otterbein. The senior had four tackles, including four solo and a QB hurry.
• Daniel Jones (New Lenox, Ill.) Mount St. Joseph University | Defensive End | First Year - Lions first year defensive end Daniel Jones had a huge game for the team in the win over Manchester. He registered a season-high 6 tackles (4 solo), with a sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. 
• William Fleck (Chillicothe, Ohio) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Defensive Line | Sophomore - William Fleck led the Fightin' Engineers' defense in the team's shutout win over Anderson with a final score of 38-0. Fleck totaled three tackles with 2.0 sacks for 2.0 tackles for loss. He also blocked a field goal attempt by the Ravens in the final seconds of the first half that was returned by teammate Antonio Barnes 55 yards for a touchdown to extend the Rose-Hulman lead to 24-0 at the half. 

Special Teams:

• Antonio Barnes (Highland, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Defensive Back | Junior - Antonio Barnes made an exciting play for the Fightin' Engineers on special teams in the team's shutout win over Anderson, 38-0. Anderson was set up with a 55-yard field goal attempt in the final second of the first half. The kick was blocked by teammate William Fleck, and then returned by Barnes 55 yards for a touchdown as time expired. The score put Rose-Hulman ahead 24-0 heading into halftime. Barnes also totaled five tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. 

Looking Forward:
HCAC Football Standings