Football Ben Miles, Coordinator of Athletics Communication | HCAC

HCAC 2025 Football Notebook, Week 3

CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) football teams competed in week three of the 2025 season.
 
Around the League:
HCAC Football Schedule
 
Athletes of the Week: 
Offensive Player of the Week:
 Eli Aston (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | Sophomore - The Lions narrowly missed an upset of #15 Hope, losing 31-28. Eli Aston was a huge reason for that, the sophomore wideout caught a career-high 14 passes for 148 yards and scored all four MSJ touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Week:
Ben Lafferty (Staffordsville, Ky.) Hanover College | Linebacker | Junior - Lafferty helped propel the Panthers to their first victory of the season, defeating Alma on the road 24-23. The junior blocked a crucial field goal as time expired in the contest, wreaking havoc on the Scots kicker. Ben finished the contest with five total stops, three tackles for loss, and a sack for a loss of 11 yards.

Special Teams Player of the Week:
Trevor Saguto (Saint Charles, Mo.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Kicker/Punter | Senior - Trevor Saguto was a key contributor on special teams for the Fightin' Engineers against Albion. Saguto totaled six punts for 228 yards with an average of 38 yards per punt and a long of 48 yards. Saguto was also perfect on field goals, draining one from 28 yards out and making both of his extra point attempts.
 
Notable Performances:
Offensive Players:
  • Tywuan Clark (Toledo, Ohio) Bluffton University | Quarterback | Sophomore - Clark threw for 168 yards and completed 10-of-14 passes (71.4 percent). He was also dangerous with his legs, rushing 16 times for 39 yards and three TD's as Bluffton moved to 2-1 with its second non-conference win. Clark averaged 16.8 yards per completion.
  • Jordan Fonda (Floyds Knobs, Ind.) Franklin College | Wide Receiver | Junior - Fonda was the centerpiece of the Grizzlies' air attack against Trine, catching seven passes for 79 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns (7 and 11 yards) to help fuel a Franklin comeback effort at Trine.
  • Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) Hanover College | Quarterback | Junior - Eian Roudebush led the Panthers to victory on Saturday at Alma, 24-23. The junior passed for 233 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 47 yards rushing. He piloted a fourth-quarter comeback that saw Hanover record two touchdowns. The first came with 7:40 remaining, taking the team 74 yards on eight plays. The final go-ahead score came with just 28 seconds left as Roudebush connected with Johnson to cap a 12 play, 66 yard drive.
  • Jay Smith (Evansville, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Running Back | Senior - Jay Smith was a standout offensively for the Fightin' Engineers in their 25-17 loss to Albion. Smith led the team with 29 carries for 91 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown in the narrow loss. Smith also recorded five catches for 20 yards receiving.

Defensive Players:
  • Jake Simpson (Hobart, Ind.) Anderson University | Linebacker | Senior - Jake Simpson forced a fumble and led the Ravens with 13 tackles.
  • Dh'mari Wright (Hammond, Ind.) Bluffton University | Defensive Line | Junior - Wright blew up the Olivet Comets with a day to remember, tallying 4 tackles, with 2.5 tackles for loss, that included two sacks for 11 yards. He forced two fumbles and helped Bluffton to a 2nd non-conference win, the first time the Beavers have accomplished this since 2016.
  • Carter Edney (Cayuga, Ind.) Franklin College | Defensive Line | Senior - Edney was a disruptive force up front for the Grizzlies at Trine, forcing a pair of fumbles and recovering one of those. He also made seven tackles (four solo), including two stops for loss, and added a quarterback sack.
  • Luke Fortkamp (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Defensive Back | Sophomore - Lions sophomore nickle back Luke Fortkamp had a great game in the teams 31-28 loss at #15 Hope. He was second on the team with 10 total tackles, registering a team-high 7 solo stops. He also added a tackle for loss.
  • Rudy Griffing (Plano, Ill.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Linebacker | Sophomore - Wyatt Bell made an immaculate play for the Fightin' Engineers to get the team back in the game against the Trine Thunder this weekend. Bell made an interception off a tipped pass and returned it 60 yards to the endzone for the team's first defensive touchdown of the season. The score put Rose-Hulman on the board and gave them the momentum. Rose-Hulman would ultimately fall to Trine with a final score of 27-10.

Special Teams Players:
  • Jake Simpson (Hobart, Ind.) Anderson University | Linebacker | Senior -Jake Simpson came up with a blocked extra-point attempt for the Ravens.
  • Nick Stoner (Providence, Ind.) Hanover College | Punter | First Year - Stoner helped propel the Panthers to a 24-23 victory on Saturday at Alma. The freshman punter recorded four punts for a combined 173 yards. He averaged 43.2 yards per punt, with one punt eclipsing 50-yards, and had one touchback.
  • Connor Yeager (Batavia, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Punter | First Year - Lions freshman punter Connor Yeager was only called on twice in the teams defeat at #15 Hope. He hit a pair of great punts including a 57 yarder, he averaged 47.5 yards per punt in the game. 
Looking Forward:
HCAC Football Standings