INDIANAPOLIS - Coming off a one-sided performance in the regular season finale that saw the Knights shutout St. Xavier 45-0, the Marian football team was honored with a pair of Mid-States Football Association Player of the Week honors. Darian Dixon was named as the Midwest League Defensive Player of the Week, while Ashton Vogel was named as the Midwest League Special Teams Player of the Week.

Darian Dixon earned his first career Mid-States Player of the Week honor coming off a strong outing on Saturday, where he made two game-wrecking plays. On the third play of the third quarter, Dixon recorded his first career pick-six, intercepting a screen pass and scoring on an eight-yard return. The defensive end would later make a sack on third down in the third quarter, forcing a Cougar punt. The second-year Knight made two tackles in total in the win, and became the third Marian player in program history to score a defensive touchdown in consecutive weeks, joining Brad Metcalf (2007, games 8 and 9) and Logan Blake (2021 spring, games 1 and 2), as the only Knights to do so. Dixon and Metcalf's touchdowns came on a fumble and an interception return, while Blake had two pick-sixes.

Ashton Vogel had another strong week after taking over as Marian's starting placekicker, earning his second Midwest League Special Teams Player of the Week nod. Vogel made all six of his point-after-tries on Saturday, going 6-6 while also converting a career-long 48-yard field goal attempt. The kicker also had eight kickoffs that resulted in over 400 yards of kickoff yardage. 

Marian will learn their NAIA FCS Second Round opponent later this weekend on Saturday or Sunday, November 22 or 23.

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