Indianapolis — Marian University football redshirt senior Jackson Reece and junior Dean Mason were named the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, the organization announced Monday afternoon.
 
Reece tallied six tackles and a 43-yard pick-six in the sixth-ranked Knights' 70-14 win over Saint Xavier to earn at least a share of the MSFA Midwest League title and an automatic bid into the NAIA Football Championship series. The pick-six was the Carmel, Ind. native's first interception and touchdown of his career.
 
Mason recorded two punts with an average of 53 yards in Marian's win. His first punt traveled 49 yards before a Saint Xavier fair catch. His second punt was a booming 57-yard punt that was downed at the Cougars' two-yard line.
 
The MSFA Player of the Week honors were the first for both players' careers.
 
The Knights hit the road for their regular season finale at Judson on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET. Marian would clinch the outright league title with a victory.