Willamette’s Dean And Hermes Earn NWC Player of the Week Honors

The Bearcats, 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the NWC, play at Linfield on Saturday.

Photo by: Kevin Hays

SALEM - Willamette senior fullback Kevin Dean earned Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors, and junior linebacker Taylor Hermes was named NWC Defensive Player of the Week following the Bearcats' 41-35 comeback victory over Menlo College on Saturday.

Dean had the best game of his career, rushing for 168 yards on 11 carries and scoring the Bearcats first three touchdowns in leading Willamette to its first victory of the season. Dean scored on runs of 34 and 29 yards in the first half and from 21 yards in the third quarter.

Hermes, making his first start of the year after transferring from Southern Oregon University this summer, led the Bearcats with seven total tackles, all solo, plus two sacks for a combined loss of 22 yards. He also broke up a pass and forced a fumble late in the game that led to a Bearcat field goal. Both of his sacks came in the fourth quarter.

Junior place-kicker Matt Bicocca earned Honorable Mention NWC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after kicking field goals of 25 and 33 yards in the win.

Bicocca also went 3 for 3 on extra point kicks.

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