Essick snags clutch interceptions and last MSFA Mideast Defensive Player of the Week of ‘24

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Defiance College junior defensive back Connor Essick (Indianapolis/Columbus North) was selected Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance on Saturday, the conference announced on Monday.

Essick helped deliver the Yellow Jackets' second win over Bluffton in the last three years with two clutch interceptions, a season-high eight tackles and his lone sack of the season in DC's 23-21 victory over their arch-rivals. The Player of the Week Award was the third by a Yellow Jacket player in 2024 and the first player on the defensive side of the ball.

His first interception of the game occurred with 3:16 left in the first quarter just three plays after the Yellow Jackets posted their first points. He secured the pick at Bluffton's 37-yard line and the Defiance offense turned it into three points to take their first lead. His second interception was almost as big as they come. Bluffton had the ball at DC's 26 facing a fourth-and-3 with 24 seconds left in the game, and Essick undercut the outside slant pass at the 22-yard line to secure the two-point victory with his second interception of the day. The junior transfer from Anderson also recorded a season-high eight tackles and notched his first sack of the year during the game. Essick's two interceptions were the second time this season a Yellow Jacket had multiple interceptions in the same game, joining Jerry Addo-Boateng in DC's Week 3 win over Judson.

Essick's player of the week award joins senior quarterback Jehlani Warren (Week 4) and senior wideout Tawann Rome (Week 9) in recognition by the MSFA for a standout performance this season. The total number of Yellow Jackets to win conference Player of the Week under head coach Bill Nickell runs up to 14 in his three seasons at the helm.

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