Karl Maslowski was named the award winner this week after helping the ninth-ranked Hilltoppers hold No. 6 Northern Iowa without a touchdown for the first time in 2003 in Western’s 24-3 victory over the Panthers. Erik Dandy collected the honor last week after posting 17 tackles against No. 3 Southern Illinois.
Maslowski made 12 tackles (eight unassisted) — four were behind the line of scrimmage (for a loss of 19 yards), including a pair of sacks — as his efforts helped the WKU defense allow the Panthers a season-low three points while not letting UNI rush for 100 yards for the first time this season. In fact, Maslowski and the Topper defense limited Terrance Freeney, the league’s leading rusher entering play, to only 13 yards on 13 carries.
He was responsible for ending five Panther drives with three tackles, a sack and a pass defensed on either third or fourth down.
A 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior outside linebacker from New Lenox, Ill., Maslowski ranks second on the team with a career-best 107 stops, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He has broken up three passes, forced a fumble, recovered another and picked off one pass as WKU ranks among the top 30 in the country in all five defensive statistical categories — rushing, passing, total yards and points against as well as pass efficiency defense.
WKU (7-3, 4-2 Gateway) concludes the regular season Saturday with a noon (CST) kickoff at Youngstown State (5-6, 2-4 GFC). The Football Network will broadcast the game, which can be seen on WNKY TV-40 (local cable channel 7).
