BURNSVILLE – Southwest Minnesota State University senior quarterback Blake Gimbel and junior cornerback Je’Darien Jackson-Hanchett have been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week respectively following their performances in SMSU’s 51-35 road victory over MSU Moorhead last Thursday night.

Gimbel, a 6-foot-4, 214-pound native of Marshalltown, Iowa., completed 32 of 44 passes for 389 yards and tied a career-high with five touchdown passes. He completed touchdown passes of 26, 39, 30, 1 and 24 yards in the victory. He also added a pair of big punts, finishing with a 48.5-yard average with both landing inside the MSUM 10-yard line.

It was Gimbel’s eighth career 300-yard passing game, ranking fourth in team history. He enters this week’s game ranking first in school history in completing percentage (67.2), third in completions (653), fourth in passing yards (7,089) and fourth in passing touchdowns (58).

It’s the fourth time in Gimbel’s career he has earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week accolades.

Jackson-Hanchett, a 6-foot, 173-pound native of Kingwood, Texas, had a record-setting night in the road victory. Jackson-Hanchett, playing in just his second career game for the Mustangs, recorded a school-record four interceptions while also racking up five tackles and one pass break-up. His four interceptions are one shy of the NSIC single-game record. He had an interception in each quarter of the game including one in the end zone to end an MSUM scoring threat in the first quarter.

Southwest Minnesota State (1-1 NSIC) will host Minot State (0-2 NSIC) this Saturday at 6 p.m. for the 11th annual Ag Bowl at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

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