Mid States

[Football] Zitkus named NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week

NAIA releaseRyan Zitkus was a disruptive presence in the middle of a dominating defense effort and that earned the senior defensive lineman NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week honors.Zitkus recorded five tackles for loss, including four sacks, in St. Ambrose's 24-7 win at St. Francis (Ill.) Saturday. Since 1997, only Chris Overton (with 4.5 vs. Robert Morris in 2017) has had more sacks in a single game for the Bees.Zitkus picked up nearly half of the Bees' nine total sacks in the win over the Saints. SAU limited USF to just one rushing yard, that came after the team allowed only five rushing yards to then-No. 18 ranked Saint Xavier the previous week. The Bloomington, Ill., finished with seven total tackles in the win over St. Francis.St. Ambrose has now earned three straight NAIA National Player of the Week honors. Zitkus follows Nick Fox (men's volleyball defensive on Mar. 22) and Jill Kavalauskas (women's volleyball attacker on Mar. 29).