KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Shadryon Blanka and Michael Polley of Fort Hays State were two of three individuals named MIAA Football Athletes of the Week on Monday (Oct. 27). Blanka was tabbed the Defensive Athlete of the Week, while Polley was named the Special Teams Athlete of the Week.

Blanka recorded a career-high 10 tackles for Fort Hays State in the 13-10 overtime victory at Washburn. Two of his 10 tackles went for losses. He helped the Tigers limit the Ichabods to just 228 yards of total offense, a season low by an FHSU opponent.

As the emergency kicker for Fort Hays State, Michael Polley delivered the game-winning 34-yard field goal to lift FHSU to a 13-10 overtime victory at Washburn. FHSU's primary kicker for the game was injured in the third quarter, which made it necessary for Polley, who is a starting safety, to serve as the team's kicker. Without any other attempts in the game, Polley sent the game-winning kick through the uprights after Washburn missed a 41-yard attempt on its possession in overtime. Polley also had a tackle on the defensive side of the ball in the game.

Fort Hays State Football has received seven MIAA Athlete of the Week honors this year. John Johnson has twice been named the Defensive Athlete of the Week, while Michael Chavez and Blanka have earned it once.

Polley joins Taderian Partee and David Arriaga as Tigers to earn the Special Teams Athlete of the Week this year. Blanka and Polley join Jamison Sarver of Emporia State (Offensive Athlete of the Week) as the weekly honorees from the conference office.