This week’s Players of the Week in the Gateway Conference are QB Joel Sambursky of Southern Illinois; LB Erik Dandy of Western Kentucky; RS Michael Sparks of SMS, and Ben Deike of UNI.

Offensive
QB Joel Sambursky, Southern Illinois
So., 6-0, 195, Liberty (Mo.) High
In a game that was dominated by two of the league’s best defenses, QB Joel Sambursky was a difference-maker at the end, helping Southern Illinois win at No. 7 Western Kentucky. Sambursky was 15-of-22 for 228 yards and a TD. Also carried 10 times for 23 yards. The sophomore QB rallied the Salukis from 11 points down by scoring two TDs in the final 3:44 of the game. On the game-winning touchdown drive, he ran a bootleg on 4th-and-2 and picked up the first down. He Later completed a 28-yard TD strike to Brent Little with 55 seconds left for the winning score in a 28-24 game.

Defensive
LB Erik Dandy, Western Kentucky
Sr., 6-0, 205, Mansfield (Ohio) Senior High
Dandy led all players with 17 total tackles in the Hilltoppers’ league contest against SIU Saturday, including six for a loss of 17 yards. The senior also forced one fumble and broke up a pass as his efforts helped WKU become the first team this season to hold the Salukis under 100 yards rushing — SIU entered the game fourth nationally in the category. SIU gained only 56 total yards in the first half and managed 323 total, its lowest in five league contests.

Special Teams
KR Michael Sparks, SMS
6-1, 190, Jr., Santa Cruz (Calif.) Palma High
Sparks returned eight punts for 126 yards, including a 70-yard return that carried to the ISU three and set up the Bears’ third touchdown of the game early in the second half. His 126 return yards is a league season-best, while his 70-yard return ranks second-best in the league this year. He also caught one pass for 12 yards for a total all-purpose yardage game of 138 yards.

Offensive Lineman
OL Ben Deike, Sr., UNI
70 Snaps, 2-plus plays, graded out 93 percent. OL unit did not give up a sack and was part of an offensive team which gained over 600 yards in total offense.