Palese, Breunig named NAC Players of the Week

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Junior defensive back John Palese and sophomore punter Hunter Breunig were named Northern Athletics Conference Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, the league office announced Monday night.

The duo helped Concordia University Wisconsin upset NAC preseason favorite Benedictine University, 6-0, on Saturday. The game was the conference opener for both schools and  provided the second win of the season for the Falcons.

Palese (West Bend, Wis.) recorded nine tackles, including five solos, while also making a fumble recovery and forcing a crucial pass breakup. The junior defensive back was assigned the task of shadowing BU All-American John Borsellino and held the reigning NAC Offensive Player of the Year  to 72 total yards.

Breunig (Lodi, Wis.) boomed 10 punts for a total of 388 yards in the Falcon victory over the Eagles. Only two of Breunig's kicks were returnable as he managed to negate the punt return skills of the explosive Borsellino.  

The weekly awards are season firsts for CUW.