Coltrain, LeBlanc pick up HCAC Player of the Week Awards

CARMEL, Ind. – Defiance College football picked up two out of three Player of the Week Awards handed out by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference on Monday with Thomas Coltrain and Damarion LaBlanc receiving recognition for their efforts in the Yellow Jackets' Week 7 victory at Anderson. This is the first time during the 2023 season that DC football has taken home multiple Player of the Week Awards in the same week.

Coltrain, a senior from Leslie, Mich., picked up his third career HCAC Defensive Player of the Week Award and first of 2023. While the linebacker made eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the 36-6 win, he delivered his first career touchdown when he stole a lateral pass intended for an Anderson tailback and returned it 95 yards for a score. Officially marked a fumble recovery, Coltrain set a school record on the play for the longest fumble recovery in program history. It was also during a critical juncture in the game with Defiance holding a 6-0 lead with the Ravens operating in the red zone before the momentum-shifting play.

LaBlanc was recognized as HCAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time as a freshman at DC. Defiance's defense forced Anderson to punt on their first possession after Coltrain's touchdown, and LaBlanc blocked the punt attempt for his second punt block of the season. The ball trickled into the end zone where it was recovered by Anthony Southerland for the DC score, giving DC a 20-0 lead at the time.

The Yellow Jackets improved to 3-4 on the campaign and look to get back to .500 on Saturday at Machester. Kickoff against the Spartans is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-