Oct. 26, 2008

By Tyler Koonce, Sports Information Assistant

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri State linebacker Nick Stauffer (Mansfield, Texas/Summit) and kicker/punter Doug Spada (Shelby, N.C./Fork Union Military Academy) were voted Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player and Specialist of the Week by the league's Sports Information Directors Sunday. The honors are career-firsts for both players.

Doug Spada follows through on his game-tying 37-yard field goal to force overtime.

Stauffer paced the Southeast defense with a career-high 21 tackles in the 27-20 comeback victory over No. 19 Tennessee State Saturday. He also notched his first career interception and returned it 21 yards late in the third quarter to set up the Redhawks first touchdown drive. His career day included 14 solo tackles and two tackles for loss.

Through eight games, Stauffer ranks sixth nationally and second in the OVC with an average of 12.1 tackles per game. His 97 tackles include 46 solo stops, seven tackles for loss (-23 yards) and two sacks (-16 yards). In addition to his first career interception Saturday, he has also broken up three passes, recovered a fumble and forced another this season.

Spada drilled a 37-yard field to force overtime on the last play of regulation Saturday. He also converted a 26-yard field goal earlier in the game. Spada averaged 40 yards per punt on the afternoon and had one downed at the Tennessee State 1-yard line. He also had a 72-yard punt nullified by a Tennessee State penalty. He currently ranks third in the nation and leads the OVC with an average of 44.69 yards per punt.