November 12, 2001

Bluffton College sophomore tailback Jovan Johnson (Columbus/West H.S.) has been named the Heartland Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Beavers to a 21-16 upset win over playoff-bound Defiance College on Saturday.

Johnson rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries and caught two passes for 38 yards and another score. His rushing effort came against the league's top-ranked rushing defense, as Defiance entered the game allowing just 98 yards per game on the ground.

Johnson shares the Player of the Week award with Anderson University running back Antonio Hickerson, who set a school rushing record with 242 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries in a 41-21 win over Manchester.

With the yardage total, Johnson ends the season with a league-best 1,096 yards, marking the fourth straight year that a Bluffton running back has led the HCAC in rushing. 2001 BC graduate Tyson Goings (Defiance/Wayne Trace) led the conference in rushing in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The Player of the Week honor is the second this season for Johnson, who earned the award after rushing for 168 yards and a TD against Thiel on September 15.