Photo by: Zachary Lucy
Hayes, Klein, Mitchell Named MW Players of the Week
9/14/2026 11:02:00 AM | Football
LAS VEGAS - North Dakota State quarterback Nathan Hayes, kicker Drew Klein and running back Myles Mitchell earned Old Trapper Mountain West Football Player of the Week honors on Monday, Sept. 14, for their performances in NDSU's 38-32 road win over Air Force.
Hayes was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after leading NDSU to its third straight win with a career-high 228 yards and two touchdowns passing. He added a 17-yard touchdown run on NDSU's second possession as NDSU took a 14-0 lead. Hayes connected with eight different receivers and completed 15 of 23 attempts. He had four plays of 20-plus yards including a fourth-and-2 conversion with a 44-yard TD pass to Mekhi Collins, and a 41-yard TD pass to Logan Conklin.
Klein was named Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time after kicking a school-record 56-yard field goal, breaking the record of 55 yards set by Ken Johnson in 1997. The field goal gave NDSU a 13-point cushion with 1:58 left before Air Force scored its third touchdown of the fourth quarter to make it a six-point game with 50 seconds to play. Klein converted all five PAT kicks for the second straight week, and he booted all seven kickoff attempts into the end zone for touchbacks.
Mitchell earned his first Freshman of the Week award after leading the Bison with 15 carries, 61 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Air Force. His career-long 31-yard run for a touchdown highlighted NDSU's opening drive of the game, and he scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 6-play, 65-yard drive with 29 seconds left in the second quarter for a 28-13 halftime lead. He picked up two first downs in the running game, including an early fourth-and-2 on a scoring drive, and he made his first two career receptions for 11 yards in the passing game.
North Dakota State, which improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West, earned three points in the Associated Press Top 25 poll following the win. The Bison are back on the road for a non-conference game at Sacramento State this Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 9:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. PT) on ESPN.
Hayes was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after leading NDSU to its third straight win with a career-high 228 yards and two touchdowns passing. He added a 17-yard touchdown run on NDSU's second possession as NDSU took a 14-0 lead. Hayes connected with eight different receivers and completed 15 of 23 attempts. He had four plays of 20-plus yards including a fourth-and-2 conversion with a 44-yard TD pass to Mekhi Collins, and a 41-yard TD pass to Logan Conklin.
Klein was named Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time after kicking a school-record 56-yard field goal, breaking the record of 55 yards set by Ken Johnson in 1997. The field goal gave NDSU a 13-point cushion with 1:58 left before Air Force scored its third touchdown of the fourth quarter to make it a six-point game with 50 seconds to play. Klein converted all five PAT kicks for the second straight week, and he booted all seven kickoff attempts into the end zone for touchbacks.
Mitchell earned his first Freshman of the Week award after leading the Bison with 15 carries, 61 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Air Force. His career-long 31-yard run for a touchdown highlighted NDSU's opening drive of the game, and he scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 6-play, 65-yard drive with 29 seconds left in the second quarter for a 28-13 halftime lead. He picked up two first downs in the running game, including an early fourth-and-2 on a scoring drive, and he made his first two career receptions for 11 yards in the passing game.
North Dakota State, which improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West, earned three points in the Associated Press Top 25 poll following the win. The Bison are back on the road for a non-conference game at Sacramento State this Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 9:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. PT) on ESPN.
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