Manion Named to D3football.com Team of the Week

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University football player Brendan Manion (Jr., OLB, Los Altos, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS) as been selected for the D3football.com Team of the Week after leading the WU defense in a 45-25 road victory over East Texas Baptist University on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Manion provided many key plays during the game, but his 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter stands out as an important moment in the game. Willamette was leading 17-6 before the interception. Afterward, the Bearcats were able to take a 24-6 lead into the halftime break.

In addition to contributing six points to the win, Manion also earned 14 total tackles, including nine unassisted tackles. He registered 2.5 tackles for 16 yards in losses, including one quarterback sack 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He also forced two fumbles that were both recovered inside the Willamette 5-yard line.

Manion set the tone for a defense that bent, but didn't break very often.

After giving up a lengthy touchdown pass early in the game -- in part due to the rain and a wet playing surface -- the Bearcats allowed just two more scores by the ETBU offense. Willamette's defense forced the Tigers to go 0 for 5 in the red zone. WU also stopped ETBU on 7 of 9 fourth-down conversion attempts, including two stops at the WU 14 and one at the WU 1-yard line.

Manion ranks second on the team this season with 34 total tackles on 22 unassisted tackles and 12 assists. He leads the Bearcats with 6.5 tackles for losses resulting in 28 yards lost by the opponents. His two forced fumbles also rank first on the team.

Willamette's next game will be the Northwest Conference opener for the Bearcats against Whitworth University on Friday, Oct. 11. Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT) at McCulloch Stadium.