Malley Chosen as NWC Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's Terrell Malley (Sr., RB/WR, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) has been named the Northwest Conference Football Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts in the Bearcats' 64-34 victory over Hardin-Simmons University on Friday, Sept. 6.

Malley returned the game's opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, providing the Bearcats with a perfect start to the season.

Malley initially caught the ball on the near side of the field, getting critical blocks from fellow kickoff returner Tyson Giza (Sr., CB, Salem, OR/Sprague HS), Solomon Frank (Jr., DE, Salem, OR/McKay HS), and Henry Adelman (So., ILB, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS). He then cut to the sideline near the 40-yard line.

Malley then broke three tackles near midfield before receiving critical downfield blocks from Ryan Johnston (Sr., WR, The Dalles, OR/The Dalles HS), Jack Valencia (Fr., DB, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS), and Joseph Harman (Sr., WR, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS). Finally, Malley cut all the way back to the middle of the field and into the end zone.

The return was just one yard short of the Willamette record of 95 yards, and was a finalist for D3football.com's Week 1 Play of the Week. Overall, Malley returned two kickoffs for a total of 104 yards, rushed 15 times for 57 yards, and caught one pass for six yards.

Later in the game, Giza returned another Hardin-Simmons kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. That touchdown gave the Bearcats a 35-6 lead.

Willamette, which is receiving votes in D3football.com's Top 25 poll, will host Sewanee: University of the South this Saturday at McCulloch Stadium. Kickoff against the Tigers is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (PDT).