Jennings Jr. Chosen To National Football Team Of The Week
UW-Oshkosh senior linebacker Derrick Jennings Jr. was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for games played Aug. 30-Sept. 2.
Jennings Jr. played a major role as visiting UW-Oshkosh took the lead with 85 seconds to play and held on for a season-opening 20-9 victory over Carthage College on Sept. 1. He intercepted three passes (all in UW-Oshkosh territory), blocked an extra point and totaled 1.5 quarterback sacks against the Red Men. Jennings Jr. finished the contest with seven tackles overall.
This marks the second time Jennings Jr. has earned D3football.com Team of the Week honors. He was also selected last season for games played Oct. 20-21 following the Titans' victory over UW-La Crosse. A total of 19 Titans have been named to the D3football.com Team of the Week since the award program debuted in 1999.
Jennings Jr. recorded a pass interception in three different quarters against Carthage College, including a game-ending steal that was returned 68 yards for a touchdown. The Red Men were trailing 14-9 and had the football on the UW-Oshkosh 43-yard line prior to the interception. Jennings Jr. also intercepted Carthage College passes at the UW-Oshkosh 6-yard line in the first quarter and the Titan 16-yard line in the third.
Carthage College pulled to within 7-6 of UW-Oshkosh late in the second quarter, but Jennings Jr. helped the Titans preserve their one-point lead by blocking the ensuing extra point. UW-Oshkosh took that 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
Mentkowski and UW-La Crosse tight end Cole Spieker were the only WIAC players to receive Week 5 Team of the Week recognition.