Montez Archer named to the D3football.com Team of the Week

 Bluffton University freshman Montez Archer Jr. (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) followed up his Heartland Conference Player of the Week by being named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.

Archer had a career day in just his second collegiate football game on Saturday. The starting cornerback was one of six players from the Heartland Conference to be honored nationally this week. He helped lead the Beavers to a 49-14 road thumping of Manchester University on Saturday, March 6, 2021.

It marks the second time this season that Bluffton has had a player named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.

Following Bluffton's 28-21 win over Adrian on October 24, Darian Greeley (Belleville, Mich./Chippewa Valley), the offensive line - Markus Finley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), Cade McClellan (Edgerton), Dustin Massie (London), Zack Jaksa (Sterling, Heights, Mich./Parkway Christian), Hunter Lacer (Oak Harbor), Dana Shoulders II (Mansfield/Lexington) and Stephan Kosakowski (Cleveland/Benedictine) were all recognized!

Archer stole the show with three interceptions and a 65-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in Bluffton's 49-14 win at Manchester. He also led the Beavers with seven stops. His three pickoffs tied Pat Craun and Doniven Clark for the school record of three interceptions in a single game.

Bluffton's defense forced eight turnovers, including six interceptions which was just one off the school mark set against Earlham in 2012 and Bowling Green in 1932. The eight turnovers were also one shy of the school record.

The Beavers welcome Anderson University to Salzman Stadium this Saturday, March 13, for the 2021 home lidlifter. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.