HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Northwest Conference office announced its weekly award winners on Monday with Pacific Lutheran University football student-athlete Cole Becker securing NWC Defensive Player of the Week. 

The defensive end made a big impact in the Lutes' 31-28 come from behind homecoming win on Saturday, finishing with eight tackles and three sacks. The Lake Stevens, Washington native's biggest impact came in the third quarter, recording a sack-fumble and recovering the ball. Becker's recovery set up the Lute offense at the Willamette University eight-yard line and allowed the Lutes to score three plays later to close the gap to just one possession. 
 
Becker and the rest of the defense put the clamps on Willamette when it mattered most, limiting the Bearcats to just 13 yards in the fourth quarter, including holding the visitors to negative four rushing yards over the final 15 minutes of play. 
 
This is Becker's first career Player of the Week Award, and marks the second time this fall a Lute has been recognized by the NWC. Teammate Connor Meade was tabbed the NWC Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 15 and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week the following day. 
 
Becker and the Lutes hit the road this week, making the short drive across town to Baker Stadium for the 101stedition of The Rivalry against University of Puget Sound.