Football

NACC Football Weekly Honors to Aurora's Mickle, CUW's Martin, and Lakeland's Banks

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- Aurora University senior Liam Mickle (Woodstock, Ill.), Concordia University Wisconsin freshman Cole Martin (Slinger, Wis.), and Lakeland University freshman Zelmarious Banks (Fort Wayne, Ind.) have been named Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Football Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2025, as selected by the league's athletics communications professionals.

This is the second NACC weekly honor for Martin.

Defense --- Zelmarious Banks, Fr., DB, Lakeland University
Banks, a freshman cornerback, intercepted three passes - returning two for touchdowns - in Lakeland's 47-16 win over Concordia Chicago. His first interception return went 65 yards for a score in the first quarter. Banks went coast-to-coast in the third quarter for a 100-yard return. His third interception came early in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 10-yard return. Banks' 175 yards in interception returns set a new NCAA Division III single-game record, breaking the previous record of 164 set by Western Maryland's Rick Connor in 1983. In addition to his three interceptions, he had two pass break-ups, and now leads the NACC with five interceptions this season. It is the second time a NACC player has returned two interceptions for a touchdown (Kendall Karcz, St. Norbert, Oct. 9, 2021, vs. Wisconsin Lutheran).

Offense --- Liam Mickle, Sr., QB, Aurora University
Mickle, a senior quarterback, accounted for six of Aurora's seven touchdowns in the Spartans' 49-42 win over Wisconsin Lutheran. He rushed 15 times for 176 yards and four touchdowns. Through the air, he was 18-of-34 for 150 yards and two more scores.

Special Teams --- Cole Martin, Fr., K/P, Concordia University Wisconsin
Martin, a freshman placekicker, was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra-point opportunities in Concordia Wisconsin's 35-0 victory over Rockford. The win guaranteed the Falcons at least a share of the 2025 NACC football title and secured the league's automatic berth in the 2025 NCAA Division III Football Championship.