ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two Macalester College football players were recognized by the MIAC with weekly awards following the Scots' 24-14 victory over St. Scholastica on Sept. 26. Junior receiver Paxton Boyd (Newton, Mass./Newton South) was named the MIAC Offensive Player of the Week, while sophomore linebacker Asher Niemi (Meridian, Idaho/Rocky Mountain) was selected the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Boyd led Macalester with 10 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown that came on a 20-yard pass from junior quarterback Jack Scully (Menlo Park, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) gave the Scots their first lead of the game, 21-14. Boyd also had catches of 33, 25, 22 and 18 yards in helping Macalester erase a 14-0 deficit to improve to 2-1 on the season. After Saturday night's games, Boyd leads the MIAC with 367 receiving yards and ranks second in the conference with 21 receptions.

Niemi registered six tackles, including 4.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks in a dominating performance. As if that weren't enough, he blocked a punt in the first quarter and a field goal attempt in the third quarter that would have given the Saints a three-point lead. Niemi's three sacks are the most by a Scot since Harrison Runnels '20 registered four sacks against Hamline on Sept. 8, 2018. Niemi's three sacks lead Macalester and rank third in the MIAC.

Macalester, now 1-1 in the MIAC, heads up Snelling Avenue to face Hamline University for the Paint Bucket on Saturday, Oct. 3. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at Klas Field.