CHICAGO – Senior linebacker Terry Elias Jr. (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) was named the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League Defensive Player of the Week for the Saint Xavier University football team (2-2, 0-0 MSFA Midwest) defeated Lawrence Tech University (Mich.) when the awards were announced by the league office Monday afternoon. Elias Jr. led the Cougar defense with a game-high 13 tackles (seven solos) in a 31-10 victory over Lawrence Tech University (Mich.) Saturday afternoon in a MSFA crossover contest in Southfield, Mich. It is the third time in his career that Elias Jr. has won the award, claiming the honor twice in 2023 on September 18 and November 6.

• Elias Jr. added 3.0 tackles for loss (TFL) for 11 yards, a sack for seven yards and a forced fumble.
• It was the third time in four games this season that he had 10 or more tackles in a game.
• Elias Jr. leads SXU with 43 tackles (16 solos), TFLs with 7.0 and is tied for second on the team in sacks with 2.0. He also has a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry to go along with a forced fumble in four games.

Saint Xavier (2-2/0-0 MSFA Midwest) is on the road to play Defiance College (Ohio) in a MSFA crossover contest on Saturday, October 4. The game is slated for a 12:00 pm central start in Defiance, Ohio.