Sept. 28, 2009 - For the first time in his career, Hillsdale College senior RB Vinnie Panizzi was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week. The award was announced by the conference office Monday morning.

Panizzi spearheaded one of Hillsdale's biggest victories in many years Saturday, by rushing for a career-high 231 yards and three touchdowns in the Chargers' 38-19 win over the No. 15-ranked Ashland University Eagles.

Panizzi had 11 runs of seven yards or more against the Eagles, and had his third three-touchdown game of this season. It marked the second week in a row he set a new career-high for rushing yards in a game, after he had 188 vs. the University of Indianapolis on Sept. 19.

Panizzi now ranks second in the GLIAC with an average of 135 rushing yards per game, and is tied for first in the GLIAC with Wayne State's Joique Bell with 10 rushing touchdowns on the season. He ranks third on Hillsdale's all-time rushing yards list with 2,893 for his career, and his 38 career rushing TDs are also third in school history.

Panizzi's award marks the third time this season a Charger has won conference player of the week honors, joining Troy Weatherhead (Offense, Sept. 7) and Mark Petro (Special Teams, Sept. 21) as GLIAC weekly award winners.

Panizzi played his high school football at Grosse Pointe South. He and the Chargers (4-1) will travel to the University of Findlay for a 4:00 game Saturday at the 4-1 Oilers. Both teams are part of a four-way tie for second place in the GLIAC standings.