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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–Valley City State University linebacker Jake Thurston has been named Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) Defensive Player of the Week.

Thurston, a sophomore from Bottineau, ND, recorded three tackles for loss and two sacks Saturday in the Vikings’ 21-10 win over Jamestown College.  His second sack sent Jimmie quarterback Brad Lint (Sr., Roseburg, OR) out of the game.

Through five games, Thurston has recorded 35 tackles, ranking third-best on the Vikings.  He has six tackles for loss this season, second-best among Viking defenders.

The award marks the third straight week a Viking defender has won Defensive Player of the Week honors.  Defensive back Cody Kilthau (Sr., Mililani, HI) won the award the past two weeks.  It’s the fifth overall Player of the Week award for the Vikings, with wide receiver LeTheo Proctor (Sr., Anchorage, AK) winning twice this season.