Lake Forest College football player Joey Valdivia was named Midwest Conference Offensive Performer of the Week on Monday after scoring five touchdowns and becoming the program's career rushing leader in Saturday's 56-28 victory at Cornell College.
Valdivia, a senior running back, scored the game's first points on a 6-yard touchdown run with 6:36 to play in the opening quarter. The Foresters entered the second quarter leading by 14 points and went into the locker room ahead 42-0, thanks to four more scores by Valdivia, who reached the end zone on a 34-yard pass play and on runs of 4, 20, and 7 yards. He carried the ball 20 times for 126 yards in the first half and did not play in the second. It was Valdivia's third career game with five or more total touchdowns and he has now scored at least once in 17 consecutive contests.
Valdivia entered the contest needing just 20 yards to surpass John Klasen (1992-95) as the program's all-time leader in rushing yards and reached that mark late in the first quarter. He finished the game at 3,496 and now owns 13 school records.
MWC Performers of the Week are selected by the league's director of media and information. Valdivia also earned the award twice earlier this season and four times last year.