GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Presidents' Athletic Conference recognized Grove City College sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) as its Defensive Player of the Week in recognition of his performance Saturday in the Wolverines' 56-14 win over visiting Bethany at Robert E. Thorn Field.

Bladel recorded two sacks and five total tackles, recovered a fumble and returned his own blocked punt for a touchdown Saturday to help Grove City improve to 9-0 overall and in the conference. 

His fumble recovery and return to the Bethany 11 set up Grove City's second touchdown during a 28-point outburst in the third quarter. Two minutes later, he blocked a Bethany punt, scooped up the ball at the 5 and sprinted to the end zone for his second collegiate touchdown. He scored on a 30-yard fumble return last season at Bethany.

Bladel's two quarterback sacks give him a conference-high 11 sacks this year. He is tied for second on Grove City's single-season quarterback sack list with Ed Fox, who had 11 sacks in 1998. Mark Furgeson recorded a program-record 15 sacks that same year.

Grove City leads the conference with 27 sacks as a team. The Wolverines allow only 79.9 rushing yards per game after holding Bethany to 51 rushing yards Saturday.

Saturday's win clinched a share of the conference title, along with Grove City's first-ever NCAA Division III playoff berth in football. The Wolverines are now ranked 20th in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Top 25. D3football.com has Grove City ranked 21st in its weekly Top 25.

The Wolverines have the open date in the conference schedule this Saturday. Grove City will visit Thiel in the regular season finale November 11 in the 39th battle for the coveted Mercer County Cup.