Peipert, Johnson, & Kelly Earn PFL’s Week 6 Individual Honors

10/11/2026 4:55:43 PM

By: Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations Director

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – University of St. Thomas quarterback Nicholas Peipert, Valparaiso University defensive back Mark Johnson, and University of Dayton return specialist Paul Kelly are the Pioneer Football League’s Players of the Week for Week 6, announced Sunday.

Peipert claims his second offensive award and fourth freshman honor after running and passing for six total touchdowns in the Tommies’ win against Stetson. Johnson nabs defensive honors after a two-interception day that was part of the Beacons’ six-takeaway effort in a win against Drake. Kelly is the special teams honoree after provided a punt return touchdown in the Flyers’ win against Morehead State.

Offensive & Freshman

Nicholas Peipert, St. Thomas (Freshman (RS), Quarterback, Barrington, Illinois)

Peipert ran for 146 yards, threw for 247, and was responsible for six touchdowns in the Tommies’ 64-21 victory against Stetson. His career-high 146 yards is the second-best rushing performance by a PFL quarterback this season and included two touchdowns on 10 carries. Peipert completed 14-of-16 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns. His 393 total offensive yards are the fifth-most in the PFL this season. He threw touchdown passes to three different receivers: a 26-yard pass to Joseph Koch, 30-yard and 12-yard passes to Quentin Cobb-Butler, and a 38-yarder to Stefano Giovannelli. Peipert’s 12-yard TD pass to Cobb-Butler with 7:49 left in the third quarter put the Blue Hose up 57-7 and ended Peipert’s day with just 37:11 of game time.

Others Nominated

  • Butler quarterback Gabe Passini ran for three touchdowns on 12 carries for 56 yards and completed 11-of-16passes for 217 yards in the Bulldogs’ 41-10 victory against San Diego.
  • Dayton quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer completed 22-of-29 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns in the Flyers’ 56-28 victory against Morehead State.
  • Marist quarterback Sonny Mannino completed 22-of-34 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns and added a touchdown as part of a six-carry, 17-yard effort in the Red Foxes’ nonconference loss to Columbia.
  • Presbyterian running back Jackson Burleson scored three touchdowns in an 18-carry, 134-yard effort in the Blue Hose’s 38-21 victory against Davidson.
  • San Diego wide receiver Elijah Taylor caught six passes for 100 yards in the Toreros’ loss at Butler.
  • Valparaiso wide receiver Daniel White had two second-half touchdown receptions and had four receptions for 54 yards in the Beacons’ 21-13 victory against Drake.

Defensive

Mark Johnson, Valparaiso (Senior, Defensive Back, Nashville, Tennessee)

Johnson recorded two second-half interceptions to lead Valparaiso’s six-takeaway, four-interception outing in a 21-13 victory against Drake. His first interception came early in the third quarter in Drake territory, and his 31-yard return, plus a Drake penalty, set up Valparaiso on the Bulldogs’ 11-yard line and led to the go-ahead touchdown. Then, on the drive after Valparaiso took a 21-13 lead, Johnson intercepted his second pass of the day and allowed Valparaiso to run out the clock for its first home win against Drake since 2002. He also had four tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup in the victory.

Others Nominated

  • Butler defensive back Madden Beriault had two interceptions and five tackles (three solo) in the Bulldogs’ 41-10 victory against San Diego.
  • Presbyterian safety Ryan Largin posted a career-best eight tackles (six solo), a half tackle for loss, and an interception in the Blue Hose’s 38-21 win against Davidson.
  • San Diego defensive tackle Sean Scheck had 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, in the Toreros’ loss at Butler.

Special Teams

Paul Kelly, Dayton (Junior, Return Specialist, Kings Mills, Ohio)

Kelly had a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown and averaged 30.5 yards on two punt returns in the Flyers’ 56-28 victory against Morehead State. His return came with 3:19 left in the game that pushed the Flyers’ advantage to 49-28, and was part of the Flyers 28 unanswered points to end the game.

Others Nominated

  • San Diego kicker/punter Emiliano Salazar averaged 46.7 yards on three punts, made a 44-yard field goal, and added a PAT in the Toreros’ loss at Butler.
  • St. Thomas wide receiver Owen Lyons returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Tommies’ 64-21 victory against Stetson.
  • Valparaiso kicker Luke Scoma booted all four of his kickoffs for touchbacks and had three PATs in the Beacons’ 21-13 victory against 21-13 victory against Drake.

Freshman

Others Nominated

  • Butler running back Sam Manna ran for a career-high 151 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in the Bulldogs’ 41-10 victory against San Diego.
  • Presbyterian defensive back Tymaries Durant recorded five tackles (three solo), including 1.5 sacks, and a pass breakup in the Blue Hose’s 38-21 victory against Davidson.
  • San Diego running back Omar Ebakwe had two receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown and nine carries for 12 yards in the Toreros’ loss at Butler.
  • Valparaiso defensive lineman Emmanuel Olojo had five tackles (three solo), two for loss, and a sack in the Beacons’ 21-13 win against Drake.

About the Pioneer Football League

The Pioneer Football League is the only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The PFL is a truly national conference with members on each coast and throughout the nation’s heartland. Butler University, the University of Dayton, Drake University, and Valparaiso University were among the league’s founding members in 1993, with Davidson College, Marist College, Morehead State University, Presbyterian College, the University of San Diego, the University of St. Thomas, and Stetson University joining to form the current 11-team league.