Moon Township, Pa. - Redshirt senior safety Michael Landers (Springdale, Pa. / Springdale) of the Robert Morris University football team was honored by the Northeast Conference Monday, as he was named the NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
In a 30-9 victory at Wagner (9/25) that stretched RMU's winning streak to three, Landers was at the center of a Colonial defense that forced five turnovers, posted five sacks and held the Seahawks scoreless in the second half.
Landers tied for team-high honors in tackles at Wagner with seven takedowns, including five solo stops. Also recording seven stops for RMU against the Seahawks were senior linebacker Elias Navarro (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / South Plantation) and sophomore defensive lineman Nolan Nearhoof (Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area).
In the fourth quarter, Landers intercepted Wagner quarterback Nick Doscher twice, which were two of RMU's four interceptions on the afternoon. He returned the second pick 27 yards to the 19-yard line of the Seahawks, setting up the final score of the afternoon for the Colonials.
Landers leads the NEC with four interceptions and his pair against Wagner pushed his career total to 11, a total that is tied for fourth in the Robert Morris career record book with former linebacker Nate List (1994-97).
One of four Colonials to rank in the top 10 in NEC history for career interceptions, Landers is tied for eighth all-time and joins former defensive backs Mike Niklos (2003-07), Nick Downs (1997-2000) and Brian Dunn (1994-97). Niklos finished with 16 career picks and ranks third in the NEC career record book, while Downs ranks fifth with 14. Dunn, who played two years in the NEC, recorded 11 interceptions over the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
Landers owns 27 tackles so far this season, including 18 solo stops, to rank third for Robert Morris. Thanks to his seven takedowns at Wagner, Landers pushed his career total in stops to 236, which ranks 10th all-time at RMU.
Led by Joe Walton, the only head coach in the 17-year history of the program, Robert Morris (3-1 / 2-0 NEC) looks to push its winning streak to four Saturday, Oct. 2, with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against in-state rival Saint Francis at DeGol Field in Loretto, Pa.
