SOMERSET, N.J. -  RMU sophomore linebacker Jake Lopinto has been named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Lopinto was also selected as an NEC Prime Performer, while Mekhi Kilburn earned the first Prime Performer honor of the season following the Colonials' 28-14 victory over Mercyhurst.

The Defensive Player of the Week honor marks the third of the season for Lopinto, while he earns a spot on the NEC Prime Performer list for the third time.

Lopinto was a difference-maker throughout Saturday's conference victory, finishing with a team-high 11 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups. He recorded five solo stops and six assisted tackles while making his presence felt throughout the Mercyhurst passing attack.

The sophomore's pair of interceptions helped headline a disruptive performance by the RMU defense, which forced four Mercyhurst turnovers, including three interceptions. The Colonials also registered four sacks and held the Lakers to just 88 rushing yards on 30 attempts.

Joining Lopinto among this week's NEC Prime Performers was Kilburn, who earned the honor for the first time in his career after delivering one of the biggest plays of Saturday's victory.

Kilburn finished the afternoon with three tackles and an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown. With RMU holding a 21-7 advantage early in the fourth quarter, Kilburn stepped in front of an Alex Gevaudan pass and raced 89 yards to the end zone, extending the Colonials' lead to 28-7 with 12:18 remaining.

The pick-six came less than two minutes after RMU opened the fourth quarter with an offensive touchdown, helping the Colonials quickly turn a one-score contest into a three-score advantage.

Kilburn's interception was one of three recorded by the RMU defense and accounted for the only defensive touchdown of the game.

Behind Lopinto and Kilburn, the Colonials kept Mercyhurst off the scoreboard in both the first and third quarters while forcing four turnovers and limiting the Lakers to 2.9 yards per rushing attempt.

The victory improved RMU to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in NEC play while securing the Colonials' second conference win of the season.
 

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE FOOTBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE FOOTBALL CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Ness Davis, Duquesne
Running Back, Senior, 5-11, 200 lbs., Athens, GA/Athens Christian (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Jaylin Baker, Stonehill
Wide Receiver, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 lbs., San Antonio, TX/Brandeis

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jake Lopinto, Robert Morris
Linebacker, Sophomore, 6-1, 235 lbs., Columbus, OH/Licking Heights

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Logan Chenette, Stonehill
Punter, Senior, 6-3, 195 lbs., Hull, MA/Hull

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Benjamin Newman, Wagner
Quarterback, Redshirt Freshman, 6-2, 210 lbs., East Rochester, NY/East Rochester

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS
Deonte Douglas, CCSU (DB, Jr)
Brett Griffis, CCSU (QB, 5th-Yr)
Carson Camp, DUQ (QB, Gr)
Ness Davis, DUQ (RB, Sr)
Luke Miller, DUQ (LB, Sr)
Rafael Fasolino, LIU
Jake Tripptree, NHVN (QB, Jr)
Mekhi Kilburn, RMU (CB, Sr)
Jake Lopinto, RMU (LB, So)
Adjatay Abegesah, STO (LB, Jr)
Jaylin Baker, STO (WR, So)
Benjamin Newman, WAG (QB, R-Fr)