Prairie Fire junior linebacker Mike Hendrick (Smithton, Illinois) is leading both the Midwest Conference and NCAA Division III football in tackles during the 2011 season.
Hendrick made 18 stops – eight solo and 10 assisted – on October 15, 2011 at the Knosher Bowl against Illinois College to give him 113 tackles through seven games. His 16.1 average tackles per game is tops in the league and in the nation as well.
Hendrick broke a nearly 43-year old school record when he recorded 26 tackles on September 24, 2011 at home against Beloit College. The previous mark of 23 was established by Del Camp in October of 1968 against Grinnell College.
Following the game against IC, Hendrick became the Knox record-holder for solo tackles in a season with 55, surpassing Tyler Hill’s 54 achieved in 2006.
Hendrick’s 12 solo tackles against Beloit ranks #2 all-time in Knox football history. He owns the record of 14 unassisted stops, which he set in October of 2010 at Illinois College. Hendrick also has the fifth-most assisted tackles in a game of all-time at Knox, 14, which he set last month against the Buccaneers.
In addition, Hendrick is second in the Midwest Conference with 12 tackles for a loss, and his six sacks ties him for third in the league.
Hendrick was one of six Division III defensive players nationwide to be named as a Beyond Sports Network (BSN) Defensive Player of the Week on September 27 for his performance against Beloit College.
BSN is a sports media site that features colleges and players from the FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA levels.
Hendrick is closing in on yet another school mark. He needs 28 tackles in the Prairie Fire’s final three games to tie the record for most tackles in a season, 141, set by Tracy Rodgers in 1991. (Knox College football records)
Rodgers also holds the second and third-most most tackles in a season at Knox College. Hendrick’s 113 tackles currently ranks #8 all-time at Knox.
The Midwest Conference record for tackles in a game is 29, set by Art Lopez of Grinnell College against St. Norbert College in 1993.
Hendrick’s career-best 26 tackles is tied for third all-time in the MWC with Bill Northcutt of Lake Forest College, who accomplished the feat in 1967.
The MWC record for tackles in a season is held by Chris Lindfelt of Lawrence University, who had 172 in 1988.
The Prairie Fire’s remaining games this season are October 22 at Carroll University, October 29 – the home finale – against Lake Forest College, and the November 5 "Bronze Turkey Game" at Monmouth College.
Hendrick’s brother, sophomore Matt Hendrick (Smithton, Illinois), is a defensive back for the Prairie Fire. The younger Hendrick is second on the team with 42 tackles, tying him for #22 in the MWC overall.
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photo of Mike Hendrick (#52) above right courtesy of Laura Mack
