Bluffton University kicker Austin Sweeney (Adrian, Mich./Whitmer) has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Football Player of the Week on special teams for the week ending November 13, 2011.

Austin Sweeney helped the Beavers to a 46-27 win over Defiance on Saturday with field goals of 39 and 24 yards as well as four PAT's. He booted eight kickoffs a total of 459 yards (57.4 yards per kick). Sweeney ended the day with 10 points.

The Bluffton University football team completed its best season since 2004 when the Beavers roughed up long-time rival Defiance College 46-27 on Saturday, Nov. 12. Bluffton finished 5-5 overall and 5-3 in the Heartland Conference after winning five of its last six games.

The Beavers claimed a share of second place in the conference along with Hanover, Mount St. Joseph and Rose-Hulman. It marked only the second time in school history that Bluffton has won five games in the HCAC, the first being in 2000 when Bluffton earned a share of the conference title.