LANCASTER, Pa. – Kyle Checchio has been named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week after his efforts helped lead the Franklin & Marshall football team to a 31-24 victory at Carnegie Mellon. Checchio's honor marks the ninth time this season that a Diplomats' player has been recognized as the conference player of the week, including three instances on the defensive side of the ball.

Checchio, who leads F&M in tackles and tackles for loss, made a team-high 10 stops during the Diplomats' win as they remained undefeated in conference play ahead of the showdown with Johns Hopkins this Saturday. Checchio's totals included 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Each of those totals were season highs for Checchio, who is in his rookie season with the Diplomats. He is the second F&M first-year to earn defensive player of the week honors this season, joining classmate Oscar Marx.

Football has won seven consecutive games and is a perfect 6-0 in the Centennial Conference heading into the final weekend of the regular where they will host Johns Hopkins who is also undefeated in conference action. That clash between the Diplomats and Blue Jays is set for 1 p.m. inside Shadek Stadium. The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the NCAA Tournament as the conference's automatic qualifier.