LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan claimed two of the three American Rivers weekly honors as linebacker Owen Long was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week, while returner Ian Gebhardt was recognized as the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Both players, who are taking home weekly American Rivers honors for the first time in their respective careers, were instrumental in Nebraska Wesleyan's 69-48 win at home against Loras Saturday afternoon for Wesleyan Weekend.

Long led the team with 14 tackles, which was a season high. He also recorded his first and second career interceptions, the second which he returned 55 yards for his first touchdown career touchdown and put the Prairie Wolves ahead 42-28 in the third quarter.

Saturday's performance marked the third straight game that Long recorded nine or more tackles.

Long ranks third at Nebraska Wesleyan in tackles (51) this season, and he's second for the team in interceptions (2). He's also got 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks.

Gebhardt took his only punt return 85 yards back for a touchdown, which made the score 14-17 in the second quarter. He also had three kickoff returns for 56 yards.  Gebhardt finished with 178 all-purpose yards, his fourth game this season with at least 170. He scored three touchdowns in three different ways, returning a punt for a touchdown, catching a touchdown pass and throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Joey McLaughlin in the fourth quarter for a dagger, 63-41.

The 85-yard punt return touchdown the first by a Prairie Wolf since Nic Braeten returned a blocked punt in 2019. It is the longest punt return in the American Rivers Conference this season and the longest in the conference since 2021. His 85-yard return ranks third in Nebraska Wesleyan program history.

Gebhardt, currently ranks sixth in NCAA Division III in all-purpose yards per game with 171.33 per game.

Long is the first Prairie Wolf to win Defensive Player of the Week honors since Max Brinker in the 2021 season.

Gebhardt is the second Prairie Wolf to win Special Teams Player of the Week in 2026 after Jace Winkler did so after week two. The last Nebraska Wesleyan returner to take the honor was Anthony Carpenter on Sept. 18, 2023.

Nebraska Wesleyan is back in action Saturday when it travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa against Coe. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.