KANSAS CITY, Mo. - St. Ambrose linebacker Caden McDermott intercepted three passes that each led to scoring drives in the Bees' 47-14 win over Culver-Stockton (Mo.), earning the Oct. 27 nod as NAIA Defensive Player of the Week.

McDermott is the first Bee to win a national football player of the week award since kicker Tom Gillen won the special teams award on Oct. 18, 2021. He is the first Bee to win the national defensive award since Ryan Zitkus on Apr. 5, 2021.

McDermott, a redshirt-sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa, also registered a team-best six tackles in Saturday's win, and he's the first SAU player to intercept three passes in a game since 2008.

His three interceptions came on consecutive C-SC drives, the first closing the door on Culver-Stockton's hopes of another first-half touchdown. St. Ambrose used it to convert a field goal to end the half, taking a 27-7 lead to intermission. 

McDermott registered another interception on C-SC's first drive of the third quarter, this time leading to a touchdown, and he picked off a third pass on the Wildcats' next drive, this time returning it 21 yards to set up another score that put the Bees in front 40-7. Prior to his first interception, St. Ambrose led 24-7. 

St. Ambrose is home, Saturday, hosting Clarke (Iowa), looking for a third-straight win after also beating Graceland (Iowa) on Oct. 18.