Football | 10/17/2011 9:56:00 AM

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Oregon's junior safety Bryce Peila has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 10-16.

Peila had 129 return yards including 90 on two interceptions, 30 on a fumble recovery and nine on a punt return to lead the Wolves to a 34-10 win against Simon Fraser.  With WOU leading 20-10 in the fourth quarter, Pelia's fumble return set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Haynes with 4:54 left.  Thirty-eight seconds later, Peila, who also had nine tackles, sealed the win with a 48-yard touchdown interception return.  Peila leads the GNAC with six interceptions for 195 yards. The yardage total is a GNAC single-season record, breaking the old mark of 163 by Brandon Kennedy of Central Washington in 2005. Peila has 12 career interceptions for 303 yards, which is 70 shy of Kennedy's career GNAC record. "Peila's two picks were very crucial plays," Western Oregon head football coach Arne Ferguson said. "They really put the game away."

The Western Oregon football team is preparing for a Homecoming showdown with GNAC leader Humboldt State on Saturday, Oct. 22 with first place in the conference on the line. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.