SEWARD, Neb. – A strong performance from punter Braxtyn Koch helped lead Concordia University, Nebraska Football to a 21-17 win over No. 19 Northwestern in its 2025 finale. As a result, Koch was named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday (Nov. 17). Koch has earned this distinction for the first time in his career.
As part of the victory over the Red Raiders, Koch punted five times for an average of 45.2 yards per attempt. Koch unleased separate punts that pinned Northwestern back at its own 5-, 2- and 11-yard lines. The Red Raiders finished with zero punt return yards for the game. Koch’s longest punt of the day covered 59 yards. His efforts contributed to the Red Raiders being shut out in the second half.
Koch is a native of Westminster, Md., and is a Business Administration major. He is the son of former Baltimore Ravens NFL punter Sam Koch. On the season, Braxtyn punted 54 times for an average of 37.1 yards per punt. Twenty-six of his punts were downed inside the opponent’s 20.
The Bulldogs ended their season with a 7-3 record. In 2025, Concordia collected a total of eight GPAC Player of the Week awards and three NAIA National Player of the Week accolades.
2025 GPAC Players of the Week
Nov. 17 – Braxtyn Koch (Special Teams)
Oct. 20 – *Peyton Atwood (Special Teams) / *Adam Van Cleave (Offense)
Oct. 6 – Carlos Collazo (Offense)
Sept. 29 – Peyton Atwood (Special Teams)
Sept. 15 – *Carson Fehlhafer (Defense) / Jonny Puelz (Offense)
Sept. 8 – Terry Sebek (Defense)
*NAIA National Player of the Week