Paul Hoffer Named to D3football.com Team-of-the-Week

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Paul Hoffer

NORTHFIELD, MN (10/19/2012)(readMedia)-- Cornerback Paul Hoffer (Plymouth, Minn./Wazata) has made several key plays this season, and his record-breaking 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against Macalester College on Oct. 6 helped him capture a pair of honors.

The senior's pick-six provided the deciding points in Carleton College's 21-20 victory. He was voted the MIAC Football Defensive Player-of-the-Week and was selected to the D3football.com Team-of-the-Week.

Hoffer's huge play came just before halftime and helped the Knights retain possession of the "Book of Knowledge" trophy for the 10th consecutive season. With Macalester on the doorstep, threatening to cut into Carleton's 14-3 lead, Hoffer picked off a pass just in front of the goal line and streaked down the sideline for his 99-yard score. In addition to the pick, Hoffer added four tackles and two pass breakups to his stellar performance. He is tied for the third-most pass breakups in the MIAC this season (four).

The 99-yard play is the longest interception return in Carleton history, only one yard shy of the MIAC record. Hoffer's highlight reel performance is tied for the longest scoring play in Carleton history, equaled only by Mike Francis' 99-yard pass to John Winter against Trinity University in 1983 and Caleb Hyde's 99-yard fumble return versus Macalester on Sept. 26, 2009.

Ranked among the nation's top liberal arts institutions, Carleton is a private, co-educational college of 1,900 students located 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul. High academic standards, an excellent teaching faculty and a diverse student body contribute to Carleton's outstanding reputation.