Elkhart’s Alex Thlang Is The ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player Of The Week

Another week, another regional player with almost unbelievable numbers.

Elkhart's Alex Thlang recorded 19 tackles Friday against Palestine Westwood, including four tackles for loss. The Elks needed pretty much every single takedown their senior linebacker provided in a 31-28 win for a 1-0 record in District 9-3A Division I competition.

Thlang is the ETSN.fm + Dairy Queen Defensive Player of the Week.

The linebacker is no stranger to the ETSN.fm radar. He averaged 11.6 tackles per game last season.

Elkhart is in good midseason position for a fourth time in Thlang's varsity career. Its undoing the past two seasons has been district play toward two straight 5-5 finishes.

The win Friday can only be considered a positive sign about the 2016 Elks' ceiling. Westwood won last year's head-to-head on the backstretch of a four-game losing streak to close the campaign.

Thlang and company have an opportunity to get some leverage on the district pack this Friday. They host a winless West team before facing two-time defending district champion Teague on the road and then a Eustace team that has been a very pleasant surprise.

ETSN.fm/Dairy Queen Defensive Players of the Week

• Week 5 (Sept. 22-24) -- Alex Thlang, LB, Elkhart
• Week 4 (Sept. 15-Sept. 17) -- Brandon Cook, DB, White Oak
• Week 3 (Sept. 8-Sept. 10) -- Dekalen Goodson, DL, John Tyler
• Week 2 (Sept. 1-Sept. 3) -- Taylor Smith, DB, Jefferson
• Week 1 (Aug. 25-Aug. 27) -- Keylon Johnson, DE, Waskom