MAC announces Week 8 POTW

The Mid-American Conference on Monday announced its football Week 8 Players of the Week. This week’s honorees are:
EAST DIVISION: Andrew Hendrix (QB, Miami), Nick Cuthbert (S, Kent State), Josiah Yazdani (K, Ohio).

WEST DIVISION: Jarvion Franklin (RB, Western Michigan), Eric Patterson (DB, Ball State), Scott Secor (K, Ball State).

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EAST DIVISION

Offensive Player of the Week:  
Miami QB Andrew Hendrix
Miami senior quarterback Andrew Hendrix (Cincinnati, Ohio) matched his career-best with five total touchdowns in a 51-41 loss at Northern Illinois. The fifth-year senior completed 23-of-42 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns and added another 72 yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns in DeKalb, Illinois. Overall, Hendrix combined for 418 total yards, the second-highest total in his career.

Defensive Player of the Week:  
Kent State S Nick Cuthbert
Kent State sophomore safety Nick Cuthbert (Chesterland, Ohio) led the team with 16 tackles in his first career start in a 39-17 win over Army.  During much of the game, Cuthbert shadowed Army’s pitchman on option plays, preventing big plays from a Black Knights’ rushing attack that ranked third in the nation.

Special Teams Player of the Week:  
Ohio K Josiah Yazdani
Ohio junior kicker Josiah Yazdani (Albany, Ohio) had three field goals, including the 22-yard game winner late in the fourth quarter in a 23-20 win over Akron.  Yazdani had five kickoffs for 305 yards, averaging 61.2 yards a kickoff with one touchback. He was also a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, his longest at 42 yards in the second quarter. 

WEST DIVISION

Offensive Player of the Week:  
Western Michigan RB Jarvion Franklin
Western Michigan freshman running back Jarvion Franklin (Tinley Park, Ill.) set a new career-high with 37 carries to go with 149 yards and a touchdown in Western Michigan's 26-14 win at Bowling Green. Franklin rushed for 81 yards and 21 carries in the second half, including a 22-yard touchdown run to seal the win. The touchdown was Franklin's nation-leading 16th on the season.

Defensive Player of the Week:  
Ball State DB Eric Patterson
Ball State senior defensive back Eric Patterson (Tampa, Fla.) led the team with 10 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in a 32-29 win at Central Michigan.  Patterson was responsible for three of five turnovers and added his fourth and fifth career interceptions, while also recording his third career forced fumble. His second interception came on Central Michigan’s final offensive possession and sealed the victory.

Special Teams Player of the Week: 
 Ball State K Scott Secor
Ball State senior kicker Scott Secor (New Lenox, Ill.) connected on 4-of-4 field goals, including a 55-yard field with 17 seconds left in the game for a 32-29 win at Central Michigan.  The four field goals tied his career high in a single game, while the 55-yard field goal was a career long.  Secor connected on field goals of 39, 37 and 20 yards to improve to 34-for-38 in his career on attempts of 45 yards or fewer.