MAC announces Week Eight POTW

The Mid-American Conference on Monday announced its Week Eight Players of the week. 

MAC East honorees are Matt Johnson (Bowling Green), Okezie Alozie (Buffalo) and Joeseph Davidson (Bowling Green).

MAC West honorees are Drew Hare (Northern Illinois), Robert Spillane (Western Michigan) and Brian Eavey
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East Division
Offensive Player of the Week:  Bowling Green QB Matt Johnson
Bowling Green senior quarterback Matt Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa.) passed for 430 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-0 win at Kent State on Saturday – Bowling Green's fifth consecutive victory. The Falcons, now 4-0 in MAC play, are off to their best league start since the 2003 season. For Johnson, it was his sixth 400-yard game of the season in just eight weeks, and his third consecutive game in which he has passed for five touchdowns. Johnson also added 45 yards rushing and another touchdown, accounting for six total touchdowns for the second time this season. Johnson now leads the nation with 3,321 passing yards this season and has passed for 29 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His six 400-yard games mark the second-most for a quarterback through their first eight games of a season since the 2000 campaign. Johnson has passed for 300 yards in all eight games this season.

Defensive Player of the Week:  Buffalo LB Okezie Alozie
Buffalo senior linebacker Okezie Alozie (Bethlehem, Pa.) had a pair of interceptions, including a pick six in the Bulls 41-17 win over Ohio. His first career interception went for a 22-yard touchdown and gave the Bulls a 21-10 lead. Later in the half, he had his second interception of the game and returned it 43 yards to set up a Buffalo field goal as time expired in the first half. Alozie also had three tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week: Bowling Green P Joeseph Davidson
Bowling Green sophomore punter Joseph Davidson (Findlay, Ohio) flipped the field against Kent State, aiding the Falcons in a dominating 48-0 shutout on Saturday. Davidson punted four times for a 52.5 yards per punt average, and did not allow any Kent State returns. All four of Davidson's punts traveled over 42 yards, while his first punt of the day went 71 yards and was downed at the Kent State one-yard line.

West Division
Offensive Player of the Week:  Northern Illinois QB Drew Hare
Northern Illinois junior quarterback Drew Hare (O'Fallon, Mo.) threw four touchdown passes, including three in the first half, to lead NIU to a 49-21 Homecoming win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Hare completed 24-of-38 passes for 267 yards in the game. He led NIU on a 17-play, 70-yard game-opening drive and finished it with a four-yard touchdown strike to Juwan Brescacin. He also threw touchdown passes of four and 18 yards to tight end Shane Wimann and receiver Kenny Golladay, respectively, in the first half.  He had his longest completion in the second half when he hit Tommylee Lewis for a 39-yard touchdown. Hare has not thrown an interception in MAC play this year.  In the first half, when NIU sprinted out to a 35-0 lead, Hare was 18-of-22 for 143 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Week:  Western Michigan LB Robert Spillane
Western Michigan sophomore linebacker Robert Spillane (Oak Park, Ill.) led the Broncos to their best defensive performance of the season in a 35-13 win over Miami on Saturday. Spillane tied for the team-lead with nine tackles and had 3.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks. On one three-and-out series, Spillane had a tackle on all three plays, two of which were for a loss. Overall, the Broncos allowed a season-low 276 yards and just 58 yards rushing. It was the second straight game Western Michigan has allowed under 100 yards, marking the first time since a four-game stretch last year the team has allowed under 100 yards on the ground.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week:  Central Michigan K Brian Eavey
Central Michigan junior kicker Brian Eavey (Grand Ledge, Mich.) had three field goals and two PATs in a 23-21 win at Ball State. Eavey matched his career-high with three field goal, including a career long of 47 yards. The junior made a 34-yard attempt with 5:30 to go in the game which proved to be the winning points for Central Michigan. He was also a perfect 2-for-2 in PAT attempts.