The Mid-American Conference on Monday announced its Week Five Football Players of the Week.
East Division honorees are: Emanual Reed (Buffalo), Kron Brown (Akron) and Derek Adams (Sent State)
West Division honorees are: Christian Blake (Northern Illinois), Jeremiah Harris (Eastern Michigan) and Matt Ference (Northern Illinois).
(Click Read More for details . . . )
East Division honorees are: Emanual Reed (Buffalo), Kron Brown (Akron) and Derek Adams (Sent State)
West Division honorees are: Christian Blake (Northern Illinois), Jeremiah Harris (Eastern Michigan) and Matt Ference (Northern Illinois).
(Click Read More for details . . . )
East Division:
Offensive Player of the Week: Buffalo RB Emmanuel Reed
Buffalo sophomore running back Emmanuel Reed (Crestview, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 144 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-13 win at Kent State. Reed scored all of his touchdowns in the first half to pace the Bulls’ offensive attack. On Buffalo’s second drive of the game he ripped off a career-long 55-yard run. He scored on an 18-yard run on the very next play. Reed also scored on touchdown runs of one and five yards. He became the first Buffalo player since 2014 to score three rushing touchdowns in a game.
Defensive Player of the Week: Akron DB Kyron Brown
Akron junior defensive back Kyron Brown (Boynton Beach, Fla.) scored the game-winning touchdown in a 34-23 win at Bowling Green, snapping the Falcons’ eight-game series winning streak over the Zips. Brown, who finished with four tackles and a break-up, intercepted a Bowling Green pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 38 yards for the winning score. The interception was the fourth of Brown’s career and his first this season. It was his first career touchdown.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Kent State P Derek Adams
Kent State sophomore punter Derek Adams (Manheim, Pa.) averaged 48.5 yards on four punts in a 27-13 loss to Buffalo. He placed three of his four punts inside the 20. Adams now ranks eighth in the nation in punting average.
West Division:
Offensive Player of the Week: NIU WR Christian Blake
NIU senior wide receiver Christian Blake (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) had a career day in a 34-28 loss at San Diego State as he caught 13 passes for 160 yards with two touchdowns. Blake’s 13 catches rank tied for fifth on NIU’s all-time single game list and are the most since Kenny Golladay caught 14 passes versus Toledo a year ago, while his 160 receiving yards are the most since Golladay’s 184 yards at Ball State last year. Blake’s scored NIU’s first two TDs on passes of 34 and 10 yards in the first quarter, and he set up the Huskies’ last touchdown with a 50-yard catch to the San Diego State 10-yard line in the third quarter. He also made four catches to convert third downs and extend Huskie drives. The Huskie offense totaled more yards, more offensive touchdowns and ran 30 more plays than the Aztecs.
Defensive Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan DL Jeremiah Harris
Eastern Michigan junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.) registered career-highs with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in a 24-20 loss at Kentucky. Harris racked up a team-best 3.5 TFL for a total of 15 yards, while he added in two sacks, including a strip sack on the first play from scrimmage. The forced fumble was Harris’ fifth of his career. For the season, Harris is Eastern Michigan’s leader with 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Special Teams Player of the Week: NIU P Matt Ference
Northern Illinois freshman punter Matt Ference (St. Louis, Mo.) had another big day in a 34-28 loss at San Diego State as he and NIU controlled field position, especially in the second half. Ference punted eight times for a 36.4 average in the game, but his game was more about placement as four of his eight punts forced San Diego State to start inside their 20. With the addition of penalties, San Diego State actually started three of those four drives inside their 10-yard line. Only one of Ferences’ eight punts was returned (for just three yards) and he also recorded a career-long 56-yard punt in the game.
Offensive Player of the Week: Buffalo RB Emmanuel Reed
Buffalo sophomore running back Emmanuel Reed (Crestview, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 144 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-13 win at Kent State. Reed scored all of his touchdowns in the first half to pace the Bulls’ offensive attack. On Buffalo’s second drive of the game he ripped off a career-long 55-yard run. He scored on an 18-yard run on the very next play. Reed also scored on touchdown runs of one and five yards. He became the first Buffalo player since 2014 to score three rushing touchdowns in a game.
Defensive Player of the Week: Akron DB Kyron Brown
Akron junior defensive back Kyron Brown (Boynton Beach, Fla.) scored the game-winning touchdown in a 34-23 win at Bowling Green, snapping the Falcons’ eight-game series winning streak over the Zips. Brown, who finished with four tackles and a break-up, intercepted a Bowling Green pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 38 yards for the winning score. The interception was the fourth of Brown’s career and his first this season. It was his first career touchdown.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Kent State P Derek Adams
Kent State sophomore punter Derek Adams (Manheim, Pa.) averaged 48.5 yards on four punts in a 27-13 loss to Buffalo. He placed three of his four punts inside the 20. Adams now ranks eighth in the nation in punting average.
West Division:
Offensive Player of the Week: NIU WR Christian Blake
NIU senior wide receiver Christian Blake (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) had a career day in a 34-28 loss at San Diego State as he caught 13 passes for 160 yards with two touchdowns. Blake’s 13 catches rank tied for fifth on NIU’s all-time single game list and are the most since Kenny Golladay caught 14 passes versus Toledo a year ago, while his 160 receiving yards are the most since Golladay’s 184 yards at Ball State last year. Blake’s scored NIU’s first two TDs on passes of 34 and 10 yards in the first quarter, and he set up the Huskies’ last touchdown with a 50-yard catch to the San Diego State 10-yard line in the third quarter. He also made four catches to convert third downs and extend Huskie drives. The Huskie offense totaled more yards, more offensive touchdowns and ran 30 more plays than the Aztecs.
Defensive Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan DL Jeremiah Harris
Eastern Michigan junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.) registered career-highs with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in a 24-20 loss at Kentucky. Harris racked up a team-best 3.5 TFL for a total of 15 yards, while he added in two sacks, including a strip sack on the first play from scrimmage. The forced fumble was Harris’ fifth of his career. For the season, Harris is Eastern Michigan’s leader with 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Special Teams Player of the Week: NIU P Matt Ference
Northern Illinois freshman punter Matt Ference (St. Louis, Mo.) had another big day in a 34-28 loss at San Diego State as he and NIU controlled field position, especially in the second half. Ference punted eight times for a 36.4 average in the game, but his game was more about placement as four of his eight punts forced San Diego State to start inside their 20. With the addition of penalties, San Diego State actually started three of those four drives inside their 10-yard line. Only one of Ferences’ eight punts was returned (for just three yards) and he also recorded a career-long 56-yard punt in the game.
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