MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week
De'Montre Tuggle, Ohio, Running Back
Redshirt 5th Year, Channelview, Texas
Redshirt 5th year running back DeMontre Tuggle led Ohio offensively this weekend, helping the Bobcats open MAC play with a 34-17 victory at Akron - the first for first year head coach Tim Albin. Tuggle finished the game with a career-high 201 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Tuggle rushed for an average of 11.8 yards per carry and rattled off a 63-yard rush on the Bobcats' second drive of the game.
MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Will Evans, Ohio, Defensive End
Redshirt 5th Year, Augusta, Ga.
Redshirt 5th year defensive end Will Evans led Ohio on the defensive end, helping Ohio pick up their first win of the season, a 34-17 victory at Akron. Evans finished the game with six total tackles, all solo. He also finished with two sacks for 11 yards and two tackles for loss for 11 yards. He also recorded one pass breakup and forced one fumble in the win.
MAC East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Nate Needham, Bowling Green, PK
Senior, Chesterton, Ind. (Chesterton)
Booted a 52-yard field goal at Kent State last time out. The career-long field goal by Needham is the longest in the MAC this season, tied for 12th longest in the nation and his second field goal of 50+ yards this year. He is one of five FBS players with multiple 50+-yard field goals this season, joining Cade York (LSU), Harrison Mevis (Missouri), James McCourt (Illinois) and Gabe Brkic (Oklahoma). Needham Also connected on a 42-yard field goal at Kent State to keep BGSU in the game in the first half as the Falcons trailed 13-6 at the intermission. Also hit on both his PAT opportunities, the second putting BGSU up for the first time in the game late in the third quarter, 20-13.
MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Skyy Moore, Western Michigan, Wide Receiver
Sophomore, New Kensington, Pa. (Shady Side Academy)
Racked up career-highs in receiving yards (163) and touchdowns (two) in a 24-17 victory at Buffalo. Had a 12-yard touchdown on a corner route to the back right of the endzone in the first quarter. Put the Broncos up 17-10 with under 10 minutes to play with a 64-yard catch down the sideline. It was his third game this season with 10+ catches and 100+ yards receiving.
MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Dillon Thomas, NIU, Rover (LB)
R-Junior, Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill South)
Dillon Thomas made a number of key plays for the Huskie defense as NIU held Eastern Michigan to just 38 rushing yards on 24 carries for the game. Thomas tipped EMU quarterback Ben Bryant's pass that was then intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Jaden Dolphin. Thomas accounted for two of the Huskies' five sacks in the game. The first came on 3rd and 4 in the first quarter and forced an EMU punt; then in the fourth quarter, with NIU leading 24-17, Thomas sacked Ben Bryant for an eight yard loss to put the Eagles in a 3rd and 16 down on the NIU 44 which they were not able to convert.
MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Justin Hall, Ball State, WR
Redshirt 5th Year, Douglasville, Ga. (Alexander)
Fifth-year WR Justin Hall returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown on a 99-yard scamper. It was his first career return of a touchdown and first time a Cardinal and taken it to the house since Malik Dunner at Western Michigan (Nov. 5, 2019, 100 yards). It was the fifth-longest play in program history, trailing only four 100-yard kickoff returns. With the touchdown, Army trailed for the first time all season and Ball State maintained that lead for the duration of the game.