Dustin Crum, Kent State, QB
Grad, Grafton, Ohio (Midview)
Dustin Crum had a career night in the 48-38 prime time win over Buffalo. He became the first Golden Flash to throw for 400 yards since Jose Davis in 1997, completing 22 passes for 407 yards and three scores (all to Dante Cephas). He added 72 more yards on the ground and 2 more touchdowns, giving him 479 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns in the victory.
MAC Football East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Tyson Durant, Akron, CB
Freshman, Copley, Ohio
University of Akron freshman CB Tyson Durant turned in a career game to help spark the Zips to a come-from-behind 35-20 victory at Bowling Green. Durant finished the contest with a career-high four tackles, including three solo stops and recorded his first career sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. With the Falcons up 13-7 in the second quarter and driving at the Akron 24-yard line, Durant intercepted the Matt McDonald pass at the 12-yard line and returned the ball 17 yards to thwart the scoring drive and allow the Zips to enter the intermission down only six, 13-7. In the fourth quarter he garnered his first career sack, a 10-yard loss that resulted in a forced fumble and Durant fumble recovery.
MAC Football East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Graham Nicholson, Miami, Kicker
Freshman, Cincinnati, Ohio
Nicholson was 4-of-5 on field goal attempts last Saturday in a 13-12 loss at Eastern Michigan. The freshman opened the day with a career-long 49-yard field goal and added kicks from 40, 31 and 44 yards. Nicholson added three touchbacks on five attempts as well.
MAC Football West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Drew Plitt, Ball State, QB
R-5th, Loveland, Ohio (Loveland HS)
Fifth-year QB Drew Plitt threw for a season-high 310 yards, completing 15 of his 25 passes, including a season-high four touchdowns. Saturday's game marked Plitt’s six 300-yard passing game during MAC play in his career. His 310 yards are the fourth-most he’s thrown in a MAC game as Ball State’s signal caller. Plitt entered the game with four passing touchdowns on the year and doubled his season output at Western Michigan. In four career games vs. the Broncos, Plitt is 72-of-106 for 965 yards, in addition to 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions, both of which game in 2018 in his second career start under center.
MAC Football West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Bryce Cosby, Ball State, S
5th, Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual HS)
Fifth-year S Bryce Cosby registered a game-high 10 tackles (all solo), 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. In five career games against Western Michigan, Cosby has recorded 53 tackles (35 solo), 5.0 TFL and four PBU. Cosby led the Cardinals defense that induced four Western Michigan turnovers. The Broncos had just two turnovers on the season heading into the game. It was Cosby's eighth double-digit tackle output of his career and the second of 2021.
MAC Football West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
John Richardson, NIU, Kicker
Sophomore, Orland Park, Ill. (Brother Rice)
Sophomore John Richardson kicked five field goals, the last a 29-yarder with 26 seconds on the clock to give NIU a 22-20 win over Toledo Saturday at the Glass Bowl. Richardson tied the NIU school record for field goals in a game with his five three-pointers – of 43, 26, 43, 47 and 29 yards. His five threes tied the record held by Vince Scott (vs. Ohio, 11-6-82) and Chris Nendick (vs. Temple, 10-21-06). His 47-yard field goal was his longest of the year and he is now 11-of-12 on field goals this season. He accounted for all but six of the Huskies’ point on the day with 16 total and also kicked off seven times for a 64.0 yard average with five touchbacks.