• OVC Football Players of the Week – October 7 (PDF)
OFFENSIVE
D.J. Penick, RB • 5-10, 187, So. • Highland Park, Ill. • Murray State
Penick carried the ball 22 times for a career-high 180 yards (8.2 ypc) and three touchdowns (including the game-winner with 26 seconds left) as Murray State won 48-41 at Eastern Illinois. With the win the Racers improved to 2-0 in OVC play for the first time since 2013 and for only the second time since 1997. The 180 rushing yards are the most by a Murray State player since 2011 and the fourth-most by an OVC running back this season. He is one of five OVC players to rush for three of more scores in a game this season. Penick's game-winning score came on a two-yard run with 26 seconds left and capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive by the Racers. The sophomore also scored on a run of 1-yard in the second quarter and a run of 7-yards in the third quarter. Penick ranks third in the OVC in rushing (75.2 yards/game).
Others Nominated: Jeremiah Oatsvall, Austin Peay; Jamal Scott, Eastern Illinois; Zion Webb, Jacksonville State; Daniel Santacaterina, Southeast Missouri; Chris Rowland, Tennessee State.
DEFENSIVE
Nate Howard, DE • 6-4, 240, Sr. • St. Louis, Mo. • Austin Peay
Howard had five tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, a sack, forced and recovered a fumble and added a pass breakup in Austin Peay's 49-34 win over Tennessee State. Howard recovered a fumble in the third quarter that led to a Austin Peay touchdown on the next play, giving the Govs an 18-point lead. After TSU had pulled to within eight points in the fourth quarter, Howard had a strip sack to force a fumble that the Govs turned into a touchdown three plays later to cap the scoring.
Others Nominated: Connor Christian, Jacksonville State; Kenny Wooten, Murray State.
SPECIALIST
Nick Madonia, K • 5-10, 185, Sr. • Arrington, Tenn. • Tennessee Tech
Madonia connected on his third 50-plus yard field goal of the season in hitting from 52 yards in Tennessee Tech's game against Southeast Missouri. The senior also was 5-of-5 on PATs, increasing his streak to 59 in a row, which tied the TTU record. Madonia currently has the three longest field goals in the FCS this season (54, 53, and 52 yards). The senior is 10-of-13 on the season with his misses coming from 42, 47 and 53 yards. Madonia ranks eighth nationally in field goals made/game (1.67) and 31st in field goal percentage (76.9%).
Others Nominated: Nick Bruno, Eastern Illinois; Jason Pierce, Jacksonville State; Nicholas Litang, Southeast Missouri; Antonio Zita, Tennessee State.
NEWCOMER
Daniel Santacaterina, QB • 6-1, 210, Jr. • Geneva, Ill. • Southeast Missouri
Santacaterina, the transfer from Northern Illinois; completed 20-of-27 passes for 395 yards and fourth touchdowns in leading Southeast Missouri to a record-breaking performance in a 70-38 win over Tennessee Tech. The 70 points were the most-ever scored by the Redhawks against a Division I opponent while the team set a school record for total yards (692). The 395 passing yards were the third-most ever by a Southeast quarterback. The junior did not throw an interception (and throwing for four the previous game) and was not sacked. Santacaterina had six completions of over 20 yards and had touchdown passes of 6, 10, 60 and 69 yards. He currently ranks 16th nationally in passing touchdowns (11), 22nd in passing efficiency (150.7) and 30th in points responsible for (14.4/game).
Others Nominated: Austin Maloata, Austin Peay; Johnathan Brantley, Eastern Illinois; Zion Webb, Jacksonville State; Drew Anderson, Murray State; Demry Croft, Tennessee State; David Gist, Tennessee Tech.