adidas? OVC Football Players of the Week - Nov. 20

adidas? OVC Football Players of the Week - Nov. 20

CO-OFFENSIVE
Casey Brockman, QB • Jr., 6-2, 225 • Murray, Ky. • Murray State
Brockman passed, rushed and caught a touchdown pass all in the first half of Murray State's 35-34 victory over Southeast Missouri in the team's season finale. The Walter Payton Award candidate finished the day 31-of-44 for 222 yards and two passing touchdown, rushed 11 times for 77 yards and a 10-yard score and caught a six-yard touchdown pass. Brockman, who earned his second OVC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season, finished the year with 3,276 passing yards, the second-most in OVC single-season history, while his 316 completions established a new OVC record. Brockman ranks sixth nationally in total offense (315.45 yards/game) and points responsible for (16.91 points/game).

CO-OFFENSIVE
Dontey Gay, RB • Sr., 5-9, 205 • Lexington, Ky. • Tennessee Tech
Gay earned his second OVC Offensive Player of the Week honor of the season after rushing for 192 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee Tech's 49-7 victory over Austin Peay. The victory helped Tennessee Tech clinch its 10th OVC Championship (and first since 1975) and earn the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Championship (the team's first-ever playoff appearance). Gay carried the ball 25 times and averaged 7.7 yards/carry. The 192 yards was the 11th-best single-game performance in Golden Eagle history. In the process he broke the 1,000-yard plateau for the season (1,009), becoming just the seventh player in Tech history to reach that achievement. His 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was his 15th rushing touchdown of the season, which established a new TTU single-season record. Gay currently ranks eighth nationally in scoring (9.0 points/game) and his 90 points this season has tied the Tennessee Tech single-season record.

Others Nominated: Matt Denham, Eastern Kentucky; Coty Blanchard, Jacksonville State; Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri; Michael German, Tennessee State.

DEFENSIVE
Richmond Tooley, CB • Sr., 5-11, 185 • Memphis, Tenn. • Tennessee Tech
With the OVC Championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Championship on the line, Tooley helped key a Tennessee Tech defense that limited Austin Peay to 255 total yards in a 49-7 victory. Tooley had eight tackles, an interception, a 19-yard fumble recovery and return for a touchdown and a pass breakup in the game. Tooley's touchdown came in a key third quarter stretch where the Golden Eagles scored three touchdowns in less than four minutes, turning a 21-7 lead into a 42-7 advantage. His interception came earlier in the third quarter, ending an Austin Peay drive near midfield and leading to a TTU touchdown that put the team up 28-7 just five plays later.

Others Nominated: Kevin Hamlin, Eastern Kentucky; Pierre Warren, Jacksonville State; Kevin Robinson, Murray State; Blake Peiffer, Southeast Missouri; Daniel Fitzpatrick, Tennessee State.

SPECIALIST
James Esco, K • Jr., 6-2, 175 • Leesburg, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Esco made a 42-yard field goal (matching his season-long) and added five extra points in Jacksonville State's 38-16 victory over Tennessee State on Saturday. With the victory the Gamecocks earned a share of the OVC Championship, the team's third title and first since the 2004 season. His field goal came with 1:23 remaining before halftime and gave JSU a 17-10 advantage.

Others Nominated: Matt Moseley, Tennessee State; Zach Sharp, Tennessee Tech.

NEWCOMER
Kevin Hamlin, LB • Jr., 6-4, 200 • Jupiter, Fla. • Eastern Kentucky
Hamlin had three tackles and two interceptions in Eastern Kentucky's 23-16 victory over UT Martin on Saturday. With the win the Colonels gained a share of its record 21st OVC Championship (the most conference titles all-time by any school at the FCS level) and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Championship. His first interception came late in the first half, ending a 17-play Skyhawk drive at the Colonel 7-yard line; he returned that pick 49 yards into UTM territory. His second interception came in the fourth quarter and was one of three fourth quarter turnovers forced by the Colonel defense. Hamlin currently ranks 23rd nationally in interceptions (0.36/game, 4 total). Overall the EKU defense has forced at least three turnovers in six-straight games.

Others Nominated: Pierre Warren, Jacksonville State; Kevin Robinson, Murray State; Spencer Davis, Southeast Missouri; Michael German, Tennessee State; Austin Tallant, Tennessee Tech; Ben Johnson, UT Martin.