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OVC Football Players of the Week – October 9 (PDF)
CO-OFFENSIVE
Devin Church, RB • 5-8, 195, Sr. • Detroit, Mich. • Eastern Illinois
Church accounted for three touchdowns while rushing for a game-high 94 yards and catching seven passes for 37 yards as No. 19 Eastern Illinois came from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 25 Tennessee State 35-34. He started his scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to put the Panthers ahead 14-0. He added a two-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and then scored the game-winning touchdown with nine minutes to play on a four-yard pass from Mitch Kimble. On the ground the senior rushed 20 times (4.7 ypc). Church currently ranks second in the OVC in rushing (79.2 yards/game) and third in receiving touchdowns (4) while averaging 103.7 all-purpose yards/game.
CO-OFFENSIVE
Devin Borders, WR • 6-6, 217, Sr. • Fort Walton Beach, Fla. • Eastern Kentucky
Borders caught seven passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns as Eastern Kentucky topped Southeast Missouri 31-16. Borders caught a seven-yard touchdown, made behind the back of a defender, in the first quarter to put his team ahead 7-6, a lead it would never relinquish. In the third quarter he added a 56-yard touchdown, leaping to make the grab at the 19-yard line and then eluding a defender to score. He capped the game with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Bennie Coney in the fourth quarter. His three-touchdown performance is tied for fifth among FCS receivers this season.
Others Nominated: Kendall Morris, Austin Peay; Josh Clemons, Jacksonville State; Patrick Smith, Tennessee State; Ben Axline, UT Martin.
CO-DEFENSIVE
David Johnson, DE • 6-1, 250, Jr. • Lithonia, Ga. • Eastern Illinois
Johnson had nine tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and quarterback hurry as No. 19 Eastern Illinois came from behind in the fourth quarter to top No. 25 Tennessee State 35-34. In his three games this season Johnson has averaged 7.0 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks/game.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Roper Garrett, LB • 6-1, 235, Sr. • Farmington, Mo • Southeast Missouri
Garrett had a game-high 12 tackles in Southeast Missouri’s road loss to Eastern Kentucky. The senior also added a tackle-for-loss and intercepted a pass that he returned 22 yards. It marked Garrett’s first double-digit tackle game of the season and 13th of his career. In the process he moved into seventh place on Southeast Missouri’s all-time tackles list (319); that ranks him seventh among all active FCS players nationally.
Others Nominated: Gunnar Scholato, Austin Peay; Kiante Northington, Eastern Kentucky; Siran Neal, Jacksonville State; Chris Collins, Tennessee State; Tim Collins, Tennessee Tech; Justin Jackson, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Ryan McCrum, K • 6-0, 228, Sr. • St. Charles, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
McCrum connected on field goals of 50, 30 and 22 yards and made his only extra point attempt in Southeast Missouri’s road loss at Eastern Kentucky. McCrum went over 200 career points (200) and now has nine made field goals this season (tops in the OVC); he has also made 41 consecutive PATs. McCrum currently ranks seventh nationally in field goals made (1.5/game).
Others Nominated: Nick Gauna, Austin Peay; Korliss Marshall, Eastern Illinois; Lucas Williams, Eastern Kentucky; Lane Clark, Tennessee State.
CO-NEWCOMER
Marlon Bridges, S • 6-1, 210, R-Fr. • Lanett, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Bridges had four tackles, intercepted a pass and forced a fumble as No. 3 Jacksonville State topped Tennessee Tech 40-21 for its 18th consecutive OVC victory. His interception came in the final minute of the first half and allowed the Gamecocks offense to add a field goal before the intermission, while his forced fumble came late in the third quarter and led to a JSU touchdown pass on the next play. He helped key a defense that held its fourth-straight non-FBS opponent to under 100 yards rushing (TTU gained 62 yards on 27 carries). Overall the JSU defense is ranked fourth nationally in total defense (270.2 yards/game).
CO-NEWCOMER
Steven Newbold, WR • 5-11, 170, Fr. • Carol City, Fla. • Tennessee State
Newbold caught four passes for 121 yards and a touchdown as No. 25 Tennessee State came up just short in a 35-34 loss at No. 19 Eastern Illinois. The true freshman caught passes of 14, 28, 35 and 44 yards with the 44-yarder going for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give his team a six-point advantage. Newbold currently ranks third nationally in yards per reception (24.11) and has 19 total catches for 458 yards and three touchdowns in five games this season.
Others Nominated: Jaison Williams, Austin Peay; David Johnson, Eastern Illinois; Cameron Fogle, Eastern Kentucky; Jesse Hosket, Southeast Missouri.