DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern Conference Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced the Corvias ECAC Football Players of the Week for the week ending Sept. 6.
DIVISION I
Offensive Player of the Week
Jahad Thomas – Temple University, So., Running Back, Elizabeth, N.J.
Thomas was instrumental in helping the Owls post their first win over Penn State since 1941. He totaled a game-high 135 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, and helped secure the win for Temple when he found the end zone early in the fourth quarter.
Defensive Player of the Week
Karl Joseph – West Virginia University, Sr., Safety, Orlando, Fla.
Joseph was a standout for a staunch Mountaineers defense this past weekend, accounting for four turnovers and a game-high eight tackles. The senior recorded three interceptions in the third quarter, and also recovered a fumble as West Virginia rolled to a 44-0 win over Georgia Southern.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Alex Starzyk – Temple University, So., Punter, Pleasant Valley, N.Y.
Starzyk punted seven times for Temple against Penn State this week, averaging 46.9 yards per kick and pinning the Nittany Lions inside the 20-yard line on two occasions. His efforts helped the Owls overturn an early 10-point deficit in their first win over Penn State since 1941.
Rookie of the Week
Jordan Fredericks – Syracuse University, Fr., Running Back, Inwood, N.Y.
In his first-career game, Fredericks paced the Syracuse ground game with game-high 103 yards on 14 carries, including a touchdown to help the Orange record a 47-0 triumph over the University of Rhode Island.
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION
Offensive Player of the Week
Chase Edmonds – Fordham University, So., Running Back, Harrisburg, Pa.
Edmonds totaled 266 total yards to help the Rams edge past Army West Point, 37-35, this week. The sophomore posted a team-best 126 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and also pulled in six receptions for a game-high 140 yards in the winning effort.
Defensive Player of the Week
Colton Caslow – Lehigh University, Jr., Linebacker, Altarmonte Springs, Fla.
Caslow notched a career-high 17 tackles in the Mountain Hawks’ 20-14 win at Central Connecticut State University. His nine tackles in the second half helped Lehigh hold CCSU to just 274 total yards of offense on the day.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Connor Fitzgerald – College of the Holy Cross, Sr., Kicker/Punter, Bloomington, Ind.
Fitzgerald accounted for nine points for the Crusaders on Saturday, connecting on 22- and 44-yard field goals and three extra-point tries in a 27-19 win at Monmouth University, with both field goals coming in the fourth quarter. He also punted six times, pinning Monmouth inside its own 20-yard line on four occasions.
Rookie of the Week
Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks – University at Albany, Running Back, Newark, N.J.
Ibitokun-Hanks led the Great Danes with 74 rushing yards against the University at Buffalo on Saturday, and notched his first-career touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 51-14 loss to the Bulls.
DIVISION II
Offensive Player of the Week
Stephen Scott – Lincoln University, Jr., Running Back, Baltimore, Md.
Scott netted a game-high 179 yards rushing to help the Lions post a 29-22 road win over Cheyney University. The junior scrambled for three touchdowns on the day, including a 77-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to help Lincoln jump out to an early 17-0 lead.
Defensive Player of the Week
Tevin Stewart – Mercyhurst University, R-Sr., Defensive Back, Duval, Fla.
Stewart played a crucial role in the Lakers’ 35-20 win over Bentley University, hauling in two crucial interceptions in the red zone to go along with five solo tackles. The redshirt senior saved his biggest play for late in the game, returning one of the interceptions 90 yards for a touchdown to quash Bentley’s comeback bid.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Matt Klingler – Lindenwood University, Sr., Punter, St. Louis, Mo.
Klingler averaged 52.3 yards per punt on six attempts against Washburn University, including a 67-yard boot that was downed at the Washburn four-yard line. His efforts helped Lindenwood hold Washburn to 14 points in a season-opening win.
Rookie of the Week
Ben Jackson – Lindenwood University, R-Fr., Cornerback, Hoover, Fla.
In his first collegiate game, Jackson recorded eight tackles and two tackles for loss. His biggest contribution came on special teams as he notched a tackle for an 11-yard loss on a fake field goal attempt by Washburn in the game’s final two minutes.
DIVISION III North
Offensive Player of the Week
Soren Pelz-Walsh – Castleton University, Jr., Wide Receiver, Dummerston, Vt.
Pelz-Walsh reeled in eight catches for a career-high 154 yards and one touchdown against Plymouth State University on Saturday, including six receptions for first downs. His touchdown proved to be the game’s final score as the Spartans earned a 21-10 win.
Defensive Player of the Week
Danny Ives – Salve Regina University, Sr., Linebacker, Madison, Conn.
Ives led all players with 15 tackles as Salve Regina thrice rallied from deficits en route to a 41-28 win over Worcester State University. Ives had 12 solo stops among his tally, including an assisted tackle for loss.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Blaine Bursey – Worcester Ploytechnic Institute, Jr., Kicker, Middleburg, Fla.
Bursey connected on four extra-point attempts, and also drilled what proved to be the game-winning field goal when he split the uprights from 26 yards out in the fourth quarter. His efforts helped WPI begin the year with a 31-28 triumph.
Rookie of the Week
Tynard Barfield – Hobart College, Fr., Running Back, Baltimore, Md.
Barfield made the most of his five touches in his collegiate debut, as he compiled 50 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Statesmen’s 29-7 win over Dickinson College.
DIVISION III South Region
Offensive Player of the Week
Lucas Morley – Catholic University of America, Jr., Wide Receiver, Olney, Md.
Morley was dominant in the Cardinals’ 34-33 win at McDaniel College, setting career highs in catches (13), receiving yards (210) and touchdowns (4). Morley keyed CUA’s fourth-quarter comeback, with three of his scores coming in the game’s final frame. His biggest play of the day came in the contest’s final moments, as Morley hauled in the game-winning touchdown with just 13 seconds remaining.
Defensive Player of the Week
Brady Kempa – Stevenson University, Sr., Inside Linebacker, Westminster, Md.
Kempa recorded two interceptions and nine tackles in his first-career start to lead the Mustangs to a 20-9 road win over North Carolina Wesleyan.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Isaac Robinson – Frostburg State University, Jr., Kicker, Elkton, Md.
Robinson finished a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points, and also notched field goals of 33 and 37 yards as the Bobcats defeated Geneva College, 52-21, to open their season. He also averaged 51.6 yards per kickoff on eight attempts.
Rookie of the Week
James Waldron – William Paterson University, So., Quarterback, Edison, N.J.
Coming in off the bench, Waldron completed 13-of-20 pass attempts for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns to spark a come-from-behind victory for the Pioneers over Alfred State University.
DIVISION I
Offensive Player of the Week
Jahad Thomas – Temple University, So., Running Back, Elizabeth, N.J.
Thomas was instrumental in helping the Owls post their first win over Penn State since 1941. He totaled a game-high 135 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, and helped secure the win for Temple when he found the end zone early in the fourth quarter.
Defensive Player of the Week
Karl Joseph – West Virginia University, Sr., Safety, Orlando, Fla.
Joseph was a standout for a staunch Mountaineers defense this past weekend, accounting for four turnovers and a game-high eight tackles. The senior recorded three interceptions in the third quarter, and also recovered a fumble as West Virginia rolled to a 44-0 win over Georgia Southern.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Alex Starzyk – Temple University, So., Punter, Pleasant Valley, N.Y.
Starzyk punted seven times for Temple against Penn State this week, averaging 46.9 yards per kick and pinning the Nittany Lions inside the 20-yard line on two occasions. His efforts helped the Owls overturn an early 10-point deficit in their first win over Penn State since 1941.
Rookie of the Week
Jordan Fredericks – Syracuse University, Fr., Running Back, Inwood, N.Y.
In his first-career game, Fredericks paced the Syracuse ground game with game-high 103 yards on 14 carries, including a touchdown to help the Orange record a 47-0 triumph over the University of Rhode Island.
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION
Offensive Player of the Week
Chase Edmonds – Fordham University, So., Running Back, Harrisburg, Pa.
Edmonds totaled 266 total yards to help the Rams edge past Army West Point, 37-35, this week. The sophomore posted a team-best 126 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and also pulled in six receptions for a game-high 140 yards in the winning effort.
Defensive Player of the Week
Colton Caslow – Lehigh University, Jr., Linebacker, Altarmonte Springs, Fla.
Caslow notched a career-high 17 tackles in the Mountain Hawks’ 20-14 win at Central Connecticut State University. His nine tackles in the second half helped Lehigh hold CCSU to just 274 total yards of offense on the day.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Connor Fitzgerald – College of the Holy Cross, Sr., Kicker/Punter, Bloomington, Ind.
Fitzgerald accounted for nine points for the Crusaders on Saturday, connecting on 22- and 44-yard field goals and three extra-point tries in a 27-19 win at Monmouth University, with both field goals coming in the fourth quarter. He also punted six times, pinning Monmouth inside its own 20-yard line on four occasions.
Rookie of the Week
Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks – University at Albany, Running Back, Newark, N.J.
Ibitokun-Hanks led the Great Danes with 74 rushing yards against the University at Buffalo on Saturday, and notched his first-career touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 51-14 loss to the Bulls.
DIVISION II
Offensive Player of the Week
Stephen Scott – Lincoln University, Jr., Running Back, Baltimore, Md.
Scott netted a game-high 179 yards rushing to help the Lions post a 29-22 road win over Cheyney University. The junior scrambled for three touchdowns on the day, including a 77-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to help Lincoln jump out to an early 17-0 lead.
Defensive Player of the Week
Tevin Stewart – Mercyhurst University, R-Sr., Defensive Back, Duval, Fla.
Stewart played a crucial role in the Lakers’ 35-20 win over Bentley University, hauling in two crucial interceptions in the red zone to go along with five solo tackles. The redshirt senior saved his biggest play for late in the game, returning one of the interceptions 90 yards for a touchdown to quash Bentley’s comeback bid.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Matt Klingler – Lindenwood University, Sr., Punter, St. Louis, Mo.
Klingler averaged 52.3 yards per punt on six attempts against Washburn University, including a 67-yard boot that was downed at the Washburn four-yard line. His efforts helped Lindenwood hold Washburn to 14 points in a season-opening win.
Rookie of the Week
Ben Jackson – Lindenwood University, R-Fr., Cornerback, Hoover, Fla.
In his first collegiate game, Jackson recorded eight tackles and two tackles for loss. His biggest contribution came on special teams as he notched a tackle for an 11-yard loss on a fake field goal attempt by Washburn in the game’s final two minutes.
DIVISION III North
Offensive Player of the Week
Soren Pelz-Walsh – Castleton University, Jr., Wide Receiver, Dummerston, Vt.
Pelz-Walsh reeled in eight catches for a career-high 154 yards and one touchdown against Plymouth State University on Saturday, including six receptions for first downs. His touchdown proved to be the game’s final score as the Spartans earned a 21-10 win.
Defensive Player of the Week
Danny Ives – Salve Regina University, Sr., Linebacker, Madison, Conn.
Ives led all players with 15 tackles as Salve Regina thrice rallied from deficits en route to a 41-28 win over Worcester State University. Ives had 12 solo stops among his tally, including an assisted tackle for loss.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Blaine Bursey – Worcester Ploytechnic Institute, Jr., Kicker, Middleburg, Fla.
Bursey connected on four extra-point attempts, and also drilled what proved to be the game-winning field goal when he split the uprights from 26 yards out in the fourth quarter. His efforts helped WPI begin the year with a 31-28 triumph.
Rookie of the Week
Tynard Barfield – Hobart College, Fr., Running Back, Baltimore, Md.
Barfield made the most of his five touches in his collegiate debut, as he compiled 50 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Statesmen’s 29-7 win over Dickinson College.
DIVISION III South Region
Offensive Player of the Week
Lucas Morley – Catholic University of America, Jr., Wide Receiver, Olney, Md.
Morley was dominant in the Cardinals’ 34-33 win at McDaniel College, setting career highs in catches (13), receiving yards (210) and touchdowns (4). Morley keyed CUA’s fourth-quarter comeback, with three of his scores coming in the game’s final frame. His biggest play of the day came in the contest’s final moments, as Morley hauled in the game-winning touchdown with just 13 seconds remaining.
Defensive Player of the Week
Brady Kempa – Stevenson University, Sr., Inside Linebacker, Westminster, Md.
Kempa recorded two interceptions and nine tackles in his first-career start to lead the Mustangs to a 20-9 road win over North Carolina Wesleyan.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Isaac Robinson – Frostburg State University, Jr., Kicker, Elkton, Md.
Robinson finished a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points, and also notched field goals of 33 and 37 yards as the Bobcats defeated Geneva College, 52-21, to open their season. He also averaged 51.6 yards per kickoff on eight attempts.
Rookie of the Week
James Waldron – William Paterson University, So., Quarterback, Edison, N.J.
Coming in off the bench, Waldron completed 13-of-20 pass attempts for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns to spark a come-from-behind victory for the Pioneers over Alfred State University.