TicketSmarter WAC Football Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Tarleton's J.F. Thomas, Abilene Christian's Hunter Kier and Tarleton's Adrian Guzman have been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for October 11 through October 17.
Thomas, a senior wide receiver from Dallas, scored on the Texans' first drive of the game, bringing in two catches for 64 yards including a 30-yard touchdown, to set the pace in Tarleton's 41-20 win at Dixie State. He finished the contest with six catches for 169 yards to record his first 100-yard receiving game in over two years. On the season, he ranks fifth in the WAC in receiving yards at 57.0 per game and he is one of 13 receivers across the league with multiple touchdowns this season.
Kier, a redshirt senior linebacker from Washington, Kan., was a presence on defense all game long, finishing with 10 tackles in the Wildcats' 24-17 win over Lamar on Saturday. Of those double-digit tackles, two were behind the line of scrimmage for a cumulative loss of 12 yards. On the season, the linebacker is fourth in the WAC in total tackles with 41.0, averaging 5.9 per game.
Guzman, a freshman kicker from Temple, Texas, made a pair of 37-yard field goals and was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points in the Texans' 41-20 win at Dixie State on Saturday night. The two made field goals give him seven on the season, ranking second in the WAC this season. He is also 22-of-23 on extra points for the 3-3 Texans.
Other offensive nominees: Abilene Christian's Peyton Mansell was 10-of-18 passing for 135 yards and also added 106 yards and two touchdowns on 18 rushing attempts in ACU's 24-17 win over Lamar … Dixie State's Drew Kannely-Robles finished with a career-high 81 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns in a 41-20 loss to Tarleton … Lamar's Mike Chandler made his first career start and nearly led the Cardinals to a win at Abilene Christian, going 9-for-17 with 206 passing yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 loss to the Wildcats.
Other defensive nominees: Lamar's Tylo Phillips finished with four tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, in the Cardinals' 24-17 loss at Abilene Christian … Tarleton's Benjie Franklin picked off his first interception of the season, stopping a Dixie State drive in the endzone and adding five solo tackles and a pass breakup in the Texans' 41-20 win
Other special teams nominees: Abilene Christian's Logan Burke averaged 42.0 yards per punt on four kicks, recording one touchback in the Wildcats' win over Lamar … Dixie State's Andrew Day punted the ball six times, averaging 41.7 yards per punt with one inside the 20, one touchback and four fair catches … Lamar's Bailey Giffen booted a career-long 54-yard field goal late in the first half and was 2-for-2 on extra points as the Cardinals fell in a tight one at Abilene Christian, 24-17.