TicketSmarter WAC Football Players Of The Week Announced
ARLINGTON, Texas – Utah Tech’s Victor Gabalis and Malaki Malaki and Stephen F. Austin’s Xavier Gipson have been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Football Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, for the game week ending on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Gabalis, a redshirt freshman quarterback, enjoyed a career day for Utah Tech in an action-packed 47-44 win at No. 19 Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 29. Gabalis completed 23-of-35 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns for the Trailblazers against the Lumberjacks, with the touchdown total equaling a school record. Gabalis tossed three of his touchdowns during the second half, including a 14-yard pitch and catch with Joey Hobert for the winning score with 47 seconds remaining.
Malaki, a senior linebacker, made 11 total tackles (nine solo) to lead the Utah Tech defense to victory at SFA. Malaki forced a fumble on the first SFA offensive play from scrimmage to set up a Utah Tech touchdown and forced a second fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter deep in Trailblazer territory to stop a potential Lumberjack scoring drive.
Gipson, a senior wide receiver and punt returner, enjoyed another impact game for SFA in a hard-luck defeat at the hands of Utah Tech on Oct. 29. Gipson registered 270 all-purpose yards on 11 total touches, which included 119 yards on three punt returns. Gipson scored his second punt return touchdown of the season after bringing a Utah Tech punt back 85 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.
2022 TicketSmarter WAC Football Weekly Awards
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Victor Gabalis, R-Fr., QB, Utah Tech (Oct. 31)
Xavier Gipson, Sr., WR, Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 24)
Miles Reed, Sr., RB, Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 17)
Jermiah Dobbins, So., RB, Abilene Christian (Oct. 10)
Jermiah Dobbins, So., RB, Abilene Christian (Oct. 3)
Beau Allen, R-Fr., QB, Tarleton (Sept. 26)
Zach Hrbacek, R-Fr., RB, Sam Houston (Sept. 19)
Quali Conley, So., RB, Utah Tech (Sept. 12)
Justin Miller, R-Jr., QB, Southern Utah (Sept. 5)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Malaki Malaki, Sr., LB, Utah Tech (Oct. 31)
Kavian Gaither, So., LB, Sam Houston (Oct. 24)
Jaylen Phillips, So., LB, Sam Houston (Oct. 17)
Donovan Banks, Sr. DB, Tarleton (Oct. 10)
Myles Heard, Sr., S, Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 3)
Rodrick Ward, R-Jr., S, Southern Utah (Sept. 26)
Zach Strand, Sr., DL, Southern Utah (Sept. 19)
Tyrin Bradley, So., DL, Abilene Christian (Sept. 12)
Myles Heard, Sr., S, Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 5)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Xavier Gipson, Sr., WR/PR, Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 31)
Seth Morgan, So., K, Sam Houston (Oct. 24)
Seth Morgan, So., K, Sam Houston (Oct. 17)
Chris Campos, So., K, Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 10)
Donovan Adkins, So., DB, Sam Houston (Oct. 3)
Adrian Guzman, So., K, Tarleton (Sept. 26)
Seth Morgan, So., K, Sam Houston (Sept. 19)
Adrian Guzman, So., K, Tarleton (Sept. 12)
Jake Gerardi, R-Sr., P/K, Southern Utah (Sept. 5)
- WAC -