#UACFOOTBALL -- While Week 8 had a limited number of games, it was not short on high caliber performances with several career best outings earning United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football Player of the Week honors from the league office on Monday. Abilene Christian picked up a pair of honorees as Blayne Taylor (Offense) and Izaiah Kelley (Defense) were key contributors towards the Wildcats win. Austin Peay kicker Carson Smith (Specialist) contributed over half of the Govs scoring output, while EKU's Marcus Calwise Jr. (Freshman) nabbed his first points of the season.
A redshirt-senior wideout, Taylor hauled down 10 catches for a career-high 154 yards along with a pair of touchdowns in the Wildcat victory. It marked the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his ACU career and pushed his season total for receiving yards over 500.
Kelley, a senior defensive back, posted nine tackles and snared two interceptions for ACU. His first pick happened in the endzone, while the second INT gave the Wildcats the ball back allowing them to kneel the clock out. The game was Kelley's return to the starting lineup for the first time since week two of the season.
A redshirt-junior kicker, Smith scored seven of Austin Peay's 13 points in their win at Utah Tech. Smith hit a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter before connecting on a career-long 51-yard field goal with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter. His long range blast is also tied for fifth-longest in Austin Peay history. In addition to the field goals, Smith kicked off four times and recorded a touchback on all four kickoff attempts.
A true freshman wideout for the Colonels, Calwise Jr., had a breakout game recording a career-high seven receptions on seven targets for 84 receiving yards. Additionally, he collected his first touchdown as a collegiate student-athlete on a tight rope catch in the end zone.
| DATE |
OFFENSIVE |
DEFENSIVE |
SPECIALIST |
FRESHMAN |
| Aug. 26 |
Kayvon Britten
(Tarleton State) |
Kasyus Kurns (Tarleton State)
Gregory Reddick (North Alabama) |
Adrian Guzman
(Tarleton State) |
Jalen Fletcher
(North Alabama) |
| Sept. 2 |
Maverick McIvor
(Abilene Christian) |
David Walker (Central Arkansas)
Micah Thurman (West Georgia) |
Andy Day
(Utah Tech) |
Fred Vili
(North Alabama) |
| Sept. 9 |
Targhee Lambson
(Southern Utah) |
Jaden Lyles
(Austin Peay) |
Danny King
(Southern Utah) |
Josh Anglin
(North Alabama) |
| Sept. 16 |
ShunDerrick Powell
(Central Arkansas) |
Kaghen Roach
(Abilene Christian) |
Ritse Vaes
(Abilene Christian) |
Josh Anglin
(North Alabama) |
| Sept. 23 |
Kayvon Britten
(Tarleton State) |
TaMuarion Wilson
(Central Arkansas) |
Romon Copeland Jr.
(Austin Peay) |
Corey Richardson
(Austin Peay) |
| Sept 30 |
Sam Hicks
(Abilene Christian) |
Ty Rawls
(Tarleton State) |
Scott Payne
(North Alabama) |
Jayden Robertson
(Southen Utah) |
| Oct. 7 |
Nehemiah Martinez
(Abilene Christian) |
George Ramirez
(Southern Utah) |
Dominik Stadlman
(Austin Peay) |
Jalen Fletcher
(North Alabama) |
| Oct. 14 |
TJ Smith
(North Alabama) |
Dillon Williams (Central Arkansas)
Gregory Reddick (North Alabama) |
Patrick Nations
(EKU) |
Jalen Fletcher
(North Alabama) |
| Oct. 21 |
Blayne Taylor
(Abilene Christian) |
Izaiah Kelley
(Abilene Christian) |
Carson Smith
(Austin Peay) |
Marcus Calwise Jr.
(EKU) |
Other Nominees
Offensive:
Romon Copeland Jr. (APSU); Dequan Stanley (EKU); Quincy Casey (UWG)
Defensive:
Dion Hunter (APSU); Jaheim Ward (EKU); Jayden Sheridan (UT); Preston Puni (UWG)
Specialist:
Andy Day (UT); Reilly Mason (UWG)
Freshman:
Stephen Ellison II (APSU)