#UACFOOTBALL -- With every game decided by a single score this past Saturday, United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football Player of the Week honorees were all key factors in thrilling contests. Conference champion Abilene Christian saw Sam Hicks (Offensive) and Will Shaffer (Defensive) garner recognitions joined by Southern Utah's Jayden Rogers (Specialist) as well as freshman standouts Caleb Koger (Central Arkansas) and Marcus Calewise Jr. (EKU).
Hicks, a redshirt-senior running back, tallied 137 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown in the Wildcats championship victory. He also collected seven catches for 38 yards and the game-winning touchdown with 0:19 remaining. Injuries forced Hicks to turn in an ironman performance touching the ball 31 times (including 1 kick-off return). His first TD, a 12-yard rush, came with 9:25 to go in the 4th quarter and allowed ACU to tie Tarleton State 28-28 after a successful 2-point conversion.Hicks then caught three passes on the Wildcats' final drive and capped it with a 1-yard TD catch out of the backfield to put ACU in front for good.
A redshirt-senior linebacker, Shaffer posted a team-high 13 tackles, including nine solo stops and one tackle for loss to help ACU earn its first conference championship since moving up to Division I in 2013. Four of Shaffer's tackles came on Tarleton's next-to-last drive where ACU's defense was able to limit them to a field goal.
Rogers, a redshirt-freshman kicker, was consistent on Saturday against Central Arkansas going a perfect three-for-three kicking field goals against the Bears. His field goals split the uprights from 21, 33, and 37 yards out. Adding to his impressive point total, Rogers was also perfect in PAT opportunities, hammering through all three attempts to account for 12 of the T-Birds 38-point total.
A redshirt freshman quarterback making his first career start and just second career appearance, Koger completed 21 of 34 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns. He led UCA's offense to 498 yards of total offense vs SUU. Koger notched TD passes of 38, 6, 12 and 79 yards.
Calwise, Jr., a true freshman wide receiver, was EKU's top receiver in its comeback win over rival Austin Peay. He hauled in six receptions for 83 yards including a pivotal touchdown that cut the deficit to one score early in the fourth quarter. Calwise Jr., also had a 19-yard reception that set up EKU for it's game-tying score getting the Colonels down to the one.
| 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) |
| Oct. 28 |
Joshua Carter
(EKU) |
David Walker
(Central Arkansas) |
Justin Luke
(North Alabama) |
Malachi Henry
(Central Arkansas) |
| Nov. 4 |
Jaden Barnes (Austin Peay)
Reggie Graff (Utah Tech) |
Maddox Marcellus
(EKU) |
Ilya Uvaydov
(Utah Tech) |
Quincy Lejay
(Utah Tech) |
| Nov. 11 |
Maverick McIvor
(Abilene Christian) |
Kameron Rocha
(Southern Utah) |
Reilly Mason
(West Georgia) |
Josh Anglin
(North Alabama) |
| Nov. 18 |
Sam Hicks
(Abilene Christian) |
Will Shaffer
(Abilene Christian) |
Jayden Rogers
(Southern Utah) |
Caleb Koger (Central Arkansas)
Marcus Calwise, Jr. (EKU) |
Other Nominees
Offensive:
Jaden Barnes (APSU); Trejean Bridges (UCA); Joshua Carter (EKU); Targhee Lambson (SUU); Victor Gabalis (TSU); Davin Wydner (UWG)
Defensive:
Davion House (APSU); Demetrias Charles (UCA); Maddox Marcellus (EKU); Raymon Crump (SUU); Bam Smith (TSU); Solomanie Bambara (UWG)
Specialist:
Carson Smith (APSU); Jake Gaster (UCA); Jacob Baker (EKU); Corbin Poston (TSU); Chance Gagnon (UWG)
Freshman:
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