(STATS) – No offense wants to settle for a field goal, but if it kicks enough of them, maybe it’s not such a bad thing.
Murray State’s Connor Mitchell banged home six field goals against Eastern Illinois this past weekend to key one of the bigger upsets in the FCS.
Mitchell, Eastern Washington’s Gage Gubrud, Stony Brook’s John Haggart and Liberty’s Stephen Calvert have been named the STATS FCS National Players of the Week for games played Oct. 20-22
NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington, QB, R-So., 6-2, 195, McMinnville, Oregon
Not even the Eagles’ bye week slowed down the FCS passing leader as Gubrud returned to pass for a school-record 520 yards as well as four touchdowns in a 41-17 win at Montana State in the Big Sky Conference. He completed 37 of 51 passes and each of the TD passes went to a different receiver. His 538 yards of total offense were second in school history to the 551 he had against Washington State on Sept. 3. Gubrud leads the FCS in passing yards per game (410.1) and total offensive yards per game (463.3).
Honorable Mention: Richardre Bagley, RB, Chattanooga; Dom Bragalone, RB, Lehigh; Jadrian Clark, QB, Weber State; Eli Dunne, QB, Northern Iowa; Karel Hamilton, WR, Samford; Todd Macon, RB, Liberty; Dallas Sealey, QB, Abilene Christian; Patrick Smith, WR, Tennessee State; Justin Watson, WR, Penn
NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
John Haggart, Stony Brook, DE, R-Jr., 6-1, 255, Sayville, New York
Delaware had no answer for keeping Haggart out of its backfield during the Seawolves’ 28-3 victory in CAA Football. Haggart set career highs for total tackles (11), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (three) while also forcing a career-best three fumbles. His first forced fumble was returned 55 yards for a touchdown. Delaware went into the game averaging 271 rushing yards, but Haggart and Co. limited the Blue Hens to 104 yards on 48 carries.
Honorable Mention: Caleb Ham, SS, Fordham; Kurt Holuba, DL, Princeton; Javancy Jones, DE, Jackson State; Alex Searce, LB, Coastal Carolina; Dayshawn Taylor, LB, South Carolina State; Jake Thomas, LB, Northern Arizona; Kailik Williams, LB, The Citadel
NATIONAL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Connor Mitchell, Murray State, PK, R-Sr., 6-2, 200, Franklin, Tennessee
Mitchell set the Murray State record in going 6-for-6 on field goals as the Racers won for the second time, 40-38 at No. 15 Eastern Illinois. A lefty kicker, Mitchell connected from 37, 36, 37, 49, 25 and 29 yards, and added two PATs to finish with 20 points. He was one field goal shy of the Ohio Valley Conference’s single-game record. His career game boosted him to 14 field goals (in 18 attempts) this season, which is tied for the FCS high.
Honorable Mention: Miles Bergner, PK, South Dakota; Jacob DeMaio, P, Weber State; Donald Payne, SS/ST, Stetson; Matt Sewall, KR, Bryant; Shane Simpson, RB/KR, Towson
NATIONAL FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Stephen Calvert, Liberty, QB, Fr., 6-2, 180, Plantation, Florida
Calvert was at the controls of a Liberty offense that racked up 681 yards – the second-highest total ever in a Big South Conference game – as the Flames defeated Monmouth 52-28. In just his third career start, Calvert completed 27 of 34 passes (79.4 percent) for 350 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. He had a 183.24 pass efficiency rating, throwing for touchdowns of 5, 76 and 4 yards.
Honorable Mention: Nigel Chavis, LB, Norfolk State; A.J. Hines, RB, Duquesne; Trevor Jones, RB, Morehead State; Joe Logan, RB, Northern Arizona; Mareio McGraw, RB, Murray State; Oren Milstein, PK, Columbia; Jalen Morton, QB, Prairie View A&M
