MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WEEK SIX Player Of The Week Awards

For Immediate Release—Monday, October 8, 2018 per MAC Communications team

East Division

Offensive Player of the Week: Ohio QB Nathan Rourke

Ohio junior quarterback Nathan Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:28 for a 27-26 win at Kent State. Rourke completed 18-of-20 passes, setting an Ohio record for completion percentage in a single-game by completing 90 percent of his attempts. Rourke threw for 284 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also added 49 yards and a touchdown on the ground on 15 rushing attempts.

Defensive Player of the Week: Miami LB Brad Koenig

Miami senior linebacker Brad Koenig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in a 41-17 win at Akron. Koenig was responsible for three of Miami’s five takeaways. Koenig was also part of a defense that held Akron to just 56 yards rushing on 28 carries.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Kent State K Matthew Trickett

Kent State freshman Matthew Trickett (Cleveland, Ohio) went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a career-long 49-yarder on the final play of the first half in a 27-26 loss to Ohio. He has also filled in as the Golden Flashes’ punter and averaged 40.5 yards on two punts against the Bobcats.

West Division

Offensive Player of the Week: Toledo QB Eli Peters

Toledo sophomore quarterback Eli Peters (Jacksonville, Fla.) made his first career collegiate start and threw for 184 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-36 win over Bowling Green. Starting for the injured Mitchell Guadagni, Peters completed 17-of-35 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in the rivalry win over Bowling Green.

Defensive Player of the Week: Western Michigan DT Ralph Holley
Western Michigan sophomore defensive tackle Ralph Holley (West Bloomfield, Mich.) made a career-high six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a key forced fumble in a 27-24 win over Eastern Michigan. Holley had his best game in a Bronco uniform as his forced fumble led to a Western Michigan touchdown and his career-high in tackles. Holley’s forced fumble came in the second quarter and was recovered at the Eastern Michigan 38-yard line. Western Michigan went on to score, giving the Broncos a 14-7 lead. Western Michigan has won its last four games in a row and has started MAC play 2-0.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan P Jake Julien
Eastern Michigan sophomore punter Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) registered five punts in a 27-24 loss at Western Michigan. Julien tallied 242 yards by punt, with four of his kicks pinning the Broncos inside their 20-yard-line. Julien’s longest punt of the day went a career-best 73 yards, the longest punt for an Eagle since Nick Avondet booted for 74 yards against NIU in 1998. The punt marks the longest punt by a MAC member this season and stands tied for the fourth-longest punt seen in all of FBS football in 2018.