by Per the MAC
East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Kent State RB Xavier Williams
Kent State sophomore running back Xavier Williams (Forestville, Md.) had his first two touchdown game of his career, helping spark a 30-27 comeback win over Buffalo on Nov. 14. Williams had 98 total yards, including nine rushes for 47 yards rushing and one touchdown, and two catches for 56 yards and one touchdown.
Williams scored twice in under 30 seconds of game time, running in from seven yards out, then on the second play after recovering an onside kick, took a pass 41 yards for the score.
Defensive Player of the Week: Miami DB Travion Banks
Miami senior defensive back Travion Banks (Evanston, Ill.) had two interceptions and one tackle in a 44-3 win over Bowling Green on Nov. 13. Banks and the Miami defense held the Falcons to 275 yards of offense and just 90 yards through the air.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Kent State K Matthew Trickett
Kent State sophomore kicker Matthew Trickett (Cleveland, Ohio) nailed a 44-yard field goal as time expired in a 30-27 win over Buffalo on Nov. 14. Trickett was 3-3 on field goals, hitting from 22-33-44 yards.
His 33-yard field goal ended the first half and his 44-yard field goal was his second walk-off, game-winner for the season. Trickett also executed a perfect on-side kick that he recovered, helping jump start the 4thquarter comeback. Additionally, Trickett drilled all three PATs for 12 total points scored for the game.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Central Michigan RB Jonathan Ward
Central Michigan senior running back Jonathan Ward (Kankakee, Ill.) had 135 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in a 45-44 come-from-behind victory at Ball State on Nov. 16.
Ward ran for 105 yards on 24 carries and caught four receptions for 30 yards. He had a key reception on the game-winning drive, converting a 3rd-and-7 with an 18-yard catch-and-run. The four touchdowns marked a career-high for Ward.
Defensive Player of the Week: Northern Illinois DT Jack Heflin
Northern Illinois junior defensive tackle Jack Heflin (Prophetstown, Ill.) was a force in the middle for the Huskie defense, finishing a 31-28 win at Toledo on Nov. 13 with a season-high six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and one forced fumble, his third of the season.
Heflin recorded four solo stops as the Huskies held Toledo to just seven points through the first three quarters of the game. His 1.5 tackles for loss give him a team-leading seven TFLs for the season to lead NIU.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Northern Illinois K John Richardson
Northern Illinois freshman kicker John Richardson (Orland Park, Ill.) made his second game-winning field goal of the season with a 25-yard kick with 41 seconds on the clock to provide the Huskies’ a 31-28 win at Toledo on Nov. 13. NIU drove the ball from its 25 to the Toledo seven-yard line on a 13-play drive to set up Richardson’s game-winner.
He also made all four of his PAT attempts to remain perfect on the year. Richardson leads NIU in scoring with 62 points and has made a field goal in all nine games he has attempted at least one three this year.
