by ***PRESS RELEASE***
East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Buffalo QB Kyle Vantrease
Buffalo sophomore quarterback Kyle Vantrease (Stow, Ohio) threw for a career-high 208 yards and one touchdown and scored two additional rushing touchdowns in a 43-14 win at Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Vantrease completed 15-of-23 passes, including 13-of-18 for 185 yards in the first half, to help the Bulls build a 29-7 lead at the break.
With the Bulls leading 9-7 in the second quarter, Vantrease scored on a 16-yard run to extend the Buffalo lead to 16-7. On Buffalo’s next possession, Vantrease scored on a one-yard run to put the Bulls ahead 22-7. With just nine seconds left in the half, he found Antonio Nunn or a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Defensive Player of the Week: Buffalo DT Chibueze Onwuka
Buffalo junior defensive tackle Chibueze Onwuka (Bowie, Md.) had five tackles, one sack and a safety in a 43-14 win at Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Onwuka anchored a defensive line that allowed 25 rushing yards and not a single rushing first down on the day. With the Bulls trailing, 7-0, Onwuka sacked Eastern Michigan quarterback Mike Glass in the end zone for a safety. It was Buffalo’s first safety since the 2015 season and sparked 43 straight points for the Bulls.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Bowling Green K Mason Lawler
Bowling Green redshirt freshman Mason Lawler (Avon, Ohio) averaged 50.7 yards on six kickoffs and three special teams tackles in a 35-6 win over Akron.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Central Michigan RB Jonathan Ward
Central Michigan senior running back Jonathan Ward (Kankakee, Ill.) had 149 all-purpose yards as the Chippewas rolled to a 48-10 victory over Northern Illinois to get bowl eligible. Ward had 138 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, an average of 6.9 yards per carry. He also caught three receptions for 11 yards. Ward has surpassed 100 yards rushing five of the past 6 games.
Defensive Player of the Week: Central Michigan LB Michael Oliver
Central Michigan senior linebacker Michael Oliver (Detroit, Mich.) had a team-high five tackles and a key interception in a 48-10 win over NIU on Saturday. Oliver’s interception came in the third quarter as the Chippewas shut out NIU in the second half on its way to the 48-10 victory. Oliver was part of a defense that limited NIU to just 22 yards rushing including -23 in the first half. It was Oliver’s first career interception which he returned 22 yards.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Northern Illinois P Matt Ference
Northern Illinois junior punter Matt Ference (St. Louis, Mo.) punted seven times for a 45.0 average in a 48-10 loss at Central Michigan. He had a long punt of 53 yards with one that forced the Chippewas to start inside their 20-yard line. Three of his seven punts were returned for a total of just 14 yards and two were fair caught as the team recorded a net punting average of 43.0 yards per punt. As a junior, Ference already ranks fifth at NIU all-time in career punts (220) and is fourth in punting yards (9,035) and second in career punting average (41.07).
|
______________________________________________________________ |
