adidas? OVC Football Players of the Week ? Sept. 25

adidas? OVC Football Players of the Week ? Sept. 25

OFFENSIVE
Dontey Gay, RB • Sr., 5-9, 205 • Lexington, Ky. • Tennessee Tech
Gay became the first player in Tennessee Tech history to account for 100 or more yards rushing and receiving in the same game on Saturday as the Golden Eagles topped Southeast Missouri 38-31. The senior carried the ball 22 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 101 yards. Overall Gay had 247 all-purpose yards on 29 touches (the second-highest total in the OVC this season). His four-yard touchdown run with 2:38 to play proved to be the game-winner for the Golden Eagles over the defending OVC champion Redhawks.

Others Nominated: Devin Stark, Austin Peay; Jake Walker, Eastern Illinois; Tyrone Goard, Eastern Kentucky; Calvin Middleton, Jacksonville State; Mike Harris, Murray State; Levi Terrell, Southeast Missouri; Trabis Ward, Tennessee State; Jason McNair, UT Martin.

DEFENSIVE
Antwaun Majors, DB • Jr., 5-10, 179 • Nashville, Tenn. • Austin Peay
Majors had a game-high 11 tackles (7 solo) and an interception as Austin Peay topped Eastern Kentucky 23-17 on Saturday night in Clarksville. With just under four minutes to play in the game Majors picked off a pass on his team's own four-yard line, preventing a Colonels score. The victory for Austin Peay was only the second over Eastern Kentucky in the past 23 games (but the second in the last three years).

Others Nominated: Nick Beard, Eastern Illinois; Clarence Jackson, Jacksonville State; Brandon Wicks, Murray State; Blake Peiffer, Southeast Missouri; Joseph Wylie, Tennessee State; Austin Tallant, Tennessee Tech; Jarvis McCann, UT Martin.

CO-SPECIALIST
Coty Blanchard, P/QB • So., 6-0, 180 • Leesburg, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Blanchard averaged 34.5 yards on six total punts, helping Jacksonville State win the field position battle in its 28-21 victory over Eastern Illinois. Two of his punts were downed inside the EIU 6-yard line. With the Gamecocks holding on to a seven-point lead with 32 seconds left, Blanchard punted the ball to the one-yard line to seal the victory. As the team's quarterback, Blanchard completed 13-of-19 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 38 yards.

CO-SPECIALIST
Cody Forbes, KR/RB • So., 5-11, 205 • Elizabethtown, Tenn. • Tennessee Tech
Forbes accounted for a career-best 132 all-purpose yards as Tennessee Tech topped Southeast Missouri to remain undefeated (2-0) in OVC play. The sophomore got 98 of his yards on three kickoff returns, including two crucial ones for the Golden Eagles. After Southeast Missouri had tied the game late in the first half, Forbes returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to the TTU 41-yard line to seven up a short scoring drive that gave Tech a 17-10 halftime advantage. With five minutes to play and the scored tied, Forbes had a 36-yard return to the TTU 47-yard line, setting up the team's eight play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Forbes also had six rushes for 22 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards.

Others Nominated: Scott Weatherford, Eastern Illinois; Duane Brady, Murray State; Jamin Godfrey, Tennessee State; Cody Sandlin, UT Martin.

NEWCOMER
Washaun Ealey, RB • Jr., 5-11, 215 • Stillmore, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Ealey, a transfer from Georgia, rushed for a season-high 155 yards on 24 carries (6.5 yards/carry) in Jacksonville State's 28-21 victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday. The junior rushed for 70 yards in the first half and became the first Jax State player to eclipse the 100-yard plateau this season. The 155 yards rushing was the 14th-highest total in the Gamecocks' Division I history.

Others Nominated: Sam Small, Murray State; Levi Terrell, Southeast Missouri; Michael German, Tennessee State; Austin Tallant, Tennessee Tech; Ben Johnson, UT Martin.