adidas? OVC Football Players of the Week ? Nov. 13

adidas? OVC Football Players of the Week ? Nov. 13

OFFENSIVE
Calvin Middleton, RB • Sr., 5-11, 220 • Acworth, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Middleton carried the ball a school-record 38 times on Saturday as he rushed for a career-high 191 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville State's 22-21 victory at Southeast Missouri. The victory kept the Gamecocks alive in the race for the OVC Championship and league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Playoffs. The senior scored on touchdown runs of 17, 1 and 11 yards with the final two touchdowns coming in the third quarter as Jax State overcame a 21-9 deficit to win by one point. The 38 carries were the sixth-most by a player in the FCS this season and his three touchdowns were the most by a Gamecock running back this year.

Others Nominated: Jake Walker, Eastern Illinois; Mike Harris, Murray State; Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri; Trabis Ward, Tennessee State; Tre Lamb, Tennessee Tech; Derek Carr, UT Martin.

DEFENSIVE
Blake Peiffer, LB • Jr., 6-1, 225 • Jackson, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
Peiffer had 19 tackles (9 solo) in Southeast Missouri's 22-21 loss to Jacksonville State on Saturday. The 19 tackles equal the season-high in the OVC this season and is the 10th-highest total in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2011. Peiffer currently ranks second nationally in tackles/game (13.6) and has recorded double-digit tackles in eight-straight games.

Others Nominated: Alex McNulty, Eastern Illinois; Emory Attig, Eastern Kentucky; Rashad Smith, Jacksonville State; Qua Huzzie, Murray State; Rico Council, Tennessee State; Cory Webber, Tennessee Tech.

SPECIALIST
Kienan Cullen, K/P • Sr., 6-3, 224 • Louisville, Ky. • Murray State
In Saturday's win over Austin Peay, Cullen was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts in tying the Murray State single-game record. The senior, who earned OVC Specialist of the Week honors for the second-straight week, connected from 37, 33, 41, 30 and 22 yards including hitting field goals on each of MSU's first four offensive possessions of the game. In the process he extended his OVC record for career field goals to 58. Cullen also converted on five extra points to finish the game with 20 points, just two off the OVC record for points scored by kicking in a game. The 20 points increased his career scoring total to 290, which moved him into fifth place in OVC history. The senior also completed a 21-yard pass attempt on a fake punt in the fourth quarter, which would set up the Racers final touchdown of the day.

Others Nominated: James Esco, Jacksonville State; Matt Moseley, Tennessee State.

NEWCOMER
Michael German, QB • R-Fr., 6-2, 215 • Pompano Beach, Fla. • Tennessee State
German earned his fourth OVC Newcomer of the Week honor of the season after completing 16-of-25 passes for 263 yards and a career-high three touchdowns and also rushing for 27 yards in Tennessee State's come-from-behind victory over UT Martin on Saturday. After his team fell behind 17-0 after one quarter, German led drives of 81 and 74 yards in the second quarter, both of which were capped by touchdown passes to pull the Tigers to within three points at halftime. In the third quarter his 77-yard touchdown pass to Travis James put TSU up 28-17. During the game he became the first freshman quarterback in TSU history to have three 250+ yard passing games in the same season.

Others Nominated: Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois; Qua Huzzie, Murray State; Adam Urbano, Tennessee Tech.