RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the league's Players of the Week for the final week of the football regular season. Ouachita's Drew Harris won the Offensive accolade; Harding's Sam Blankenship earned the Defensive award and Southeastern Oklahoma State's Joel Carlos claimed the Special Teams honor.
GAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Drew Harris, Ouachita, WR/RB, Jr., Benton, Arkansas
Harris rewrote the GAC record book in the Tigers' 49-42 win against Henderson State in the 91st playing of the Battle of the Ravine. He set the league's single-game record with seven touchdowns, four rushing and three receiving. In the process, he established the league's single-season record with 26 scores. He ranks second in Division II in touchdowns.
GAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Sam Blankenship, Harding, LB, Jr., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Blankenship played a major role in three second-half turnovers in Harding's 24-17 win against Arkansas Tech that secured a playoff spot for the Bisons. He forced fumbles on consecutive drives in the third quarter then recovered a fumble with 4:13 left the game. He registered at least 10 tackles for the fifth time this season.
GAC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Joel Carlos, Southeastern Oklahoma State, P/K, Jr., Carrollton, Texas
Carlos converted a game-winning field with 57 seconds left against East Central in the 101st edition of the Great American Classic. He kick came from a career-long 48 yards out, five yards longer than his previous long. He punted six times with four downed inside the 20-yard line.
NOTABLE NOMINEES
- Anthony Cota, Jr., RB, Northwestern Oklahoma State (Ran for 163 yards and a TD in win vs Southwestern Oklahoma State)
- Preston Haire, Fr., QB, Oklahoma Baptist (Set school yearly passing record with 2,380 yards; accounted for four touchdowns)
- Evan Lassiter, Sr., RB, Henderson State (Set GAC and HSU single-game record with 47 completions; threw for 463 yards)
- Barrett Renner, Jr., QB, Southern Arkansas (Broke school record for touchdown passes in a season, 35 with four vs UAM)
- KJ Reid, Jr., LB, Arkansas Tech (Recorded 16 tackles and a sack against Harding)
- Travis Williams, Sr., NG, Southern Arkansas (Led SAU with seven tackles against UAM; intercepted a screen pass)
- Maurice Wright, Jr., So., LB, Northwestern Oklahoma State (Tallied 10 tackles; led the GAC despite playing only eight games)
- Bradford Grems, Sr., K, Southern Arkansas (Made all nine of his kicks and scored 15 points; set the SAU career scoring record)
- Luke Wendl, Fr., K, Oklahoma Baptist (Scored 10 points vs SNU; made 47-yard FG, the longest since Bison restarted program)
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