S&T, UIndy, SBU Take Home Season’s Final GLVC Football Awards
INDIANAPOLIS – Missouri S&T sophomore running back Deshawn Jones, University of Indianapolis sophomore defensive lineman Jacob Schmatz, and Southwest Baptist University junior kicker Alec Gathright have been named the season’s final Great Lakes Valley Conference Players of the Week in football, it was announced by the league office Monday.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Deshawn Jones, Missouri S&T
So., RB, Olympia Fields, IL
Team Result: 63-16 home win vs. Quincy
Rushed for 191 yards and a school record five touchdowns (27, 2, 5, 1, 73 yards), all of which came on first-half scoring plays
Recorded 146 of his 191 rushing yards prior to halftime
Cleared the 100-yard mark for ninth straight game, becoming first player in GLVC history to rush for 100 or more yards against every conference opponent in a season
Finished season with 1,579 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns – both school records
Season total is second all-time in GLVC history, but most of any GLVC rusher during the regular season (SBU’s Bubba Jenkins had 1,560 prior to 2016 playoffs)
Earns his second career Offensive Player of the Week award (10/9/17)
Last Missouri S&T Offensive Player of the Week: Tyler Swart (10/30/17)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jacob Schmatz, Indianapolis
So., DL, Mishawaka, Indiana
Team Result: 42-27 home win vs. Notre Dame College
Racked up 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks, while helping UIndy hold Notre Dame College scoreless for 37 consecutive minutes of play
Spearheaded a defensive effort that helped Greyhounds secure first undefeated regular season since 1953
Leads the GLVC with 12 solo sacks and his 12.5 sacks are fourth all-time in school history
Earns his first career Defensive Player of the Week award
Last Indianapolis Defensive Player of the Week: Dillion Dallas (10/16/17)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alec Gathright, Southwest Baptist
Jr., K, Springfield, Missouri
Team Result: 52-7 home win vs. Lincoln
Was perfect 7-for-7 on extra points and 1-for-1 from field goal range with a successful 20-yard attempt
Averaged 60.2 yards per kickoff (nine total with three touchbacks)
Filled in for first time this season kicking extra points and field goals after starting kicker was injured last week
Earns his first career Special Teams Player of the Week award
Last Southwest Baptist Special Teams Player of the Week: Kendrick Payne (10/30/17)