Two Cougars earn FB Player of Week honors

USF sophomore QB MSFA MEL Player of the Week

FINDLAY, Ohio — University of Saint Francis place-kicker Gavin Gardner kicked his way into Cougars’ record book on Saturday and on Monday was rewarded with his second Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Special Teams Player of the Week honor this season.

Gardner’s second field goal of the game at Taylor University for 46 yards broke the record set by Ryan Nix at the 2016 NAIA Championship Game against Baker University — 44 yards. It was Gardner’s second field goal of the game.

At the end of the first half the Van Wert, Ohio, native connected on a 42-yard field goal increasing the USF lead to 23-7.

This is Gardner’s third career POTW honor tying Kollin Carman for most honors by a USF kicker. The 46-yard field goal was his 11th this season and with 19 career field goals, Gardner is No. 3 on the USF career list.

Gardner in NAIA Top 50 stats

• No. 8 in Total Field Goals (11)
• No. 8 in Total Scoring (Kicking) (73)
• No. 13 in Field Goals (1.100)
• No. 15 in Scoring (Kicking) per Game (7.300)
• No. 17 in Field Goals Pct (0.786)
• No. 31 in Pat Kicking Pct (0.952)

USF sophomore QB MSFA MEL Player of the Week

FINDLAY, Ohio — University of Saint Francis quarterback Matt Crable was a dual threat running and passing in USF’s 40-20 win at Taylor University and his results were rewarded on with the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Player of the Week award.

Crable accounted for four touchdowns — two rushing and two passing — to lead the then No. 9 Cougars to their fourth consecutive win and the programs’ 18th 8-or-more win season in the last 20 AND the win that moved Head Coach Kevin Donley ahead of Bear Bryant on the collegiate coaching career wins list with 324.

The Cincinnati Moeller High School graduate ran for TDs of 43 and four yards as well as a 49-yard run. Crable finished with 96 yards rushing, most by a USF QB since Jeff Wedding finished with 117 at Malone in 2007. It was the second time in three games that Crable led USF in rushing. He also became just the third USF QB to rush for two TDs and throw for two TDs in the same game. Shaine Tierney was the last to do it in a  33-21 win at Taylor on Nov. 13, 2010. Tierney did it twice .

Crable threw for TDs of seven and 14 yards and finished with 265 yards on 21-for-31 passing. He tied his season best for total offense (rushing + passing) with 361 yards.

This Crable’s first POTW honor. He is the 11th different USF quarterback to be named MSFA MEL Player of the Week at least once during their career for the Cougars.

Crable in NAIA Top 50 rankings:

No. 11 in Pass Efficiency (154.000)
No. 20 in Total Total Offense (2,360)
No. 21 in Total Passing (2,105)
No. 28 in Total Offense Yds per Game (236.0)
No. 30 in Passing Yds per Game (210.5)

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