Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The nation's best.
Murray State quarterback Casey Brockman, Elon wide receiver Aaron Mellette,
Howard linebacker Keith Pough, Maine defensive lineman Michael Cole, Fordham
place-kicker/punter Patrick Murray and Portland State quarterback Kieran
McDonagh have been named The Sports Network FCS National Players of the Week 6
for games ending Oct. 6.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Casey Brockman, Murray State, Senior, 6-2, 215, QB, Murray, Ky.
Brockman was nearly perfect in a convincing 52-14 road win versus Austin
Peay. The senior gunslinger completed 38-of-43 passes for 455 yards and five
touchdowns, on his way to becoming the Ohio Valley Conference's all-time leader
in completions (793) and Murray State's all-time leader in touchdown passes
with 55. He started the contest by completing 17 straight passes and has now
gone 204 passes without an interception. The Racers improved to 3-3 while
Brockman threw for at least 300 yards in his fifth straight game. Not
surprisingly, he ranks No. 1 in the FCS with 35 completions per contest.
Aaron Mellette, Elon, Senior, 6-4, 220, WR, Sanford, N.C.
Mellette tied a career high with 237 receiving yards on 13 catches and matched
a career-best with three touchdown receptions in a 35-23 loss at Appalachian
State. The senior now has 18 career 100-yard receiving games, which is good
for No. 2 in Southern Conference history. He also passed former Appalachian
State receiver Brian Quick to move into fifth place on the SoCon's all-time
receiving list with 3,516 receiving yards. After a slow start to his senior
season, Mellette has caught 50 passes for 670 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Keith Pough, Howard, Senior, 6-3, 225, LB, Orangeburg, S.C.
Pough entered Saturday's contest versus Florida A&M needing just 2 1/2 tackles
for loss to tie former Western Kentucky linebacker Sherrod Coates' FCS record
of 65. The senior did that and more, recording 3 1/2 tackles for loss,
breaking the FCS career record with 66, while putting forth one of the best
performances of his career. Howard moved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the
MEAC with a 17-10 victory. On top of his record-setting accomplishment, Pough
tallied 17 total tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, one pass breakup and he forced and
recovered a fumble.
Michael Cole, Maine, Junior, 6-2, 250, DL, North Brunswick, N.J.
Cole gave Delaware quarterback Trent Hurley nightmares, accounting for five
sacks, for a loss of 41 yards, nine total tackles and one forced fumble as
the Black Bears upset the Blue Hens, 26-3. With the help of Cole, Maine held
UD's dangerous run attack to just 47 yards on 47 attempts and gave up just 224
total yards. The Black Bears defense racked up nine total sacks and forced
four fumbles, recovering two of them. The junior leads the FCS in sacks with
seven on the season and he now has 21 in his career.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Patrick Murray, Fordham, Senior, 5-7, 182, PK/P, Mahwah, N.J.
Murray was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goal attempts, connecting from 30, 44 and
43 yards in a crucial, 38-31 win over Georgetown in the Patriot League. He also
punted the ball eight times for an average of 47 yards per boot, including a
long of 59 yards, and he sent five of his seven kickoffs into the end zone for
touchbacks. Fordham moved to 4-2 overall, while Murray, a consensus All-America
selection, has connected on 12-of-14 field goals this season. The senior also
ranks No. 3 in the FCS in punting, averaging 46 yards per punt.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Kieran McDonagh, Portland State, Freshman, 6-1, 240, QB, Vancouver, Wash.
McDonagh played a vital role in helping Portland State end a four-game losing
streak, accounting for six touchdowns in a 77-10 thumping of Idaho State. The
true freshman signal caller carried the ball 10 times for 66 yards and four
touchdowns, he threw for 280 yards and one touchdown - on 15-of-23 passing
attempts - and caught a 22-yard touchdown reception. PSU rushed for a
school record of 437 yards, while its 758 yards of offense was the second-
highest total in program history.
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