The Mid-American Conference announced its week 1 offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week.
East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Kent State QB Spencer Keith
Sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith (Little Rock, Ark.) turned in the first three-touchdown performance of his career, going 24-for-35 for 275 yards, in a 41-10 win over Murray State. Keith found seven different targets, and has now thrown for more than 230 yards in each of the last five games dating back to last season.
Defensive Player of the Week: Bowling Green DB Keith Morgan
Junior defensive back Keith Morgan (Bellefontaine, Ohio) finished second on the team with 11 tackles and added an interception in the Falcons 30-27 road loss at Troy.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Temple K Brandon McManus
Sophomore kicker Brandon McManus (Hatfield, Pa.) made a career-high four field goals in a 31-24 win over Villanova, including the game-winning 43-yard with three seconds remaining. McManus led the Owls with 13 points and also added a career-long 53-yard field goal in the second quarter, which was the second-longest field goal in school history.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan RB Dwayne Priest
Senior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.) ran for a career-best 142 yards on 26 rushes and scored two touchdowns. Priest added two five-yard touchdown scores in Eastern Michigan's 31-27 loss to Army last Saturday, Sept. 4.
Defensive Player of the Week: Central Michigan LB Nick Bellore
Senior linebacker Nick Bellore (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) totaled a team-high 11 tackles and one tackle for loss in a 33-0 win over Hampton. Bellore was part of a defense that posted a shutout, its first in an opener since 1979, and limited the Pirates to 129 net yards of offense. Bellore recorded at least 10 tackles in a game for the 20th time in his career.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Western Michigan P Ben Armer
Junior punter Ben Armer (Janesville, Wis.) registered eight punts for 327 yards (40.9 avg.) at Michigan State, including a career-matching long 62-yard punt. The punt was one of two of 50 yards or more in distance. Armer stopped the ball inside the opposition's 20-yard line three times, including a punt that hit at the 1-yard line and was downed at the two-yard line.
East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Kent State QB Spencer Keith
Sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith (Little Rock, Ark.) turned in the first three-touchdown performance of his career, going 24-for-35 for 275 yards, in a 41-10 win over Murray State. Keith found seven different targets, and has now thrown for more than 230 yards in each of the last five games dating back to last season.
Defensive Player of the Week: Bowling Green DB Keith Morgan
Junior defensive back Keith Morgan (Bellefontaine, Ohio) finished second on the team with 11 tackles and added an interception in the Falcons 30-27 road loss at Troy.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Temple K Brandon McManus
Sophomore kicker Brandon McManus (Hatfield, Pa.) made a career-high four field goals in a 31-24 win over Villanova, including the game-winning 43-yard with three seconds remaining. McManus led the Owls with 13 points and also added a career-long 53-yard field goal in the second quarter, which was the second-longest field goal in school history.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan RB Dwayne Priest
Senior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.) ran for a career-best 142 yards on 26 rushes and scored two touchdowns. Priest added two five-yard touchdown scores in Eastern Michigan's 31-27 loss to Army last Saturday, Sept. 4.
Defensive Player of the Week: Central Michigan LB Nick Bellore
Senior linebacker Nick Bellore (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) totaled a team-high 11 tackles and one tackle for loss in a 33-0 win over Hampton. Bellore was part of a defense that posted a shutout, its first in an opener since 1979, and limited the Pirates to 129 net yards of offense. Bellore recorded at least 10 tackles in a game for the 20th time in his career.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Western Michigan P Ben Armer
Junior punter Ben Armer (Janesville, Wis.) registered eight punts for 327 yards (40.9 avg.) at Michigan State, including a career-matching long 62-yard punt. The punt was one of two of 50 yards or more in distance. Armer stopped the ball inside the opposition's 20-yard line three times, including a punt that hit at the 1-yard line and was downed at the two-yard line.
