BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Brant Grisel (UC), Dustin Crouser (WVSU) and Justin Watts (GSC) have earned Mountain East Conference Player of the Week honors for their play in the first week of the season.
Grisel, a senior from Apex, N.C., set a school-record with 367 yards as the Golden Eagles knocked off No. 25 Fairmont State, 42-39, last Thursday night. He completed over 70 percent of his passes (19-of-27) and tossed three touchdowns with no interceptions in the 42-39 win over the Falcons.
Crouser, a junior from Cross Lanes, W.Va., recorded a MEC-high 14 tackles last week in a narrow 20-17 win over Frostburg State last Thursday night. Crouser had seven solo tackles, was in on a pair of tackles for a loss and broke up a pass. He also came up with a critical open-field tackle on fourth down in the fourth quarter to get the ball back to the WVSU offense leading to the game-winning score.
Watts, a senior from Atlanta, Ga., was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts to help the Pioneers get past Alderson Broaddus, 33-21, on Thursday night. Watts hit two 26-yard field goals, and also connected from 32 yards and a MEC week one best of 40 yards against the Battlers. Additionally, Watts successfully executed a pair of onside kicks for the Pioneers, recovering one himself.
Other Top Performers
Offense: Thomas Cole (WLU) had nine catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with under a minute to play, in a win over Wheeling … Marvelle Ross (NDC) had a pair of touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing) in a win over Concord … Tucker Strachan (WU) was the only MEC player to throw for over 400 yards last week (401) completing 26-of-41 with one touchdown … Mario Pender (GSC) carried 12 times for 83 yards with one touchdown and had 40 yards receiving … Eddie Stockett (UU) accounted for three touchdowns in a win over West Virginia Wesleyan … Zach Pate (WVSU) had seven catches for 84 yards … Kyle Akin (CU) had 212 yards passing for the Mountain Lions … Takwan Crews-Naylor (FAIR) was 27-for-42 for 369 yards and two touchdowns against UC … Will Brunson (FROST) was 14-of-24 for 202 yards against West Virginia State.
Defense: James Reese (WU) had 13 tackles (11 solo), including three sacks and two other stops for a loss … Guam Lee (NDC) had 10 tackles (six solo), including 3.0 for a loss and recovered a fumble … Delonte Hood (GSC) picked off a pair of passes in the fourth quarter to help preserve the win for the Pioneers … Josh Ojo (WLU) had eight tackles and broke up a pair of passes … Mikal Toliver (UU) notched a pair of sacks and forced a pair of fumbles for the Blue Knights ... Avery Thurman (FROST) had 11 tackles (2.0 for a loss) and forced a fumble … Ryan Gatrell (CU) notched 3.5 TFL in a loss to Notre Dame … Michael Perry (UC) had four solo tackles and 1.5 TFL in a win over Fairmont State … Trevon Shorts (FAIR) had nine solo tackles and 3.5 TFL against the Golden Eagles.
Special Teams: Tanner Harding (NDC) was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, with all coming over 30 yards … Terrell Brown (FROST) returned a pair of kicks for 70 yards against West Virginia State … Chris Richardson (UU) blocked a punt in the second quarter that led to a safety for the Blue Knights … Owen Rozanc (WLU) hit a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter against Wheeling … Luke Walls (CU) made his only FG attempt against Notre Dame.
