Courtesy of Conference USA
IRVING, Texas – After throwing for 376 yards and accounting for four touchdowns in a 33-27 overtime win over NC State, East Carolina junior QB Dominique Davis has been named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. The Defensive Player of the Week went to Memphis senior LB Jamon Hughes, who had 21 tackles (second-most in school history) against Southern Miss. Rice junior P Kyle Martens picked up the special teams award after his punting played a key role in a win over cross-town rival Houston.
Davis accounted for three of East Carolina’s four touchdowns during the Pirates’ 33-27 overtime win against ACC-member N.C. State. He established career-highs in passing attempts (53) and completions (37) on the way to a 376-yard, interception-free performance. Davis completed his first 14 attempts for 109 yards in the first quarter to help stake ECU to a 21-0 lead. He also rushed five times for 19 yards in the game, which included a personal-long run of 22 yards and a game-winning one-yard keeper during the overtime period. Davis engineered a six-play, 43-yard drive in 1:55 that included two completions for 38 yards that set up a game-tying field goal to force overtime with just 1:04 remaining. So far this season, Davis has accounted for 20 of the team’s 24 offensive TDs. His 109-yard passing effort in the first quarter marked the fourth time this season he has surpassed the 100-yard mark in a quarter (179-4th/Tulsa; 119-1st/Virginia Tech; 148-2nd/Southern Miss were others). Overall, he accounted for 139 of the team’s 165 yards in the opening frame against the Wolfpack. This is Davis’ second player of the week award this season, as he won on Sept. 6 following the Pirates opening game victory vs. Tulsa.
Hughes totaled the most tackles for a Memphis player in 31 years with 21 stops against Southern Miss. The total ranks tied for second in school history and is the most since Pete Scatamacchia had a school record 25 against Louisville in 1979. Hughes had 15 solo tackles in the game, which ranks in a tie for third in school history. The senior linebacker also had a sack for a loss of five yards in the game and received one of ESPN.com’s Non-AQ Helmet Stickers for his performance. The 21 tackles by Hughes tie for the most by an FBS player this season (Manti Te’o of Notre Dame vs. Stanford on Sept. 25). Hughes has led the team in tackles every game this season and in the last 11-straight games dating back to last season. The Rolling Fork, Miss., native leads the team this season with 86 tackles, 38 more than anybody else on the squad through the first seven games.
Martens averaged 49.8 yards on four punts, none of which were returned, in the Owls 34-31 win over Houston. He placed his fifth punt of the season inside the 10 this season, and none of his other three punts from inside the Rice 24 gave Houston possession across midfield. Martens’ special teams efforts allowed the Owls to win the Bayou Bucket from their cross-town rivals for the second time in three years.