Story courtesy of the Big East Conference
Photo courtesy of Rutgers Athletics
BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gary Nova • So. • QB • Rutgers • Elmwood Park, N.J.
Nova led Rutgers to its eighth consecutive win and helped the Scarlet Knights improve to 4-0 in Big East play with four second-half touchdown passes in a 35-10 win at Temple. Trailing 10-0 at halftime, Nova led a Scarlet Knight offense that scored 35 unanswered points to close the game. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 232 yards, helping Rutgers to just its third 7-0 start in program history and its second 4-0 start in Big East play..
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lorenzo Mauldin • So. • DE • Louisville • Atlanta, Ga.
Mauldin helped Louisville remain unbeaten at 7-0 as the Cardinals scored a 27-25 win against USF to improve to 2-0 in Big East play for just the second time. Mauldin had six tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss, to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. His strip sack and fumble recovery came late in the first half and allowed Louisville to take a 14-3 lead into halftime.
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ross Krautman • Jr. • K • Syracuse • Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Krautman scored 16 points — the most by a Big East kicker in a game this season — to help Syracuse to a 40-10 win against Connecticut, improving the Orange to 2-1 in BIG EAST play. Krautman hit field goals of 22, 33, 42 and 47 yards and was 4-for-4 on PATs. He finished the game with 203 career points, tying Don McAulay for eighth on Syracuse’s career chart.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Greg Blair • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Had 15 tackles with one tackle for loss in a 29-23 loss at Toledo. Led a defense that did not allow an offensive touchdown.
Teddy Bridgewater • So. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 21 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-25 win against USF. Completed his first 11 passes of the game.
Preston Brown • Jr. • LB • Louisville • Cincinnati, Ohio
Had a career-high 17 tackles with one pass breakup in a 27-25 win against USF.
Jamil Merrell • Jr. • DT • Rutgers • Bear, Del.
Had three tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack with a forced fumble in a 35-10 win at Temple.
Shamarko Thomas • Sr. • S • Syracuse • Virginia Beach, Va.
Had four tackles, a forced fumble and a 27-yard interception return in a 40-10 win against Connecticut.