Story courtesy of the Ohio Valley Conference
Photo courtesy of Jacksonville State Athletics
OFFENSIVE
Washaun Ealey, RB • Sr., 5-11, 215 • Stillmore, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Ealey rushed for 146 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as Jacksonville State topped Murray State 38-35 on Saturday. Ealey carried the ball 37 times (the second-most rushes in a game in the FCS this season) and also caught a nine-yard pass in the victory. The senior scored on a 29-yard rush early in the first quarter and then added a one-yard run at the end of the first quarter to tie the game at 14. His final rushing touchdown came with 11:33 to play in the third, a two-yard run that put the Gamecocks on top for good (35-28). It marked Ealey’s third-straight 100-yard rushing game and he now has eight touchdowns over his past four games.
Others Nominated: Jake Ryan, Austin Peay; Jake Walker, Eastern Illinois; Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri; Michael German, Tennessee State
DEFENSIVE
Artavious Dowdell, DL • Sr., 6-2, 230 • Belle Glade, Fla. • Eastern Illinois
Dowdell helped key an Eastern Illinois defensive attack that limited the No. 18-ranked Eastern Kentucky Colonels to only 81 yards of rushing in the Panthers 24-7 victory in Richmond on Saturday. The victory was the first for EIU over a ranked opponent since the 2009 season. Dowdell recorded seven tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry. His performance was part of a defensive unit that overall had 12.0 tackles-for-loss, 5.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries.
Others Nominated: Johnathan Shuler, Austin Peay; Artavious Dowdell, Eastern Illinois; Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State; Branden Spann, Southeast Missouri; Steven Godbolt III, Tennessee State.
SPECIALIST
Jamin Godrey, K/P • Jr., 6-0, 190 • Englewood, Tenn. • Tennessee State
A week after missing two field goals late in an overtime loss at Jacksonville State, Godfrey was a perfect 5-of-5 in lifting the 21st-ranked Tennessee State Tigers to a 22-21 win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Godrey connected from 37 and 32 yards in the first quarter, 27 and 41 yards in the second quarter and added a 22-yard field goal in the third quarter. With TSU trailing 21-15 and Godfrey’s 15 points being the only points the team had scored all day, the Tigers scored a touchdown with no time remaining to tie the game and Godfrey made the extra point attempt to lift TSU to the victory. The five made field goals set a new Tennessee State record and are tied for the most made field goals in a FCS game this season (with Murray State’s Jordan Benton). Godfrey also punted four times, with a long of 44 and one downed inside the 20-yard line. Godfrey currently ranks sixth nationally in field goals made/game (1.56).
Others Nominated: Cameron Berra, Eastern Illinois; Griffin Thomas, Jacksonville State; Drew Geldbach, Southeast Missouri.
NEWCOMER
Scott Lathrop, QB • R-Fr., 5-10, 175 • Warrenton, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
Lathrop rushed for a career-high 179 yards and accounted for 215 yards of total offense in Southeast Missouri’s 48-27 win at Austin Peay on Saturday. His performance helped the Redhawks snap a 10-game road losing streak as the team racked up season-highs in both rushing yards (399) and points (48). Lathrop completed 2-of-9 passes for 36 yards and carried the ball 20 times for 179 yards (8.9 ypc) and two touchdowns. That included a season-best run of 67 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter that put Southeast up 14-0; he later added a one-yard run prior to halftime to give his team a 31-7 advantage. The rushing output marked the second time this season Lathrop has rushed for 100 or more yards in a game and marked the second-highest rushing output by a quarterback in Southeast Missouri history.
Others Nominated: Reco Williams, Austin Peay; LeQuince McCall, Eastern Illinois; Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State; A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State.