 The Mid-American Conference Monday announced it’s Week No. 6 Players of the Week.
East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Buffalo RB Branden Oliver
Sophomore running back Branden Oliver (Miami, Fla.) ran for a career-high 179 yards on 34 carries and scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 5:45 remaining on fourth and one, to help lift Buffalo to a 38-37 win over Ohio. Oliver scored from 12, 1 and 1 yards out and also added a career-long 58-yard burst to set up another Buffalo score. In addition, the sophomore had a career-high five receptions for 43 yards to bring his all-purpose total to 222 yards for the game. Oliver now has four 100-yard games on the season.
Defensive Player of the Week: Temple LB Stephen Johnson
Senior linebacker Stephen Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) led the Owls with a career-high 16 tackles, including a career-high eight solos, one sack and a career-high two tackles for a loss in a 42-0 win at Ball State. The shutout is the first this fall for a Temple defense that has held opponents to a combined 17 points in four wins. In six starts this season, Johnson has led the Temple defense in the five games. He has a team-best 52 tackles, including a team-best 33 solo takedowns, two break-ups, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ohio K Matt Weller
Junior kicker Matt Weller (Twinsburg, Ohio) tied a season-high with three field goals made as he connected from 27, 46 and 33 yards out in a 38-37 loss at Buffalo. Weller's 43-yarder was his fourth field goal this season from 40-or-more yards out. He has not missed a field goal this season from 39-yards or less. Weller also continued his perfect streak on PATs as he went 3-for-3. On kickoffs, Weller had an average of 61.5 yards and had one touchback.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Western Michigan WR Jordan White
Senior wide receiver Jordan White (Cleveland, Ohio) recorded his fourth-straight game with 10 or more catches and over 100 yards with 12 receptions and 156 yards in Western Michigan's 45-21 win over Bowling Green. White's four consecutive 100-yard receiving games ties the record set by Jamarko Simmons at the end of the 2006 and into the first three games of the 2007 season. White also became only the fourth Western Michigan receiver to post 3,000 yards in a career, now with 3,100. His 156 yards were the seventh most in the country this weekend and he is now tied for the national lead in receptions per game.
Defensive Player of the Week: Northern Illinois DT Ron Newcomb
Senior defensive tackle Ron Newcomb (Wheatfield, Ind.) led a terrific Huskies’ defensive effort in a 40-10 win over Kent State with a career-high nine tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Newcomb capped the day by blocking a 45-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. On the day, the Huskies defense allowed Kent State just 64 total yards, and only one rushing yard, and totaled eight quarterback sacks as Kent State converted just one time on 15 third down tries.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Toledo PR Eric Page
Junior punt returner Eric Page (Toledo, Ohio) returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the Rockets 54-16 win over Eastern Michigan. The punt return for a touchdown was the first of his career.
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