Wofford’s Breitenstein Wins Second FCS Player Of The Week Award

College Sports Journal Release

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA. —  Running back Eric Breitenstein of Wofford, quarterback Gavin McCarney of Colgate, linebacker Ross Shafrath of South Dakota State, cornerback Tye Smith of Towson, wide receiver Kevin Chillis of Albany, and running back/kick returner Jerodis Williams of Furman, have been selected as the College Sports Journal/GameWornUniforms.com national players of the week for the fifth week of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision play.

 

Offensive Players

 

Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Senior, Fullback, 5-11, 230, Valle Crucis, N.C.

 

Breitenstein set a new Southern Conference record with 321 rushing yards in the Terriers’ 49-24 win at Elon on Saturday, eclipsing the previous mark of 313 set by Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards on Dec. 7, 2007, against Richmond in the national semifinals.  

 

Breitenstein carried 27 times, scored two touchdowns in the win and became just the third player in the league’s 91-year history to rush for more than 300 yards in a game.  

 

The senior fullback scored on a 90-yard run on his opening carry of the game. He finished the first half with 228 yards on the ground, four yards shy of the league’s record for a single half.

 

It was the second national player of the week honor for Breitenstein this season and also his Southern Conference offensive player of the week award.

 

Gavin McCarney, Colgate, Quarterback, Junior, 6-2, 205, Jefferson Township, N.J.

 

McCarney accounted for six touchdowns, including five in the first half alone, to lift Colgate to a 47-24 win at Yale on Saturday. 

 

The preseason All-Patriot League quarterback completed 17-of-22 passes for a career-high 275 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and ran 14 times for 85 yards and four scores. 

 

His three rushing and two passing touchdowns in the first half gave Colgate a 35-17 lead at the break. He was 14-of-16 for 227 yards and ran for 58 yards in the half. 

 

McCarney stands fourth in the nation in points responsible for per game (18.00) and 15th in scoring (9.6). He was named Patriot League offensive player of the week for the first time.

 

Defensive Players

 

Ross Shafrath, South Dakota State, Linebacker, Senior, 6-1, 225, Hampton, Iowa

Shafrath recorded a team-high 12 tackles and intercepted a pair of passes as South Dakota State defeated Missouri State, 17-7, on Saturday. 

Named the outstanding player of the 46th Annual Beef Bowl, Shafrath also broke up a pass. His two interceptions were half of the four Jackrabbit interceptions on the day and he returned the picks for 31 yards.

He had seven solo stops and five assists as the Jackrabbits held the Bear offense in check.

Shafrath has led the Jackrabbits in tackles all five games this season, en route to 57 stops on the season. He has tallied double figures in tackles four times this season and six of the team's last eight games dating back to 2011.

 

Tye Smith, Towson, Sophomore, Cornerback, 6-0, 170, Raleigh, N.C.

 

Smith helped Towson stay close to LSU, the No. 3-ranked team in the Associated Press Top-25, with 10 tackles, two key sacks and a forced fumble in the TU Tigers' 38-22 loss on Saturday at Death Valley.

 

The sophomore cornerback had nine solo stops, one assist, two tackles for 21 yards of losses. Smith drilled LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger off the edge and forced a fumble that linebacker Bryton Barr fell on at the LSU 45. 

 

Two plays later, Towson took a 9-7 lead late in the second period. 

 

Smith's second sack resulted in the end of another LSU drive.

 

Special Teams

 

Kevin Chillis, Albany, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, 5-9, 175, Buffalo, N.Y.

 

Chillis contributed to Albany’s 55-24 victory over Monmouth in a number of ways, including two huge plays with the Danes’ special teams unit. 

 

After Monmouth jumped out to a 7-0 lead by taking the opening kickoff 82 yards on 10 plays, Chillis electrified the home crowd less than one minute later. Facing a fourth and 10 from its own 23-yard line, Albany faked a punt and Chillis took a reverse 77 yards for a touchdown.  

 

The 5-foot-9 receiver ran the second-half kickoff back 58 yards all the way to Monmouth’s 42-yard line. The Danes didn’t score on the ensuing possession, but were able to take control of the field position battle and pin Monmouth deep inside its own 10-yard line. 

 

He added a 44-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and finished with 207 all-purpose yards.

 

 

Jerodis Williams, Furman, Senior, Running Back/Kick Returner, Prattville, Alabama

 

 

Following a Richard Sigmon field goal that gave Western Carolina an early 3-0 lead, Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Paladins a 7-3 lead they would not relinquish en route to a 45-24 victory.  

 

His 100-yard return was the longest kickoff return by a Paladin since William Middleton ran a kickoff back 100 yards against Wofford in 2006.  

 

Williams finished the day with 131 return yards and accounted for 370 all-purpose yards, the second-highest single-game total in league history. 

 

Williams finished the day with 131 return yards and accounted for 370 all-purpose yards the second-highest single-game total in league history.