GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following the third Saturday of the 2018 football season. Grand Valley State senior quarterback Bart Williams earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Davenport senior linebacker CJ Thornton captured GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition along with Ashland sophomore kicker Satchel Denton who claimed GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bart Williams - Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State senior quarterback Bart Williams completed 17-of-28 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns in #5 Grand Valley States 47-14 victory at Northern Michigan. In addition, Williams toted the ball three times for 16 yards and his first career rushing TD, a six yard scamper. Williams guided a balanced Laker offense that rolled up 546 total yards, including 296 through the air and 250 via the ground. Williams averaged 16.4 yards per completion, 10.0 yards per attempt and led the Lakers to touchdowns on 6-of-9 drives. Bart rushed six yards for a touchdown and added a 12 yard run to convert a third down. Williams, who is the leading active college football player for TD passes with 113, moved into second on the Lakers? all-time passing TD list and needs just one to tie all-time leader Curt Anes (114). In addition, Williams closed to within 71 passing yards (10,510) of Anes who is second on the all-time passing yards list with 10,581. Bart also improved to 35-7 as a starting QB.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: C.J. Thornton - Davenport
Davenport senior linebacker C.J. Thornton played a big role defensively in DU's 23-21 road win at Michigan Tech, the first GLIAC victory for the Panthers in program history. Thornton got the start at linebacker due to injury and finished with eight tackles including 2.5 for loss and one sack. He also forced a fumble and had a pass breakup. The defense held the Huskies to 28 rushing yards on 32 carries.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Satchel Denton - Ashland
Ashland sophomore kicker Satchel Denton, a transfer from NCAA Division I FCS Rhode Island, was 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points in Ashland's 30-21 win on Sept. 15 at Wayne State. All three field goals came in the second half, from 32, 28 and 19 yards. Denton is 5-for-5 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points this season, and remains one of only two GLIAC kickers to make all placements in 2018.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Will Ark (MTU), Keion Powers (DU), Jayru Campbell (FSU), Latrell Giles (NMU), Andrew Vaughn (AU), Ryan Conklin (SVSU), Brock Franklin (NU)
DEFENSE: Marvin Wright (MTU), Trevor Tank (FSU), Brendan McMahon (GVSU), Brady Hanson (NMU), Ryan Corkrean (AU), Michael Alexander (SVSU), Dimitri Abro (NU)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Michael James (MTU), Julian Castro (DU), Sy Barnett (FSU), J.J. McGrath (GVSU), J. Kwiecinski (NMU), Alex Spicuzzi (NU)
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