GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following the opening weekend of the 2019 football season. Grand Valley sophomore running back Aryuan Cain-Veasey earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Saginaw Valley junior defensive back Marvin White captured GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition along with Ferris State sophomore punter Sy Barnett who claimed GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aryuan Cain-Veasey - Grand Valley
Cain-Veasey rushed for a career-high 200 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries in Grand Valley State’s 35-10 victory over Edinboro. Cain-Veasey, who scored on runs of 48, 94 and 29 yards, averaged 18.2 yards per carry. His 94 yard TD run is the third longest in program history, while he became the 22nd player to reach the 200-yard rushing mark in a single-game. Cain-Veasey rushed for 210 yards and one TD on 30 carries in 2018.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Marvin White - Saginaw Valley
Junior defensive back Marvin White had a standout season opener in the Cardinals' 35-14 road victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday night. White recorded seven tackles and had an interception that he brought back 71 yards for a touchdown. It was White's second career pick-six for SVSU, which forced five turnovers overall defensively on Saturday against the Javelinas.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sy Barnett - Ferris State
Ferris State sophomore Sy Barnett played a big role in the Bulldogs' 24-23 home win over Findlay on Thursday (Sept. 5) night at FSU's Top Taggart Field. Barnett not only caught a game-opening 59-yard TD pass on FSU's first offensive play of the season, but he also kicked off five times for 302 yards (60.4 average) with a touchback and served as the Bulldogs' punter. He punted four times for 190 yards, averaging 47.5 yards per punt, and pinned the Oilers all four times inside the 20-yard line, including three times inside the five-yard line which proved critical in the Bulldogs' victory.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Ryan Johnson (NMU), Logan Bolin (AU), Dakota Kupp (WSU), Ben Hartley (MTU), Bryant Kieft (NU), Ryan Conklin (SVSU), Travis Russel (FSU)
DEFENSE: Jacob Ager (NMU), Ryan Corkrean (AU), Nate LaJoie (MTU), Noah Brown (NU), Sam Heyboer (FSU), Tyler Bradfield (GVSU)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Daniel Riser (NMU), Satchel Denton (AU), Niccolo Selio (WSU), Jacob Wenzlick (MTU), Parker Blust (NU), Drew Franklin (SVSU), Josh Gorball (GVSU)
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