Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The nation's best.
Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke, Eastern Illinois wide receiver Erik
Lora, Lehigh linebacker Billy Boyko, Jacksonville defensive back/cornerback
Colby Walden, Southern Utah free safety Miles Killebrew and Samford defensive
back James Bradberry have been named The Sports Network FCS National Players
of the Week 4 for games ending Sept. 22.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion, Sophomore, 6-1, 195, QB, Atlanta, Ga.
As if his numbers weren't already impressive, Heinicke broke a number of
records in completing 55-of-79 passes for a Division I record 730 yards and
five touchdowns as ODU beat New Hampshire, 64-61, in CAA Football. The
sophomore added 65 rushing yards and one touchdown, also setting a new Division
I record with 791 yards of total offense. Heinicke was just six yards shy of
breaking the all-time college football record for a single-game passing mark.
Previously, the Division I record was held by Houston's David Klingler, who
threw for 716 yards in 1990 against Arizona State. The all-division passing
record was set earlier this season by Sam Durley (736 passing yards) of
Division III Eureka (Ill.) College.
Erik Lora, Eastern Illinois, R-Junior, 5-10, 181, WR, Miami, Fla.
Lora broke a school and Ohio Valley Conference record with 21 catches, for 269
yards and three touchdowns in Eastern Illinois' 50-49 overtime win versus
Murray State. The redshirt junior accounted for all three of his touchdowns in
the first quarter, and totaled 13 receptions for 172 yards after the first 15
minutes of play. On top of his outstanding performance, his biggest
contribution came in overtime as he threw the winning two-point conversion to
fellow receiver Von Wise off a reverse play, which won the game for EIU.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Billy Boyko, Lehigh, Senior, 6-2, 235, LB, Northampton, Pa.
Boyko had a key 39-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving Lehigh a
28-20 lead against Liberty with 6:06 to play. The senior also had 14 tackles,
including a sack, as the Mountain Hawks held on for the victory. It was their
13th straight regular-season victory dating back to last season. Lehigh is 4-0
for the first time since 2001.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Colby Walden, Jacksonville, Senior, 5-11, 185, DB/KR, Tampa, Fla.
After Jacksonville fell behind Dayton, 17-14, with 1:39 left in the game,
Walden took the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown. The
senior had to wait to pick up the Dayton squib-kick before breaking multiple
tackles on way to his team's 21-17, Pioneer Football League win. It was the
first time in the seven-game series that the road team came away with a
victory. Walden also added four tackles in the game.
CO-FRESHMEN OF THE WEEK
Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah, R-Freshman, 6-3, 201, FS, Henderson, Nev.
Killebrew finished with a career-high 15 stops in his team's 49-42 win at
Portland State. Only four tackles were assisted - 11 were solo - and he also
broke up a pass and assisted on a tackle for loss. It was the most tackles by
a Thunderbird since the 2009 season. Southern Utah also won its first-ever Big
Sky Conference contest while improving to 2-2.
James Bradberry, Samford, R-Freshman, 6-1, 198, DB, Pleasant Grove, Ala.
Bradberry picked off two passes in Samford's 25-21 comeback win at Western
Carolina. His first interception came late in the second quarter with WCU
threatening to score on the Samford 4-yard line. In the third quarter,
Bradberry picked off a pass and returned it 22 yards to the Western Carolina
16-yard line. It led to a crucial field goal, giving the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead,
before they scored 15 fourth-quarter points to pull away with the win. Samford
improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1995.
The Sports Network