INDIANAPOLIS – Five different teams picked up non-conference wins during Week 2 as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Football Players of the Week were released on Monday afternoon.
The next two weeks on the schedule include a scheduling alliance with the Great Lakes Valley Conference before conference play officially starts in Week 5 on Saturday, October 2.
Lake Erie and No. 15 ranked Tiffin are the unbeatens at 2-0. The Storm endured an unexpected delay that pushed their start time back against Franklin Pierce but emerged with a regional victory in New Hampshire, 31-20.
QB Gerald Gardner threw for almost 300 yards while RB Devin Brown scored two TD’s. After a Week 1 win vs. Clarion, the Storm have gone on the road twice now to pull out victories in an impressive start for head coach Reilly Murphy and his program.
Another road victory secured by the Great Midwest was Kentucky Wesleyan edging Kentucky State. David Florence had a big day with nine catches for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Peyton Peters pulled in the game winning score inside the red zone with under two minutes remaining.
Findlay put one up in the win column against UNC Pembroke with about 48 hours to prepare for a late addition to the schedule. Matt Winzeler connected with Mike Rigerman from four yards for the decisive scoring sequence in OT.
Ohio Dominican bounced back from the Week 1 heartbreaker vs. Shepherd to keep Virginia State in check for a 10-7 win. The Panthers did all scoring in the first half and the defense came up big with either turnovers on downs or timely interceptions.
Tiffin’s strong start continued against future conference member Northwood. The Dragons held the Timberwolves to just six points on the scoreboard and have won eight straight since winning the spring league title.
Ashland fell in a tough matchup against No. 2 ranked Ferris State and Hillsdale’s homestand against No. 12 ranked UIndy fell just short in a 35-31 final. Walsh was in a defensive struggle against Davenport as the Cavaliers fell 10-6.
Offensive Player of the Week
Derek Lynch
Findlay
Running Back
Junior
Bloomfield Hills, MI (Bloomfield Hills HS)
Lynch shredded a pair of longstanding single-game conference records as the Oilers beat UNC Pembroke at home in overtime. Lynch was Findlay’s workhorse in its truest form while getting 45 carries and gaining 303 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Lynch averaged 6.7 yards per tote and reeled off a long run of 72 yards against the Braves. He also had one reception for seven yards out of the backfield. Lynch is the first player in conference history to rush for 300+ yards.
Lynch’s 303 yards established a new record while he passed Kentucky Wesleyan’s Josiah Israel, who had 237 vs. Alfred State back in 2016. The 45 rush attempts is also a new conference best; current teammate Brian Benson had 40 against Walsh in 2018 and former Alderson Broaddus RB Brandon James also had 40 carries in 2016 vs. Malone.
At 5-6, Lynch showed his ability in between the tackles to score from near the goal line for a pair of 1-yard plunges. In both cases, Lynch’s rushing scores were game-tying plays and his third quarter run capped a nine-play scoring drive.
Lynch is now averaging 154 yards per game and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry on the season.
Defensive Player of the Week
Brady Blattner
Ohio Dominican
Linebacker
RS Sophomore
Byesville, OH (Meadowbrook HS)
Blattner and the Ohio Dominican defense made sure the Virginia State success rate on offense was minimal as the Panthers showed their grit in a defensive struggle.
Blattner filled up the box score with 13 tackles, including six solo, while recording 2.5 stops for a loss and came up with an interception.
Blattner paced ODU and established a new career-high total in tackles. The Panthers allowed just seven points on the scoreboard and his first interception stalled a Virginia State drive in the red zone.
Blattner has 16 tackles in his first two games. His tackles for a loss total matches teammates Eddie Miller-Garrett and Chance Canady for a tie for second in the league behind KWC’s Dalan Cofer.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Peyton Brown
Lake Erie
Kick Returner/WR
Junior
Fairfield, OH (Fairfield HS)
Brown’s playmaking ability has helpd the Storm out to a 2-0 start after Lake Erie was picked to finish last in this year’s preseason poll voted by the coaches.
Not only is the 5-11 junior ranked second in the conference in receiving yards per game, but he provided a highlight play on special teams in Week 2 as Lake Erie beat NE-10 and Super Region 1 opponent Franklin Pierce.
Brown returned a kickoff 90 yards to the house with no time left on the clock in the third quarter, a play that gave Lake Erie a 24-13 lead.
It was the 15th kickoff return for a touchdown in conference history and all but four of those have been 90 yards or more. He also had a 33-yard kickoff return during the game.
Brown also made an impact in the passing game while catching six balls for 81 yards. That follows an impressive Week 1 effort vs. Clarion when he pulled in eight catches for 126 yards.