The Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors are shared this week by Charlotte sophomore QB
Hasaan Klugh and Louisiana Tech junior WR
Carlos Henderson. Klugh threw three touchdowns and ran for another in the 49ers’ first C-USA victory over Florida Atlantic, while Henderson caught eight passes for a career-high 232 yards and three touchdowns in a win over WKU. The Defensive Player of the Week honor went to UTSA freshman LB
Josiah Tauaefa, who had 12 tackles and an interception in the Roadrunners victory over Southern Miss. The Special Teams Player of the Week award was given to Louisiana Tech junior K
Jonathan Barnes, who had a career-long 54-yard field goal as part of a 13-point night in a win oveer WKU. C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Klugh finished 14-of-17 (82.4 percent) through the air for 223 yards in his first collegiate start as Charlotte won its first Conference USA game in school history at Florida Atlantic Sunday afternoon. Klugh tossed three touchdown passes, including a long of 69 yards to Austin Duke in the second quarter. His other scoring passes were a 37-yard toss to T.L. Ford II with 23 seconds left before halftime, giving the 49ers the lead they would never relinquish again. It capped a drive of exactly 90 seconds, covering 75 yards in seven plays. Klugh’s final touchdown pass was a three-yarder to Justin Bolus in the third quarter, widening the halftime lead to 28-17, just 4:48 into the second half. Klugh also ran for 54 yards on 14 carries and another touchdown. His longest carry was 28 yards, while he scored from two yards out in the first quarter. His three touchdowns through the air ties him for fourth on the single-game school list.
Henderson returned from injury to have a career night in LA Tech’s 55-52 conference win over WKU Thursday night – eight catches for 232 receiving yards (career high) and three touchdowns (career high). The 232 receiving yards by Henderson tied for the eighth-most in school history and the most since Quinton Patton had 233 yards receiving on Oct. 13, 2012 vs. Texas A&M in Shreveport. Henderson now has six games of 100+ receiving yards in his career, which is tied for ninth in school history.
Tauaefa's excellent start to his first season as a Roadrunner continued in Saturday's 55-32 home victory against Southern Miss. The redshirt freshman linebacker racked up a game-high 12 tackles, the third double-digit effort of his debut campaign, and he added the first interception of his career late in the fourth quarter when the Golden Eagles were threatening to make it a one-score game. He now has a team-leading 58 stops this year (3rd C-USA/11th FBS), which tops all freshmen in the FBS, and his 11.6 tackles per game ranks third nationally.
Barnes accounted for 13 points, including going two-for-two on field goal attempts in LA Tech’s 55-52 win over Conference USA foe WKU Thursday night, bringing his season total to 10-of-12 and his career total to 44-of-55. He has now made eight straight field goals on the season, including a career-long 54-yard field goal Thursday against the Hilltoppers that gave the Bulldogs a 55-38 lead with 11 minutes to go in the game. It tied for the third longest field goal in program history. Barnes also went 7-of-7 on extra-point attempts, making it 94 straight for the redshirt junior.
2016 WINNERS:
Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Mike White, QB, WKU; Sept. 12 – Trent Taylor, WR, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 19 – I’Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 26 - I’Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee; Oct. 3 – Allenzae Staggers, KR, Southern Miss; Oct. 10 – Hasaan Klugh, QB, Charlotte and Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech.
Defensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 12 – Anthony Wilson, LB, Old Dominion; Sept. 19 – Shaquille Huff, DT, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 26 – Kishawn McClain, S, North Texas; Oct. 3 – Anthony Wint, LB, FIU; Oct. 10 – Josiah Tauaefa, DE, UTSA.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Parker Shaunfield, K, Southern Miss; Sept. 12 – Allenzae Staggers, KR, Southern Miss; Sept. 19 – Nacarius Fant, KR/PR, WKU; Sept. 26 – Tyler Wilson, KR, North Texas; Oct. 3 – Nacarius Fant, KR/PR, WKU; Oct. 10 – Jonathan Barnes, K, Louisiana Tech.