DALLAS – After a career-best performance for the undefeated and
AP No. 25 Flames in their win over LA Tech, Liberty
RB Quinton Cooley was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week. Sam Houston
DB Da’Marcus Crosby took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a 10-tackle performance with an interception in the Bearkats’ first win as an FBS program, over Kennesaw State. His teammate
K Colby Sessums was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on a game-winning 35-yard field goal as time expired on Saturday afternoon to beat the Owls at home. The 2023 CUSA Players of the Week awards are presented by
Blenders Eyewear and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Cooley led Liberty’s rushing attack with a career-high 179 rushing yards on 23 carries (7.8 yards per carry) and a pair of touchdowns in the Flames’ 56-30 win over LA Tech on Saturday. The Bailey, North Carolina, native has scored two or more rushing touchdowns in three of the last four game and this marked his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, which are the most 100-yard rushing games by a Liberty player in a single season since 2014. The junior is the driving force behind Liberty being ranked second in the country in rushing offense (283.3 yards per game). Cooley leads all running backs in CUSA in rushing yards (109.0 per game) and scoring (54 points/nine TDs) on the season.
Crosby led the Bearkats' defense Saturday against Kennesaw State, helping the Kats get their first win as an FBS program. The Sam Houston defensive back led the team with 10 total tackles, his second consecutive 10-stop game, but his biggest play came when he picked off an Owl pass with 2:59 to play in the game at the Bearkats’ 46-yard line. It would be the final offensive play of the game for Kennesaw State as the Kats went down the field and kicked a walk-off, 35-yard field goal as time expired for the win. Crosby's performance led the Kats' defensive effort that was outstanding in the second half, holding KSU to only 56 yards, 2 first downs and only 16 total plays, and marked Sam Houston’s third second-half shutout of the year.
Sessums nailed a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bearkats a 24-21 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday, the Kats’ first-ever win as an FBS program. The Haslet, Texas, native was also 3-3 on PATs, and he is now 17-for-17 on the year. Sessums is now 7-10 on field goals this season, including a perfect 5-5 on tries between 30-39 yards.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week
A28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
S4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
S11 – RB Kejon Owens, FIU
S18 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
S25 - QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
O2 – QB Logan Smothers, Jax State
O9 – WR Malachi Corley, WKU
O16 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
O23 – QB Zion Webb, Jax State
O30 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
N6 – RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
Defensive Player of the Week
A28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
S4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
S11 – LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
S18 – LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
S25 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O2 – LB Bryson Washington, WKU
O9 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O16 – DL Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
O23 – LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
O30 – DL J-Rock Swain, Jax State
N6 – DB Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
Special Teams Player of the Week
A28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
S4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
S11 – K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
S18 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
S25 - P Jack Dawson, Jax State
O2 – PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
O9 – P Max Morgan, Liberty
O16 – P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
O23 – K Alen Karajic, Jax State
O30 – K Buzz Flabiano, UTEP
N6 – K Colby Sessums, Sam Houston