OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zac Thomas, Appalachian State (Redshirt Junior, Quarterback, Trussville, Ala.)
Zac Thomas, Appalachian State redshirt junior quarterback, scored both of the Mountaineers’ touchdowns in leading App State to a 17-7 road win over Louisiana. The junior QB was an efficient 11-for-17 passing for 147 yards and was a difference maker with his feet, rushing for 63 yards on 15 carries including a pair of 7-yard touchdown runs. His first score capped a seven-play, 95-yard drive in the first quarter. His naked bootleg score with 1:55 left in the game capped a decisive 19-play, 97-yard drive that took 10:11 off the clock and proved to be the game’s final points. Thomas led the Mountaineers to their 11th straight victory overall and a 2-0 start in Sun Belt play.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State (Senior, Linebacker, Thomasville, N.C.)
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State’s senior linebacker, led a stout defensive effort in the Mountaineers’ 17-7 road win over the Ragin’ Cajuns, totaling a team-high 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 0.5 sack. Davis-Gaither was making plays all over the field against Louisiana’s rushing attack that entered the game as the nation’s leader in rushing yards. App State held the home team to a season-low 123 rushing yards and seven points. Louisiana was held 37.4 points below its season scoring average, 286.0 yards below its average for total offense per game and 191.0 yards below its average for rushing yards per game. Louisiana's longest play from scrimmage against App State's defense was a 22-yard run, and its longest pass gained 21 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rhys Byrns, Louisiana (Sophomore, Punter, Melbourne, Australia)
Louisiana sophomore punter, Rhys Byrns, played a pivotal role in flipping the field position in Louisiana's game against Appalachian State with six punts on the night. Of his six attempts, four went for over 50 yards, a new career high. The sophomore averaged 49.3 yards per punt on the night. Byrns also put four punts inside the 20, also a career high. Three of the four punts inside the 20 settled inside the five-yard line.
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 2: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
September 9: Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
September 16: Kaleb Barker, Troy
September 23: Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
September 30: Omar Bayless, Arkansas State
October 7: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
October 14: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
Defensive Player
September 2: Carlton Martial, Troy
September 9: Chandler Kryst, Coastal Carolina
September 16: Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern
September 23: Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
September 30: Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana
October 7: Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern
October 14: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
Special Teams Player
September 2: Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
September 9: Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern
September 16: Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern
September 23: Joshua Rowland, Texas State
September 30: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 7: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 14: Rhys Byrns, Louisiana