Marshall University Athletics
Wallace and Coke Named MAC East Players of the Week
11/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Wallace and Coke Named MAC East Players of the Week
11/3/2003
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Marshall University running back Butchie Wallace and linebacker Gladstone Coke have been named the Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively for their performance in the Herd's 42-24 win over Akron.
Wallace (a senior from Myrtle Beach, S.C.) rushed for 147 yards and scored a touchdown on 15 carries in a 42-24 win over Akron. Wallace averaged 9.8 yards per carry and led a ground game that set a stadium-record with 374 rushing yards. Wallace ranks eighth among MAC rushing leaders with 74.1 yards per game.
Coke (Sr., Moore Haven, Fla.) intercepted two Charlie Frye passes and returned them for a combined 51 yards in the Herd's win over Akron. Coke also recorded five tackles and limited the Zips' offense to two touchdowns on the day.
MAC East special teams player of the week honors went to Buffalo place kicker Dallas Pelz. Pelz set a school-record with five field goals (50, 44, 42, 47 and 39 yards) in UB's 56-29 loss at Toledo. Pelz set a UB single game record with 17 points and became the school's career leader in points by kicking with 138. Pelz has connected on nine consecutive field goals.
West Division Honorees:
Offense - Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo, quarterback
(So., Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Completed 92.0% of his pass attempts (23-of-25) which is a MAC- record for a minimum of 25 attempts and added a school record six touchdown passes in a 56-29 win over Buffalo. Gradkowski's 435 yards passing is second in school history to his 461 set earlier this season vs. Pittsburgh.
Offense - Jerry Seymour, Central Michigan, running back
(Fr., Miami, Fla.)
Seymour rushed for a career-high 207 yards and three touchdowns on 36 attempts in a 38-10 win over Eastern Michigan. Seymour helped the Chippewas overcome a 10-0 deficit and piled up the most rushing yards by a MAC player this season. He also caught four passes for 38 yards. The 207 rushing yards are the most by any MAC player this season and helped snap a seven-game MAC losing streak.
Defense - Lionel Hickenbottom, Northern Illinois, free safety
(Jr., Chicago, Ill.)
Hickenbottom collected a season-high 14 tackles (seven solo) and had an interception return of 18 yards that set up the Huskies third touchdown in a 48-23 win over Ball State in a showdown of one-loss teams. Hickenbottom also made a pass deflection and was on the field for 74 plays as NIU kept its hopes alive for a West Division title.
Special Teams - Adam Anderson, Western Michigan, punter
(Jr., Chesaning, Mich.)
Anderson averaged 46.2 yards per kick on six punts at Connecticut. He booted a long punt of 71 yards and placed three kicks inside the 20-yard line.