RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the football players of the week for the opening week of the 2024 season. Southern Arkansas’ Judd Barton won Offensive Player Player of the Week; Ouachita Baptist’s Mikey Gonzalez claimed Defensive Player of the Week and Harding’s Magnus Lepak earned Special Teams Player of the Week.
#theGAC FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Judd Barton, QB, Southern Arkansas, Jr., Alexandria, Louisiana
Barton completed 16-of-22 passes for 208 yards and ran for 89 yards as the Muleriders overcame a 14-point deficit for a 36-31 road win against Southeastern Oklahoma State. He threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jakarion Lockett and connected with Kadyn Roach on an 82-yard go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
#theGAC FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Mikey Gonzalez, DE, Ouachita Baptist, Sr., Tampa, Florida
Gonzalez picked up eight tackles in the Tigers’ 42-3 home victory against Southwestern Oklahoma State. He registered 3.5 tackles-for-loss – including 2.0 sacks. He forced a fumble on a sack on the opening series of the second half. The Tiger defense registered 17 tackles for loss as they won their 17th-straight home opener.
#theGAC FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Magnus Lepak, K, Harding, So., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Lepak made all nine of his kicks in the Bisons’ 59-0 home triumph against Southern Nazarene. In addition to eight extra points, he made a 33-yard field goal. On his 10 kickoffs, he finished with four touchdowns. The Crimson Storm gained a total of only nine return yards.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Luke Gall, RB (Arkansas Tech), Eli Livingston, QB (Ouachita Baptist), Andrew Miller, FB (Harding), Beck Moss, QB (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Frederick O’Donald, RB (Henderson State), Charles Whitebear, WR (Oklahoma Baptist)
Scooter Baker, LB (Oklahoma Baptist), Aiden Lewis, LB (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Gary Lewis, DE (Henderson State), CJ Palmer, DB (Arkansas Tech), Cayden Pierce, LB (Harding), Melvin Smith Jr., DB (Southern Arkansas), Tyveon Williams, DB (Southeastern Oklahoma State)
Christopher Baldazo, K (Arkansas Tech), Connor Flannigan, PR (Ouachita Baptist), Kolby King, K (Henderson State), Darius Melton, KR (Oklahoma Baptist), Matthew Sebade, P (Northwestern Oklahoma State)