ZAPPE, THOMAS, RICE TAKE HOME C-USA POTW HONORS

DALLAS – Following an afternoon where he completed 33-45 passes for 393 yards with five total touchdowns (one rushing) in a win over Charlotte, WKU QB Bailey Zappe was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week. Middle Tennessee LB DQ Thomas took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following an impressive performance in a win over Southern Miss, after he recorded a team-high 10 tackles, two of which were for loss, and had a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown. Old Dominion K Nick Rice was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after knocking through three field goals, including a 46-yard game-winner as time expired giving the Monarchs a victory over Louisiana Tech. The 2021 C-USA Players of the Week awards are presented by Surf & Turf Golf and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.

Zappe completed 33-of-45 passes (73.3%) for 393 yards, with four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in WKU’s 45-13 win over Charlotte on Saturday. As the Hilltoppers led 35-13 at the end of the third quarter, Zappe was already 30-40 (75%) for 361 yards, with all five of his total touchdowns. Zappe did throw two interceptions for the first time this season – one of which was a dropped ball by a receiver that popped into the air and was grabbed by the defense. Overall, Zappe is 279-391 (71.4%) for 3,407 yards (FBS-best 425.9 yards per game) with 33 touchdowns (leads FBS), compared to only six interceptions (one every 65.2 attempts). Zappe has thrown for at least 365+ yards and three or more touchdowns in all eight games so far this season. This marks Zappe’s third Offensive Player of the Week honor this season.

Thomas scored Middle Tennessee’s second defensive touchdown of the game when he picked off a Southern Miss pass and took it 43 yards to the house in the third quarter. It highlighted a monster day for Thomas, who had a team-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, to go with two quarterback hurries and the interception. Thomas played in his 55th career Blue Raider game in the 35-10 win over Southern Miss, which ties Jovante Moffatt (2015-19) for the most games played in school history.

Rice was 3-for-3 on field goals, including the game-winning 46-yarder as time expired, in ODU’s 23-20 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday. Rice connected on kicks of 36, 29 and 46 in ODU’s victory, the team’s first in conference play since 2018. Rice was also 2-for-2 on extra points, giving him 11 points on the day.

2021 WINNERS

Offensive Player of the Week – Aug. 30 – WR Jacob Cowing, UTEP, Sept. 6 – QB Chris Reynolds, Charlotte, Sept. 13 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU and QB N’Kosi Perry, Florida Atlantic, Sept. 20 – TE Gerrit Prince, UAB, Sept. 27 – QB Chris Reynolds, Charlotte, Oct. 4 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU, Oct. 11 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA, Oct 18 – WR Jerreth Sterns, WKU, Oct. 25 – QB Wiley Green, Rice, Nov. 1 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU.

Defensive Player of the Week – Aug. 30 – S Dy’Vonne Inyang, UTEP, Sept. 6 – LB Eli Neal, Marshall, Sept. 13 – DB BeeJay Williamson, Louisiana Tech, Sept. 20 – DL Trumane Bell II, UTSA, Sept. 27 – LB Clarence Hicks, UTSA and S A.J. Brathwaite, Jr., WKU, Oct. 4 – S Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, Oct. 11 – DE Alex Wright, UAB, Oct. 18 – DE Jadrian Taylor, UTEP, Oct. 25 – S Gabe Taylor, Rice, Nov. 1 – LB DQ Thomas, Middle Tennessee.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Aug. 30 – K Gavin Baechle, UTEP, Sept. 6 – K Hunter Duplessis, UTSA, Sept. 13 – PR Sheldon Jones, UTSA, Sept. 20 – P Kyle Greenwell, UAB, Sept. 27 – K Hunter Duplessis, UTSA, Oct. 4 – KR Camron Harrell, Southern Miss, Oct. 11 – KR Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte, Oct. 18 – S Grayson Cash, Oct. 25 – K Brayden Narveson, WKU, Nov. 1 – K Nick Rice, Old Dominion.

-ConferenceUSA.com-