DALLAS – After completing 16-29 passes for 236 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a season-opening 31-13 conference win at UTEP, North Texas QB Austin Aune was voted C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. Florida Atlantic DB Justin McKithen took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a strong performance in a league win over Charlotte, including a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown. McKithen’s teammate, K Morgan Suarez was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on three field goals for the Owls in their season-opening victory. The 2022 C-USA Players of the Week awards are presented by Blenders Eyewear and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Making his first opening day start since his senior year of high school in 2011, Aune continued his success against UTEP in his career. The junior from Argyle completed 16-29 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns. He helped UNT go a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone and score a road conference win to begin the year for the first time since 2005. Aune completed passes to eight different receivers. It was also UNT’s first double-digit win on the road to open a season since taking down Ball State 20-10 in 2009. Aune continued his stellar career against the Miners in his third start against them, as he now has 778 passing yards, nine touchdown passes and no interceptions with a 3-0 record.
McKithen collected a tipped pass and saw nothing but green grass down the Florida Atlantic sideline, a sideline that he followed 63 yards and into the end zone with 0:17 left in the first half. The score put the Owls up 26-7 and sent FAU into the halftime locker room in control of the game. The Owls would rattle off 33 unanswered points and outscore Charlotte 36-6 following the two teams’ first drives and a 7-7 tie. McKithen and FAU’s defense would hold the 49ers to 217 total yards. McKithen accounted for the games’ lone turnover, a defensive score and added three tackles, including two solo. McKithen earned profootballnetwork.com first team national recognition for his efforts.
Suarez battled for kicking duties throughout the offseason and well into the final week of practice and responded by connecting on each of the three field goals attempted, including two from 40-plus yards. His first attempt was a 43-yarder that put the Owls up 10-7. His second, a 19-yarder, gave FAU a 20-7 lead, and his third proved his first was no fluke by sailing through the uprights from 42 yards out. He also made good on four extra point attempts to bring his game total to 13 points. Suarez earned profootballnetwork.com second team national recognition for his efforts.
2022 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week – Aug. 29 – QB Austin Aune, North Texas
Defensive Player of the Week – Aug. 29 – DB Justin McKithen, Florida Atlantic
Special Teams Player of the Week – Aug. 29 – K Morgan Suarez, Florida Atlantic
-ConferenceUSA.com-
