C-USA FB: Oct. 24 Players of the Week

DALLAS – After amassing 313 yards of total offense and two scores in a thrilling rivalry win over North Texas Saturday afternoon, UAB QB Frank Harris was voted C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. WKU DB Kahlef Hailassie took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a monster performance, as he was involved in three WKU forced turnovers, to help lift the Hilltoppers to an important 20-17 win over UAB on Friday night. UTEP K Gavin Baechle was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season after going 3-3 on field goals, including a game-winning 27-yard field goal as time expired in a win over Florida Atlantic. 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.

Harris accounted for 313 yards of offense and a pair of touchdowns to help lead UTSA to a thrilling 31-27 victory over North Texas in a battle for first place in Conference USA on Saturday in San Antonio. The senior quarterback completed 27-39 passes for 238 yards and two TDs and also ran for 75 yards. The Roadrunners matched a school record with 95 plays and piled up 495 yards, including a season-high 257 on the ground. Harris engineered a game-winning, 75-yard drive with no timeouts and 1:38 left to play. On the first play, he scampered 22 yards on a QB draw. He later completed a two-yard pass to Zakhari Franklin on fourth down to keep the drive alive before finding Oscar Cardenas open over the middle for a one-handed, 33-yard catch. With the clock winding down, Harris tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to De’Corian Clark on a fade route in the left corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score with 15 seconds remaining. He now ranks third in the FBS with a league-leading 363.4 yards of total offense per game this season.

Hailassie had one of the best games of his career in WKU’s Friday night win over UAB. The redshirt junior was involved in three of the WKU defense’s four forced turnovers on the night. Hailassie recovered one fumble, forced another that was recovered by a teammate, and came up with a critical interception late in the game to preserve the WKU lead, so the offense could run out the clock and secure the victory. With the Hilltoppers leading 20-17 in the closing minutes, UAB drove all the way to the WKU 10-yard line, threatening to tie or take the lead. On third down, the Blazers threw a pass to the front corner of the end zone which Hailassie intercepted to get the ball back to the offense. Hailassie also added five tackles to his stat line with a half tackle for loss.

Baechle connected on a 27-yard field goal as time expired that lifted UTEP to a 24-21 victory over Florida Atlantic after being down 14-6 late in the third quarter. Baechle’s field goal was not just the game winner, but it was the 51st of his career, which set the program’s record for field goals made. Baechle is also 15-for-16 in 2022, nailing his last 15 attempts. It’s the longest streak of his career and longest since the 2008 season for a UTEP kicker. Baechle tied his career best with three field goals, the first of which came on a 29-yard attempt to open the scoring in the second quarter. Baechle added his second field goal in the second quarter on a 32-yard make. Baechle leads C-USA with 15 made field goals and field goals per game (1.9). His 93.8 percentage (15-16) ranks second in the league. Nationally, Baechle is tied for second nationally in field goals made.

2022 WINNERS

Offensive Player of the Week

A29 – QB Austin Aune, North Texas

S5 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA

S12 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA

S19 – RB DeWayne McBride, UAB

S26 – QB Chase Cunningham, Middle Tennessee

O3 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA

O10 – WR Trea Shropshire, UAB

O17 – QB Dylan Hopkins, UAB

O24 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA

Defensive Player of the Week