DALLAS – After a big performance for the Gamecocks in its win over WKU, Jax State QB Zion Webb was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week. FIU LB Reggie Peterson took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a 10-tackle performance with an interception in a double-overtime win at Sam Houston. Webb’s teammate, K Alen Karajic was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on a game-winning 41-yard field goal as time expired for the Gamecocks. The 2023 CUSA Players of the Week awards are presented by Blenders Eyewear and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Webb rebounded from a slow start against CUSA preseason favorite WKU and ended up leading the Gamecocks to a come-from-behind 20-17 win over the Hilltoppers on Tuesday night. He ran for a career-high 146 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, while also throwing for 218 yards on 22-for-39 passing to account for a career-high 364 yards of total offense. Trailing 17-10 with less than nine minutes to play, the Phenix City, Alabama, native orchestrated two scoring drives: an 11-play, 91-yard touchdown drive to tie the game with 4:40 to play and a 10-play, 45-yard drive that ended with the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Peterson recorded a game-high 10 tackles (nine solo) and registered his second career interception, which he returned for 61 yards in FIU’s 33-27 double-overtime win at Sam Houston on Wednesday night. The Fort Pierce, Florida, native now has three games with nine or more tackles this season and a pair with 10 or more.
Karajic was the hero in Jax State’s come-from-behind 20-17 win over WKU, making a 41-yard field goal as time expired to win the game. He was 2-for-2 on field goals in the game, making the 41-yard winner and a 23-yarder in the second quarter, while also making both of his extra point attempts. The Chattanooga, Tennessee, native’s winner was the first game-winning field goal as time expired by a Gamecock since Griffin Thomas beat Chattanooga in 2012, and was the longest game-winning field goal by a Gamecock since Thomas made a 44-yarder to beat Tennessee State in 2012.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week
A28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
S4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
S11 – RB Kejon Owens, FIU
S18 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
S25 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
O2 – QB Logan Smothers, Jax State
O9 – WR Malachi Corley, WKU
O16 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
O23 – QB Zion Webb, Jax State
Defensive Player of the Week
A28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
S4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
S11 – LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
S18 – LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
S25 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O2 – LB Bryson Washington, WKU
O9 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O16 – DL Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
O23 – LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
Special Teams Player of the Week
A28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
S4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
S11 – K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
S18 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
S25 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
O2 – PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
O9 – P Max Morgan, Liberty
O16 – P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
O23 – K Alen Karajic, Jax State
-ConferenceUSA.com-
