PSAC Football Athletes of the Week – 2
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference office announced this week’s football athletes of the week. From the PSAC East, Shepherd University’s Tyson Bagent was Offensive Athlete of the Week, Michael Gobora of West Chester University was Defensive Athlete of the Week, and Millersville University’s Zach Banta was the special teams honoree. In the West, California University of Pennsylvania’s JaQuae Jackson was Offensive Athlete of the Week, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Rauyna Mitchell and Dylan Grubbs were the top defensive and special teams athletes.
EAST
Offensive Athlete of the Week
13/14 Shepherd
Tyson Bagent
Junior
Quarterback
Martinsburg, W.Va. / Martinsburg
Bagent continued to prove why he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the country, helping Shepherd to a crossover win against Gannon, 56-26. Bagent finished the day going 29-of-37 for 363 yards and five touchdowns. He also added four carries for 23 yards.
Defensive Athlete of the Week
(RV) West Chester
Michael Gobora
Sophomore
Defensive Tackle
Newtown, Pa. / Pennsbury
Michael Gobora led West Chester with eight tackles in West Chester's win over Mercyhurst Saturday. He registered five tackles for a loss, including 3.5 sacks while forcing a fumble as well. His five tackles for a loss is tied for third most in a single game in school history while his 3.5 sacks is tied for fifth most in a game.
Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Millersville
Zach Banta
Redshirt Sophomore
Tight End/Punter
Lancaster, Pa. / Penn Manor
Zach Banta played a key role in Millersville’s 21-17 win over Clarion, especially late in the game when Millersville held on to a narrow lead. He reversed field position twice in the fourth quarter when Millersville was trying to run out the clock. One of those punts was a career-long 61-yarder. Banta averaged 44.7 yards on six punts. In addition to his 61-yarder, he hit punts of 45 and 47 in the first half, the latter of which was placed on the Clarion 7. He also dropped a 35-yarder on the Clarion 12.
WEST
Offensive Athlete of the Week
(RV) Cal U
JaQuae Jackson
Sophomore
Wide Receiver
Pittsburg, Pa. / Serra Catholic
Jackson recorded a breakout game by totaling 219 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns (69, 47) on Saturday, as Cal U rolled to a 59-0 victory over Lock Haven in league crossover play at home. He set career highs in every statistical category in the win, finishing with eight catches, 219 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson entered play with 208 yards and two scores on 15 receptions in his career. The Pittsburgh native is the first player with 200 receiving yards in a game since Week 8 of the 2017 campaign. Jackson made five catches for 150 yards in just the first quarter behind a 69-yard score and later added a 47-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half.
Defensive Athlete of the Week
15/20 IUP
Raunya Mitchell
Junior
Defensive Tackle
Harrisburg, Pa. / Susquehanna Twp.
Raunya Mitchell made the biggest defensive play of the game, picking off a batted pass and returning it 26 yards for a touchdown with 6:30 left in the game. The scoring play gave IUP a 29-19 lead and would go on to win 29-26. Mitchell finished the game with four tackles and that pick-6.
Special Teams Athlete of the Week
15/20 IUP
Dylan Grubbs
Sophomore
Punter
Zelienople, Pa. / Seneca Valley
Dylan Grubbs played a big role for IUP in its 29-26 comeback win over Kutztown Saturday, averaging 50.6 yards on five punts. Two of his five punts went for more than 50 yards, including a career-long 66-yarder, while two landed inside the Kutztown 20-yard line.
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.