LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its Football Athletes of the Week for Week 4 of the 2023 season. From the East, Millersville's Jaheim Morris (Offensive Athlete of the Week) and Zach Banta (Special Teams) were selected, with Kutztown's Gabe Gipli (Defense) rounding out the awards in that division. In the West, Slippery Rock's Brayden Long (Offense), Gannon's Kam Snell (Defense), and Edinboro's Reed Martin (Special Teams) earned the weekly honors.
Eastern Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
Jaheim Morris
Millersville
Running Back
Junior
Harrisburg, Pa. / Cedar Cliff
Jaheim Morris led Millersville to its first win over West Chester since 2002 by rushing 30 times for a career-high 177 yards and a touchdown. Morris became the first Marauder since 2013 to have 30 rushes in a game. He scored the game's first touchdown in the first quarter and also had a season-long run of 40 yards.
Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Gabe Gipli
Kutztown
Defensive Line
Redshirt Senior
Levittown, Pa. / Harry S. Truman
Gabe Gipli was a force around the ball on the defensive line for Kutztown in its victory over nationally-ranked Shepherd on the road last weekend. The redshirt-senior finished with three tackles, came away with an interception and, not only forced a fumble but recovered it as well. The KU defense forced five turnovers and gave up just 189 yards of total offense.
Eastern Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Zach Banta
Millersville
Punter
Senior
Millersville, Pa. / Penn Manor
Zach Banta broke a Millersville record with an 83-yard punt in the win over West Chester. With the line of scrimmage at the Millersville 12, he flipped field position at a crucial moment of the second quarter, booting the punt to the West Chester 5. Banta finished the game with six punts for an average of 47.2 yards per punt.
Western Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
Brayden Long
Slippery Rock
Quarterback
Junior
Hanover, Pa. / New Oxford
Long accounted for four of The Rock's five touchdowns in a 35-14 road win at Seton Hill Saturday. He completed 20-of-35 passes for 213 yards with three touchdowns through the air while also rushing for one score on the ground and finishing with 11 rushing yards in the game. Long has thrown at least three touchdowns and accounted for at least four touchdowns in each of the last three straight games. Slippery Rock matched East Stroudsburg for the highest total offensive output in the opening week of divisional play and The Rock's 35 points were the most in the PSAC West this week.
Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Kam Snell
Gannon
Defensive Back
Redshirt Junior
Owings Mills, Md./Good Counsel
Snell finished with three tackles (all solo) and a pass broken up, along with the biggest defensive play of the game. With Gannon trailing 20-17 early in the fourth quarter he stepped in front of a pass at the Clarion 16 and returned it for the deciding touchdown in a 27-20 win. Gannon was down 20-0 at one point and the victory was the largest comeback in GU history. Snell's interception was his third of the season and the touchdown was the first of his career.
Western Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Reed Martin
Edinboro
Punter/Kicker
Junior
Plum, Pa. / Plum
Reed Martin punted five times for an average of 48.8 yards per punt with a long of 63. He is now averaging a PSAC best 45.3 yards per punt. He recorded two more punts of over 50 yards and now has seven on the season, which is also a PSAC-best mark. He was also 1-for-1 on field goals connecting on a 28 yarder to open the scoring against the California (Pa.) Vulcans.