LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its Football Athletes of the Week for Week 2 of the 2024 season. In the Western Division, California's Davis Black was named the Offensive Athlete of the Week while a pair of IUP Crimson Hawks earned the other awards: Garrett Cox was named Defensive Athlete of the Week while Nick Andrasi was Special Teams Athlete of the Week. In the Eastern Division, East Stroudsburg's Tyriq Lewis (Offensive), Kutztown's Brandon Hile (Defensive), and Shippensburg's Tanner Hess (Special Teams) earned the honors.
PSAC Western Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
Davis Black
California
Quarterback
Senior
Byesville, Ohio / Meadowbrook
Black accounted for four touchdowns (three rushing) and 321 yards of total offense as the Vulcans posted a 38-28 victory at West Chester last Saturday. He finished with 248 passing yards on 15-of-24 attempts with one touchdown and zero interceptions, plus added 73 rushing yards and three scores on eight carries. Black helped seal the victory with a 60-yard touchdown run to give California a 38-21 lead with 5:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Ohio native has rushed for three touchdowns twice in the last six games dating back to last year.
PSAC Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Garrett Cox
IUP
Linebacker
Redshirt Senior
Avondale, Pa. / Kennett
Cox was critical to IUP's road victory over Lock Haven on Saturday, 20-17. He tallied seven tackles (2.5 for loss), including a sack, but his most important contribution came on the final offensive play for Lock Haven. With the Bald Eagles down three points and driving with about a minute left to play, Cox secured the victory with a pass breakup on a 4th and 4 from the Bald Eagles, batting the ball down to give the ball back to IUP.
PSAC Western Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Nick Andrasi
IUP
Kicker
Junior
York, Pa. / York Catholic
Andrasi came up clutch late in the game in the Crimson Hawks' 20-17 win over Lock Haven, connecting on a pair of fouth-quarter field goals. He booted a 34-yarder to give IUP a 17-10 lead on the first drive of the final quarter, then hit from 38 yards on the very next drive to make it a two-score game, 20-10, with 5:39 left in the game.
PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
Tyriq Lewis
East Stroudsburg
Tailback
Graduate Student
Downingtown, Pa. / Downingtown West
Lewis led ESU's ground game with 122 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's 24-7 victory over Gannon, averaging 6.4 yards per carry for his sixth career 100-yard performance.. His success in the run game helped ESU possess the ball for over 37 minutes in the game, and Lewis currently leads the PSAC in yards per carry (7.2) through three games.
PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Brandon Hile
Kutztown
Linebacker
Junior
Winfield, Pa. / Selinsgrove
Hile was a force for the No. 9 Kutztown defense that held fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opponent Edinboro without a point last Saturday. Hile posted six tackles (the second-most on KU), 1.5 sacks, and an interception, which swung momentum and turned into KU points quickly on offense. Led by Hile's efforts, the KU defense forced six punts and five three-and-out series by the Fighting Scot offense, pushing the Golden Bears to a 2-0 start.
PSAC Eastern Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Tanner Hess
Shippensburg
Kick Returner/Running Back
Redshirt Junior
Lancaster, Pa. / Hempfield
Hess recorded 181 all-purpose yards and a special teams score in the Raiders' 24-21 victory over the Clarion Golden Eagles Saturday at SU's Seth Grove Stadium. Hess set the tone for a crazy and memorable day for the Raiders by returning Saturday's opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. He also added a 43-yard kick return late in the first half. Hess finished with 148 kick return yards and boasted an average of 49.3 yards per return in three attempts. Saturday's performance also marks the second consecutive week Hess has reached 100-or-more kick return yards, as he also had 100 in Week 1 at AIC.