LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its Football Athletes of the Week for Week 7 of the 2026 season. In the Western Division, Slippery Rock's JayJay Jordan (Offensive Athlete of the Week) is joined by Co-Defensive Athletes of the Week Wilfredo Diaz (California) and Shamarr Joppy (Edinboro) as well as Special Teams Athlete of the Week Evan Zankl (Edinboro.) In the Eastern Division, East Stroudsburg's Matt Machalik is the Offensive Athlete of the Week while Bloomsburg's Nahzier Booker (Defensive Athlete of the Week) and Peter Kashynski (Special Teams Athlete of the Week) were also selected.
PSAC Western Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
JayJay Jordan
Slippery Rock
Running Back
Senior
Reading, Pa. / Berks Catholic
Jordan ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns and finished with a game-high 170 all-purpose yards to lead Slippery Rock to a 42-26 win on the road at nationally-ranked IUP. He averaged 7.7 yards per carry against an IUP rush defense that, entering the game, was ranked No. 5 in the PSAC and No. 2 in the Western Division. Jordan's two touchdowns give him 18 rushing TD and 20 total TD on the year to rank No. 1 among all players in Division II in both categories.
PSAC Western Division Co-Defensive Athlete of the Week
Wilfredo Diaz
California
Linebacker
Senior
Miami, Fla. / West Broward
Diaz played a pivotal role in regulation and overtime, as the Vulcans earned a 26-20 double-overtime victory at Clarion on Saturday. He registered 11 tackles (seven solo), two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries against the Golden Eagles. In the fourth quarter with the score tied, Diaz recovered fumbles on back-to-back drives by Clarion with the first coming at the California 29-yard line with about four minutes left to play. The Florida native then forced a fumble on the second play of double overtime that was recovered by a teammate to help setup the walk-off score by the Vulcans on the ensuing possession.
PSAC Western Division Co-Defensive Athlete of the Week
Shamarr Joppy
Edinboro
Linebacker
Senior
Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin
Joppy was a tackling machine in last Saturday's win over Lock Haven, racking up 19 total tackles. He also picked up one tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the Scots' victory.
PSAC Western Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Evan Zankl
Edinboro
KR / WR
Freshman
Amherst, N.Y. / Williamsville South
Zankl opened the scoring for the Fighting Scots, returning a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the Scots' 42-35 victory over Lock Haven. He also returned three kickoffs for 55 yards. The punt return touchdown was the first by a Fighting Scot since 2016.
PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Athlete of the Week
Matt Machalik
East Stroudsburg
Quarterback
Junior
Palmerton, Pa. / Palmerton, Pa.
Machalik had his best game as a Warrior in one of the most prolific quarters a quarterback has ever had for ESU. Finishing with a complete stat line of 13-of-16 passing for 225 yards and four touchdowns, he was 12-of-13 for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the second quarter. The Warriors outscored the Raiders 28-0 in that frame, the first time they've scored four offensive touchdowns in a period since the 2023 season opener against Pace. Machalik had a passer rating of 290.3, leading the Warriors to their most passing yards in a game this year.
PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
Nahzier Booker
Bloomsburg
Linebacker
Junior
Pottstown, Pa. / Pottstown
Booker delivered two pivotal defensive plays as Bloomsburg held No. 24 Shepherd to just 214 yards of total offense and 14 offensive points in a 27-21 road victory. Late in the first half, Booker deflected a pass that Garrett Garcia intercepted, preserving the Huskies' 17-14 lead heading into halftime. Booker made another game-changing play early in the fourth quarter, intercepting Jackson Sigler at the Bloomsburg 39-yard line with the Huskies protecting a 24-21 advantage. The takeaway ended a Shepherd scoring threat and set up a 10-play, 40-yard possession that consumed 5:51 and produced the field goal that established the final margin. It was Booker's first career INT. The Huskies held a Rams offense that entered the weekend averaging 355.0 yards and 31.3 points per game to 37 rushing yards, nine first downs and just two third-down conversions. Shepherd entered the contest ranked third nationally in fewest turnovers lost, having committed only three in its first six games, before Bloomsburg forced three interceptions Saturday.
PSAC Eastern Division Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Peter Kashynski
Bloomsburg
Kicker
Sophomore
Falls Church, Va. / Justice
Kashynski accounted for nine points in Bloomsburg's 27-21 road victory over No. 24 Shepherd, connecting on both of his completed field-goal attempts and converting all three extra points. His kicking proved critical in a defensive battle against a Rams team that entered the weekend ranked 26th nationally in scoring defense. Kashynski connected from 40 yards in the second quarter to trim Shepherd's lead to 14-10, capping a 12-play, 59-yard possession. He delivered again in the fourth quarter, converting a 37-yard field goal with 4:48 remaining to extend Bloomsburg's advantage to 27-21. The kick capped a 10-play drive that consumed 5:51 and forced Shepherd to pursue a touchdown on its final possessions.