MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week
Kurtis Rourke, Ohio, QB
R-Jr., Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Rourke led the Bobcats to a 45-24 victory over the Buffalo Bulls. The redshirt junior finished the game with five passing touchdowns on 317 yards, marking the first Ohio quarterback to throw five touchdowns in a game since 2008. On the ground, Rourke accumulated 45 yards on six carries.
MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Keye Thompson, Ohio, LB
R-Sr., Barberton, Ohio (Barberton)
Thompson played an integral part in holding the Buffalo defense to just 24 points in the Bobcats' victory over the Bulls last Tuesday. With 11 tackles, three of which were solo, the redshirt senior led the defense. He also recorded 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries. On the season, Thompson leads the Ohio defense with 75 total tackles.
MAC East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Ta'ron Keith, Bowling Green, RB
So., DeLand, Fla. (Mainland HS)
Made a career-long 83-yard kick return against WMU that set up what ended up being BGSU's game-winning touchdown. BGSU didn't score again in the 13-9 win. It marked the 16th time in program history, and the first since 2011, that BGSU won a game with 13 or fewer points.
MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Carson Steele, Ball State, RB
So., Greenwood, Ind. (Center Grove HS)
Ball State rode a career-high 192 rushing yards from running back Carson Steele to earn a hard-fought 27-20 victory at Kent State, handing the Flashes their first home loss since 2019. Steele's 192 yards are the fourth-most produced by a MAC back this season and tied for the sixth-most by a Cardinal in a road conference game ever, matching Caleb Huntley in 2019. Steele became the eighth player in the FBS to break 1,000 yards this season, and his current total of 1,082 ranks fourth in the country. Steele had 85 yards on 11 carries in the fourth quarter alone to key Ball State's fourth double-digit comeback of the season, which is the most in the country. His touchdown in the second quarter sparked a 20-0 scoring spree for the Cardinals en route to a 27-20 win. Steele is one of just five players in the nation to have seven 100-yard games on the ground this season. In fact, Steele has 22 percent of all 100-yard games produced by a MAC player this season (7-of-32). Steele also leads the FBS in missed tackles forced on runs (66), according to Pro Football Focus.
MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Cole Pearce, Ball State, ILB
R-Jr., Mason, Ohio (William Mason HS)
Linebacker Cole Pearce helped guide Ball State to its fourth double-digit comeback of the season in a 27-20 win with 12 tackles, including 3.0 tackles-for-loss, and 1.0 sack. After falling behind 13-0 in the first quarter, Pearce and the defense allowed just one scoring drive the remainder of the game, and held the league's No. 1 offense 25 yards below their season average and induced 12 down on third stops. Pearce ranks 13th in the league with 73 tackles, which includes 27 over the last two games. Pearce has produced seven games with at least 1.0 tackle-for-loss, which is second in the MAC this season.
MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Ben VonGunten, Ball State, K
Gr., Fort Wayne, Ind. (Leo HS)
Kicker Ben VonGunten drilled a pair of field goal attempts and made all three of his point-after attempts to key a 27-20 come-from-behind win at Kent State. VonGunten made a 34-yard attempt with 12 seconds remaining in the first half and then opened the second half with a 31-yard make to help make it a 7-point difference at 20-13. VonGunten's 15 field goals on the season rank fifth in the country and 11th in Ball State single season history with three games remaining in the regular season.
