MAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Ethan Hampton, NIU, QB
Jr.-R, Elburn, Ill. (Aurora Christian)
In his first start since October 8, 2022 versus Toledo, Ethan Hampton completed 18 of 20 passes for a career high 328 yards and five touchdowns. Hampton’s passing efficiency rating of 310.3 broke NIU’s single game record, previously held by College Football Hall of Famer George Bork, who had a rating of 261.3 versus UW-Whitewater on Sept. 14, 1963. Following Saturday games, Hampton's ESPN QBR of 98.1 ranked third in the country, his completion percentage (90.0) is second and he is tied for first in passing touchdowns in the NCAA Statistics. Hampton’s five TD passes – to five different receivers - tied for the sixth-most in NIU history and are the most by a Huskie QB in a game since Nov. 1, 2011 when Chandler Harnish threw six TD passes versus Toledo. In less than three quarters of action, Hampton posted the first 300-yard passing game in NIU’s last 30 games, since November 3, 2021 when Rocky Lombardi threw for a school record 532 yards against Kent State.
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Shaun Dolac, Buffalo, LB
Graduate, West Seneca, NY (West Seneca East)
Shaun Dolac spearheaded a strong defensive effort in Buffalo's 30-13 victory over Patriot League preseason-favorite Lafayette in the season opener. The graduate linebacker finished with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. He helped bottled up All-American running back Jamar Curtis, holding him to only 12 yards on 14 carries. Dolac's fourth-quarter interception set up UB's final touchdown one play later.
James Djonkam, Eastern Michigan, LB
Jr., Springfield, Va. (West Springfield)
Djokam made the most of his debut with the Eagles as the Arizona State transfer led the team with 13.0 tackles, including a team-best 3.0 solo stops, while chipping in 1.0 sacks and 1.5 TFLs. The linebacker’s tackle total stands as the fifth-most in the nation this year and the most by a player in the MAC. Additionally, he was one of five Eastern players to record at least part of one sack on the day, helping EMU post 6.0 sacks, the most since posting 7.0 against Western Michigan in 2022, and the fifth-most in a single game in program history.
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Justin Pegues, Bowling Green, RB/KR
Junior, Birmingham, Ala. (Thompson)
Pegues set a BGSU record on his first career play as a Falcon when he returned the game's opening kick 100 yards for a touchdown. The previous long KR in BGSU history was 96 yards. He finished the game with two kick returns for 123 yards. The KR set the tone for BGSU who took a 27-0 lead as the Falcons cruised to a 41-17 win. Pegues also returned two punts for 16 yards.
