INDIANAPOLIS – Missouri S&T senior quarterback Tyler Swart and sophomore defensive end Tershawn Wharton, along with Southwest Baptist University senior return specialist Kendrick Payne, have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Players of the Week in football, it was announced by the league office Monday.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Swart, Missouri S&T
Sr., QB, Dickinson, Texas
Team Result: 41-38 win vs. Southwest Baptist
- Completed 20-of-40 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns
- Down 21 points late in first half, led team rally with 15-of-25 passing for 314 yards
- Threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the second half
- Completed seven straight passes on Miners’ eventual game-winning drive in fourth quarter
- Recorded fifth 300-yard game of the season
- Earns his third career Offensive Player of the Week award (11/16/15, 10/17/16)
- Last Missouri S&T Offensive Player of the Week: Deshawn Jones (10/9/17)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tershawn Wharton, Missouri S&T
So., DE, University City, Missouri
Team Result: 41-38 win vs. Southwest Baptist
- Finished with eight tackles, including five solo, with four tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble
- Led a defensive effort that held SBU’s TJ Edwards – the GLVC leader in total offense – to 195 yards in the game, more than 100 below his season average
- Picked up crucial sack during Bearcats’ final series of the game
- Currently leads GLVC with 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, marks which are fourth and sixth, respectively, in NCAA Division II
- Earns his first career Defensive Player of the Week award
- Last Missouri S&T Defensive Player of the Week: Jeremi Ross (11/14/16)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kendrick Payne, Southwest Baptist
Sr., WR/KR, Oakland, California
Team Result: 41-38 road loss at Missouri S&T
- Averaged 48.3 yards per kickoff return, having totaled three returns for 145 yards
- Netted an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during the first quarter
- Also added seven receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns at wideout
- Earns his first career Special Teams Player of the Week award
- Last Southwest Baptist Special Teams Player of the Week: Austin Molitor (9/5/16)