MAC Announces Football Players of the Week

East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes
Senior wide receiver Freddie Barnes (Chicago Heights, Ill.) set school records with 22 receptions for 278 yards in the Falcons 36-35 come-from-behind win at Kent State. Barnes had three touchdown receptions in the contest, including a 45-yard reception late in the fourth quarter to close the contest, 35-30. Barnes 22 receptions were one shy of the NCAA and MAC single-game records.

Defensive Player of the Week: Temple S Jaiquawn Jarrett
Junior safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) racked up nine tackles, including five solo, two interceptions, one recovered fumble and one pass defensed in Temple's 24-19 win over Ball State. Jarrett's two interceptions were a career high. This season, Jarrett leads the Owls with 27 tackles and two interceptions.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Ohio LB Melvin Payne
Freshman linebacker Melvin Payne (Mobile, Ala.) blocked a punt in the third quarter of the Bobcats 19-7 win at Akron. Payne blocked the punt and it rolled into the end zone where Payne fell on it for the touchdown to open a 10-0 lead. It was the Bobcats first blocked punt returned for a touchdown in four years.

West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Western Michigan RB Brandon West
Senior running back Brandon West (Brunswick, Ga.) rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a touchdown pass leading the Broncos to a 58-26 win at Toledo. In the contest, West became the fifth Bronco running back to rush for over 3,000 yards in his career (3,105). West finished the game with 236 all-purpose yards.

Defensive Player of the Week: Central Michigan LB Nick Bellore
Junior linebacker Nick Bellore (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) collected 10 tackles, six solo, two tackles for loss and one sack for eight yards in a 56-8 win over Eastern Michigan. Bellore's ten tackles led the team as the Chippewas' held the Eagles to 255 total yards. Bellore has totaled 10 or more tackles in 16 career games.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Central Michigan KR Antonio Brown
Junior kick returner Antonio Brown (Miami, Fla.) had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter as Central Michigan rolled to a 56-8 win over Eastern Michigan. The 75-yard punt return matched his career long. Brown added one kickoff return for 28 yards.