BELTON, Texas- As we hit the midpoint of this week, it is time to announce True To The Cru’s Players of the Week, presented by the Crusader Football Alumni Association.
In a tight race for Offensive Player of the Week, quarterback Kyle King edged out KJ Miller, tallying 53 percent of the vote, as he accounted for five touchdowns in the 54-3 win at Southwestern. The senior quarterback opened the contest by completing two passes, the second of which resulted in a 71-yard Miller touchdown. King was 11-of-18 through the air for 246 yards. He added 41 rushing yards on six carries.
The Defensive Player of the Week honor was another close race, though defensive back/linebacker Omari Frazier tallied 46 percent of the vote, after a career-high performance. The junior posted career bests in tackles (6), solo tackles (3), and also took down Southwestern quarterback Landry Gilpin for the first sack of his collegiate career. Frazier added two tackles for loss.
On special teams, kicker/punter Brandon Cunningham earned the weekly honor, picking up 54 percent of the total vote. Cunningham saw his first action late in the first quarter, and finished 4-for-4 on PAT attempts. He punted twice, with both being downed inside the 20. His second punt, which was downed on the Southwestern 12-yard line, led to a “pick six” from UMHB defensive tackle Josh Patteson one play later.
Volleyball Player of the Week: Kayla Janikula
Janikula earns True To The Cru’s Volleyball Player of the Week honor for the second time this season, after playing a key role in the Cru’s 3-0 week. Perhaps no match was bigger than last Friday’s duel against UT-Dallas, a match in which Janikula tallied 14 kills. The senior also provided a clutch block, along with Alli Pierce, late in the fourth set against UTD, giving UMHB a 27-26 advantage. The following day, in a sweep of LeTourneau, she posted a career-best in kills, with 19. Janikula’s performance also earned her recognition from the ASC, as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Women’s Soccer Player of the Week: Grace Greenly
Greenly, who entered the week having not yet scored this season, found the back of the net four times over two matches, both wins for UMHB. On Friday against UW-Stevens Point, Greenly played 67 minutes, converting on both of her shots. In Saturday’s 4-0 shutout of Austin College, the senior scored twicemore. Greenly now leads UMHB in goals (4) and points (13).
Men’s Soccer Player of the Week: Ethan Buchanan
UMHB was shutout in its only match of the week at Trinity by a score of 3-0, but Buchanan made the most of his shooting opportunities. In the match, he accounted for three of the Cru’s seven shots, and one of just two shots on goal. The sophomore from Killeen, Texas, has started in all five of UMHB’s matches this season.
