RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the football players of the week for the fifth week of the 2023 season. Arkansas Tech’s Taye Gatewood claimed the Offensive honor; Southern Arkansas’ Zay Woods earned the Defensive award and Harding’s Braden Jay captured the Special Teams accolade.
#theGAC FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Taye Gatewood, QB, Arkansas Tech, Sr., Fort Smith, Arkansas
Gatewood set the GAC single-game completion percentage record as he went 19-for-20 in the Wonder Boys’ 44-21 home victory against Northwestern Oklahoma State. He completed his final 18 pass attempts of the game. He threw four first-half touchdown passes
#theGAC FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Zay Woods, DB, Southern Arkansas, So., Carthage, Texas
Woods came up with the game-clinching interception in the Muleriders’ 28-21 road win against Southern Nazarene. With the Crimson Storm driving for a potential tying score, Woods picked off a deep pass in the red zone to end the threat. He added eight tackles, including one for loss.
#theGAC FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Braden Jay, ST, Harding, So., Cabot, Arkansas
Jay blocked a first-quarter Southwestern Oklahoma State punt that set up the Bisons at the Bulldog 45-yard line. Harding went on to defeat SWOSU, 64-0, in its largest margin of victory in 10 years. Jay added three carries for 25 yards and a 13-yard reception.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Jashaun Foster, RB (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Zac Henson, OL (Ouachita Baptist), OB Jones, QB (Southern Arkansas), Jaiave Magalei, QB (East Central), Andrew Miller, RB (Harding)
Wesley Coleman, DL (Harding), Mario Ganter, Jr., CB (Ouachita Baptist), Jakob Neel, LB (Henderson State), Jimmy Pitts, DB (East Central), Ben Stegall, DB (Arkansas Tech), Braden Waters, DB (Northwestern Oklahoma State)
Reece Conner, P (East Central), Gabe Goodman, K (Ouachita Baptist), Julian Jackson, DB (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Kolby King, K/P (Henderson State), Andrew Schreiner, P (Southern Arkansas), Aaron Winn, P (Arkansas Tech)