PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the eighth week of the college football season.
Andre Davis • Sr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Davis helped USF engineer the largest comeback in program history as the Bulls overcame a 27-7 halftime deficit to take a 38-30 win at Tulsa. He finished with six receptions for 154 yards, including three second-half touchdowns as USF outscored the Golden Hurricane 31-3 in the final 30 minutes. Davis had five receptions for 149 yards after halftime, including the 85-yard TD with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter which gave the Bulls the lead. Davis has registered back-to-back 100-yard games since returning from an opening-week sternum injury.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steven Taylor • So. • LB • Houston • Cedar Hill, Texas
Taylor led a Houston defense that forced four turnovers and held Temple, which had averaged 38.2 points per game, to just 10 points in a 31-10 win against the Owls. He had a team-high seven tackles and made the defensive play that changed the game when he forced a fumble on the Houston 1-yard line and recovered it in the end zone, allowing the Cougars to hold on to a 17-10 lead. Temple did not score the rest of the way as Houston picked up its third win in four games.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andrew Gantz • Fr. • K • Cincinnati • Dayton, Ohio
Gantz scored 11 points, including three field goals, to help Cincinnati to its first American Athletic Conference win of the season, a 41-3 win at SMU. Gantz connected on a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Bearcats a 9-3 lead and spark a run of 35 unanswered points for Cincinnati. He added field goals of 30 and 21 yards in the second half. Gantz has gone 7-for-8 on field goals this season and has made his last five attempts.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Brandon Alexander • Sr. • S • UCF • Orlando, Fla.
Had eight tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in a 20-13 win against Tulane.
Gunner Kiel • So. • QB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ind.
Completed 13 of 20 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 50 yards on six carries in a 41-3 win at SMU.
Greg Ward Jr. • So. • QB • Houston • Tyler, Texas
Completed 29 of 33 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards in a 31-10 win against Temple.
Elkino Watson • Sr. • DT • USF • Miami, Fla.
Had seven tackles with a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss in a 38-30 win at Tulsa.
Jahad Thomas • So. • RB • Temple • Elizabeth, N.J.
Finished as Temple’s leading rusher and receiver, with three catches for 150 yards and seven carries for 49 yards in a 31-10 loss at Houston.
