CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Fordham sophomore quarterback Tim DeMorat and Georgetown junior linebacker were named the Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively when the League office announced the first weekly honors of the 2019 football season on Monday.
Lehigh graduate student defensive back Sam McCloskey claimed the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week and Holy Cross freshman linebacker Jacob Dobbs received rookie of the week honors.
Bucknell sophomore wide receiver Brandon Sanders, Fordham sophomore linebacker Ryan Greenhagan, Georgetown senior punter Brad Hurst and Lehigh senior linebacker Keith Woetzel were selected as honorable mentions for their week one performances.
The Patriot League football players of the week are selected in a vote by League media members and each school’s sports information director, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
Week Two Games
Saturday, Sept. 7 Time (all times ET)
Marist at Georgetown (PLN/Stadium) 12:30 p.m.
Lafayette at Monmouth (ESPN+) 1 p.m.
New Hampshire at Holy Cross (PLN/TV3) 1 p.m.
Fordham at Ball State (ESPN3) 2 p.m.
Lehigh at Villanova (FloSports.TV) 6 p.m.
Bucknell at Sacred Heart (NECFR) 6 p.m.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tim DeMorat, Fordham, So., QB, Merritt Island, Fla./Viera
*DeMorat completed 17-of-27 passes for 194 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Fordham’s 26-23 loss to Central Connecticut State.
*The sophomore quarterback led a pair of scoring drives in the second half, including a 10-play drive in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 23.
*DeMorat capped a 71-yard drive in the second quarter with an eight-yard touchdown pass for the Rams’ first score.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Owen Kessler, Georgetown, Jr., LB, Westfield, N.J./Westfield
*Kessler recorded a career-high 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss (TFL) and one fumble recovery against Davidson.
*His fumble recovery came in a third quarter that saw Georgetown forced turnovers on three straight possessions to help erase a 20-point deficit.
*Kessler, who is tied for the League lead with 13 tackles, helped the Hoyas’ defense hold the Wildcats to seven points in the second half.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sam McCloskey, Lehigh, Gr., DB, Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle
*McCloskey recovered two fumbles on special teams that led to Lehigh’s first 10 points in a 14-13 loss to Saint Francis (Pa.).
*He scored his first career touchdown on a 56-yard fumble return for a score with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter.
*A defensive back, McCloskey also made four tackles during the game and downed a punt at the 1-yard line.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Fr., LB, Macomb, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate
*Dobbs recorded a game-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo tackles, in his collegiate debut at Navy.
*His 13 total tackles were the most by a Crusader playing in his collegiate debut in more than 15 seasons.
*Dobbs is tied for the Patriot League lead with 13 tackles after week one.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Brandon Sanders, Bucknell, So., WR, Downingtown, Pa./St. Joseph’s Prep
*Sanders caught nine passes for a career-best 115 yards, including a one-handed, 42-yard catch, in Bucknell’s loss to Temple.
Ryan Greenhagan, Fordham, So., LB, Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII
*Greenhagan finished with 10 tackles, including six solo tackles and 2.5 TFLs for Fordham against Central Connecticut State.
Keith Woetzel, Lehigh, Sr., LB, Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo
* Woetzel posted a game-high nine tackles, including 2.5 TFLs and 1.0 sack for a Lehigh defensive unit that created three turnovers and held Saint Francis (Pa.) to 68 rushing yards.
Brad Hurst, Georgetown, Sr., P/PK, Helen, Ga./White County
*Hurst averaged 53.0 yards per punt, including a Georgetown program-record 76-yard punt that pinned Davidson at its 1-yard line. He also connected on two extra points.
Offensive Player of the Week
9.2 – Tim DeMorat, Fordham, So., QB
Defensive Player of the Week
9.2 – Owen Kessler, Georgetown, Jr., LB
Special Teams Player of the Week
9.2 – Sam McCloskey, Lehigh, Gr., DB
Rookie of the Week
9.2 – Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Fr., LB
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.