American Athletic Conference Football Players of the Week – Week 2

From the American:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the second week of the college football season.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Greg Ward Jr. • Jr. • QB • Houston • Tyler, Texas
Ward had 334 yards of total offense and three touchdown passes (29, 22, 15) to lead Houston to a 34-31 win at Louisville. All three of his touchdown passes gave Houston a lead, including a 15-yard strike with 3:09 left in the fourth quarter which put the Cougars ahead for good. Ward completed 23 of 33 passes for 236 yards and had 98 rushing yards on 21 carries.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Matakevich • Sr. • LB • Temple • Stratford, Conn.
Matakevich led a defensive effort that forced five turnovers as Temple took a 34-26 win at Cincinnati — the preseason favorite in The American. Matakevich finished with a game-high 13 tackles and had two second-half interceptions, including a pick in the end zone with 13 seconds left which clinched the win.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Brandon Wilson • Jr. • CB • Houston • Shreveport, La.
Wilson had 148 yards on four kickoff returns, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown in Houston’s 34-31 win at Louisville. Wilson tied the game at 17-17 in the third quarter with his 100-yard play, which answered a Louisville field goal. He added eight tackles and one pass breakup on defense.

Jahad Thomas • Jr. • RB • Temple • Elizabeth, N.J.
Thomas set an American Athletic Conference record with 342 all-purpose yards, including 132 yards on kickoff returns, in Temple’s 34-26 win at Cincinnati. He opened the third quarter with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and added 193 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Bryant Shirreffs • So. • QB • UConn • Jefferson, Ga.
Had 301 yards of total offense in a 22-17 win against Army. Completed 19 of 25 passes for 270 yards.

Trevon Stewart • Sr. • S • Houston • Patterson, La.
Had six tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a 58-yard interception return in a 34-31 win at Louisville.

Paxton Lynch • Jr. • QB • Memphis • Deltona, Fla.
Completed 22 of 25 passes for a career-high 354 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-23 win at Kansas.

Matt Davis • Jr. • QB • SMU • Houston, Texas
Rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 171 yards and two TDs in a 33-13 win against North Texas.

Zack Langer • Sr. • RB • Tulsa • Jenks, Okla.
Rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries in a 40-24 win at New Mexico.