Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Mathers, Rooker C-USA Players of Week
10/24/2016 1:02:00 PM | Football
Duo honored following 51-45 win at Missouri
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After a sterling road win at Missouri, Middle Tennessee had two football players receive C-USA Player of the Week honors as announced by the conference office today.
Senior tailback I'Tavius Mathers has been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, and junior kicker Canon Rooker has been named Special Teams Player of the Week in a vote of the league's media.
Mathers continued his recent assault on opposing defenses with a career-best performance to help lead Middle Tennessee (5-2) to a 51-45 win at Missouri in winning his third such honor. Mathers is the only C-USA Player to win the honor three times this season.
Mathers rushed for a career-high 215 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run. It marked the fifth consecutive game of 100-plus yards rushing for Mathers which equals the second longest stretch in school history.
Mathers, who ranks third nationally in scoring, scored the game winning touchdown when he hauled in a 4-yard pass from quarterback Brent Stockstill in the third quarter to give the Blue Raiders a 41-35 lead they would not relinquish.
Mathers set personal bests for longest career run (71 yards) in the win, and he also set new personal standards for receptions with eight.
Rooker had an exceptional outing in the Blue Raiders' six-point win with 15 points kicking which tied for the second most points kicking in a game all time. Rooker connected on field goals of 39-, 28-, and 21-yards, while also going 6-for-6 on extra-point tries.
Rooker's final trey, a 21-yard effort with 6:17 remaining, capped the scoring and provided the Blue Raiders a huge six-point margin, forcing the Tigers to play for a touchdown, rather than a field goal on their final two drives.
Middle Tennessee will play at FIU Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Senior tailback I'Tavius Mathers has been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, and junior kicker Canon Rooker has been named Special Teams Player of the Week in a vote of the league's media.
Mathers continued his recent assault on opposing defenses with a career-best performance to help lead Middle Tennessee (5-2) to a 51-45 win at Missouri in winning his third such honor. Mathers is the only C-USA Player to win the honor three times this season.
Mathers rushed for a career-high 215 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run. It marked the fifth consecutive game of 100-plus yards rushing for Mathers which equals the second longest stretch in school history.
Mathers, who ranks third nationally in scoring, scored the game winning touchdown when he hauled in a 4-yard pass from quarterback Brent Stockstill in the third quarter to give the Blue Raiders a 41-35 lead they would not relinquish.
Mathers set personal bests for longest career run (71 yards) in the win, and he also set new personal standards for receptions with eight.
Rooker had an exceptional outing in the Blue Raiders' six-point win with 15 points kicking which tied for the second most points kicking in a game all time. Rooker connected on field goals of 39-, 28-, and 21-yards, while also going 6-for-6 on extra-point tries.
Rooker's final trey, a 21-yard effort with 6:17 remaining, capped the scoring and provided the Blue Raiders a huge six-point margin, forcing the Tigers to play for a touchdown, rather than a field goal on their final two drives.
Middle Tennessee will play at FIU Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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