3 with local ties win player-of-the-week honors

9/19/2006

Freshmen from Toledo and Bowling Green, and a Toledoan who plays at Western Michigan, won Mid-American Conference player-of-the-week honors.

Rocket safety Barry Church posted eight tackles, recovered a fumble in overtime, and returned an interception 84 yards for a touchdown in UT's 37-31 win over Kansas in double overtime. Church, a true freshman, was named MAC West defensive player of the week.

East Division defensive honors went to BG free safety Jerrett Sanderson, a redshirt freshman who scored on a fumble recovery in the first half and then made two interceptions in the final three minutes as the Falcons held on to beat Florida International 33-28.

Jim Laney, Western Michigan's junior punter from St. Francis de Sales, punted seven times in WMU's 17-10 win at Virginia. He twice buried the Cavaliers inside their 20 and produced a season-long, 57-yard effort to win West Division special team player-of-the-week honors.