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Week 5: AAC Football Players of the Week

Week 5: AAC Football Players of the Week
September 25, 2023

WALESKA, Ga. - Nathan Herstich is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Braylon Jones of Reinhardt and Austin Howard of Kentucky Christian are the Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.

The league announced the awards on Monday.

This is the fifth edition of the awards for the 2023 season. The next set of awards will be announced on Oct. 2.

AAC Defensive Player of the Week
Braylon Jones - Reinhardt - Freshman - Rockmart, Ga.

  • Returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown in Reinhardt's 28-24 win over No. 12 Georgetown (Ky.)
  • The fumble return is the longest in AAC history.
  • Also had 6 total tackles (4 solo) and 1 pass breakup.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

AAC Offensive Player of the Week
 Nathan Herstich - Bluefield - Junior - St. Cloud, Fla.

  • Set 3 AAC single-game records for most passing yards (467), passing attempts (57) and total plays (68 - 57 passes, 11 rushes).
  • Completed 30-of-57 passes for 4 touchdowns.
  • Had a long pass of 75 yards.
  • This is his second weekly honor of the season.

AAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Austin Howard - Kentucky Christian - Freshman - Vancheburg, Ky.

  • Averaged 43.3 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards.
  • Punted 3 times for 130 yards.
  • Had 2 punts pin the opponent inside their 20 yardline.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

Previous Weekly Winners
 Week 1 - Tramonte Gardner, Union (Defensive); Thomas Lee, Bluefield (Offensive); Jakob Headley, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 2 - Markell Sutton, Reinhardt (Defensive); Nathan Herstich, Bluefield (Offensive); Emery Bryant, Point (Special Teams)
Week 3 - Kemorion Larkin, Point (Defensive); Mitchell Gossett, Point (Offensive); Matthew Moses, Point (Special Teams)
Week 4 - Myson Livingston, Pikeville (Defensive); Alex Sanders, Pikeville (Offensive); Jakob Headley, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 5 - Braylon Jones, Reinhardt (Defensive); Nathan Herstich, Bluefield (Offensive); Austin Howard, Kentucky Christian (Special Teams)