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Week 6: AAC Football Players of the Week

Week 6: AAC Football Players of the Week
October 2, 2023

WALESKA, Ga. - Lee Kirkland of Pikeville is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Cortez Thomas of Point and Jakob Headley of Pikeville are the Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.

The league announced the awards on Monday.

This is the sixth edition of the awards for the 2023 season. The next set of awards will be announced on Oct. 9.

AAC Defensive Player of the Week
Cortez Thomas - Point - Junior - Cordele, Ga.

  • Recorded 10 total tackles (7 solo) in a 35-0 win over Kentucky Christian.
  • Had 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for a loss, which ties the AAC record for most TFLs in a game.
  • Also forced 2 fumbles and 1 pass breakup.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

AAC Offensive Player of the Week
 Lee Kirkland - Pikeville - Senior - Bluffton, S.C.

  • Set 3 AAC single-game records for most passing yards (614), passing attempts (58) and completions (38) in Pikeville's 52-10 win over Union.
  • Completed 38-of-58 passes for 6 touchdowns.
  • Had a long pass of 86 yards.
  • Averaged 10.6 yards per attempt and completed 65.5 percent of his passes.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

AAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Justin Headley - Pikeville - Senior - Auxier, Ky.

  • Tied the AAC record for most PATs made in a game by going 7-for-7.
  • Added a 20-yard field goal as he scored 10 points in the game.
  • This is his third 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)
Week 6 - Cortez Thomas, Point (Defensive); Lee Kirkland, Pikeville (Offensive); Jakob Headley, Pikeville (Special Teams)