Bowling Green State University Athletics
Patton Earns Player of the Week Honor
September 03, 2001 | Football
Sept. 3, 2001
Bowling Green State University cornerback Janssen Patton was named Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week after picking off two passes in the fourth quarter of the Falcons 20-13 victory at Missouri. His first interception set up the Falcons game-winning touchdown and his second pick stopped the Tigers potential game-winning drive.
It marks the second time in his career that he has won the honor. Last year, he picked off three passes against Kent State in his first career start.
Mid-American Conference Football Players of the Week
Week 1 - Games of Aug. 30 and Sept. 1
East Division
Offense: Charlie Frye, QB, Akron (Rs-Fr., Willard, OH) - Frye came off the bench to replace an injured Nick Sparks and completed 13-of-16 passes (81.3 %) and led Akron to a 31-29 win over Ohio. In his first collegiate action, Frye guided four scoring drives, including the game-winning 12-play, 55-yard march which led to the game-winning field goal.
Defense: Janssen Patton, CB, Bowling Green (So., Stone Mountain, GA) - Patton picked off two fourth-quarter passes to help the Falcons beat Missouri 20-13 and post its first season opening victory since 1992. The sophomore picked off MU quarterback Darius Outlaw with 5:20 left on the MU 35 as BGSU drove for the winning score. Patton also picked off an Outlaw throw with 1:37 remaining as MU was driving in BG territory for a potential game tieing score. Patton had five tackles and two pass deflections in the game.
Special Teams: Zac Derr, PK, Akron (Sr., Pittsburgh, PA) - Derr punched through a 38-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Zips to a 31-29 win over Ohio. Derr scored seven points and now has 198 for his career, fourth highest in school history and 56 away from setting the school record.
West Division
Offense: Chester Taylor, TB, Toledo (Sr., River Rouge, MI) - Taylor rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-7 win over Minnesota. Taylor also added a touchdown on a pass reception. He boosted his career touchdown total to 41, a new school record. Taylor's TD runs included 64 and 41 yard gains.
Defense: Larry Williams, LB, Northern Illinois (Jr., Chicago, IL) - Collected a team-high 13 tackles (10 solo) - including three for five yards in losses, plus two QB pressures and one pass deflection in 61 snaps in a 20-17 win over South Florida. Williams helped limit USF to three points and 89 yards of total offense in the second half and forced the Bulls to four three downs and out (punts) series in the final quarter.
Special Teams: Steve Azar, PK, Northern Illinois (So., Colorado Springs, CO) - Azar kicked two clutch field goals in the games final 4:11 - including the game-winner from 42 yards out as time expired. Azar also booted a 37-yard field goal at the 4:11 mark to tie the game at 17-17. Azar had bounced back from missing two field goals from 52 yards out.
Additional Nominations: (East Division)
Offense - Bowling Green RB Joe Alls (107 yds., 17 att., game-winning TD with 3:40 to play versus Missouri), Marshall QB Byron Leftwich (27-of-43 passing, 274 yds., 1 TD at No. 1 Florida), Miami RB Luke Clemens (63 yds., 14 att. 4 rec., 23 yds., versus Michigan), Ohio RB Chad Brinker (124 yds., 19 att., 1 TD, 2 rec., 34 yds., versus Akron),
Defense - Buffalo CB Mike Lambert (6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 pbus, 1 int. versus Rutgers), Marshall CB Yancey Satterwhite (in second career start, 8 solo tackles, 2 tfl, 1 sack, 2 pbus at Florida while covering all-American Jabar Gaffney), Miami LB Matt Robillard (12 tackles, 2 tfl, 1 sack, 1 fumble rec. versus Michigan), Ohio FS Joe Sellers (9 tackles, 1 pbu versus Akron).
Special Teams - Bowling Green P Pat Fleming (7 punts, 43.1 avg., 3 inside 20 versus Missouri), Miami KR Matt Bowen (114 ret. yds., 5 ret., 22.8 avg. versus Michigan), Marshall's Eddie Smolder (3 solos and 1 assist at Florida, also played TE on offense).
Additional Nominations: (West Division)
Offense - Eastern Michigan TB Chris Roberson (101 yds., 18 att., game-winning TD with 1:47 left versus Southeast Missouri), Northern Illinois TB Thomas Hammock (177 yds., 1 TD on 34 carries versus South Florida), Western Michigan QB Jeff Welsh (19-26 passing, 330 yds., school record 5 TDs versus Illinois State).
Defense - Central Michigan CB James King (5 solos, 4 assists, 1 int., 1 ff, 1 pbu in first collegiate start versus Eastern Kentucky), Eastern Michigan LB Scott Russell (16 tackles, 6 solos, 1 sack versus Southeast Missouri), Toledo CB Jehu Anderson (4 tackles, 3 pbu versus Minnesota), Western Michigan LB Jason Malloy (10 tackles, 4 solos, 3 tfl, 1 sack versus Illinois State).
Special Teams - Toledo's Paul Dye (blocked a punt that led to a TD versus Minnesota), Western Michigan PK Robert Menchinger (6 of 7 PAT in his debut versus Illinois State).
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