App Defender Named SBC DEF POW

[AppStFan1]

ARKANSAS STATE'S CROSS & APP STATE'S JOHNSON EARN SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEKLY ACCOLADES
NEW ORLEANS – Following key conference victories, Arkansas State’s Ja’Quez Cross and App State’s Ethan Johnson earned the Sun Belt weekly accolades.

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS So., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
Red Wolves redshirt sophomore running back Ja’Quez Cross tallied 320 all-purpose yards—the most in a Sun Belt Conference game since 2017 and the second-most in an FBS game this season—as Arkansas State outpaced Texas State, 77-31. The Hampton, Ark., native registered his second career 100-yard rushing game with 139 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, becoming the first Arkansas State player with three-or-more rushing scores since 2019. Accounting for four touchdowns—with 166 kickoff return yards, including a 93-yard touchdown return—Cross contributed to the highest-ever scoring total (77) in a Sun Belt Conference game.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Ethan Johnson, App State (So., CB – Huntersville, N.C.)
Mountaineers sophomore cornerback Ethan Johnson helped App State shut down previously unbeaten James Madison’s high-powered offense for three quarters en route to a 26-23 overtime road win. The Huntersville, N.C., product carded five tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups. Johnson’s greatest contribution was a second-quarter interception that halted a Dukes drive inside App State territory with just over a minute to play before halftime. The Mountaineers defense racked up a season-high 11 tackles for loss and five sacks—which were both the most allowed by James Madison this season.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS So., RB – Hampton, Ark.)
Red Wolves redshirt sophomore running back Ja’Quez Cross tallied 320 all-purpose yards—the most in a Sun Belt Conference game since 2017 and the second-most in an FBS game this season—as Arkansas State outpaced Texas State, 77-31. The Hampton, Ark., native ran a kickoff back 93 yards for a touchdown, while accumulating 166 kickoff return yards on three returns on the day. Accounting for four touchdowns—with 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries—Cross contributed to the highest-ever scoring total (77) in a Sun Belt Conference game.

[t4pizza]

Congrats to Ethan. It was a well earned honor. Crazy how few POW we have had this year. To think that Joey leads the conference in TDs and has yet to be a POW.

[Black Saturday]

That is a real feat, considering our DB play over the last few years.

[biggie]

[T-Dog]

Congrats to Ethan. It was a well earned honor. Crazy how few POW we have had this year. To think that Joey leads the conference in TDs and has yet to be a POW.

Only other App POTW this season was Staton Hughes when he kicked the game-winner at ULM.

[asu66]

Congrats to Ethan. It was a well earned honor. Crazy how few POW we have had this year. To think that Joey leads the conference in TDs and has yet to be a POW.

Only other App POTW this season was Staton when he kicked the game-winner at ULM.

Michael Hughes thinks he kicked that one.

4th 00:00 APP - #99 M.Hughes 54 yd FG, 6-43, 01:02

[JTApps1]

Nothing against the RB from Ark. State, but Joey deserved the OPOTW considering who he played against.

[GreatAppSt]

So you're saying we have a big Johnson?