Kansas City, Mo. – Fort Hays State’s Shaquille Cooper has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Offensive Athlete of the Week with teammate Brock Long earning Defensive Athlete of the Week. FHSU’s Drew O’ Brien joins NSU’s Garrett Powell as Co-Special Teams Athletes of the Week.
MIAA/AstroTurf Offensive Athlete of the Week
Shaquille Cooper, RB, Fort Hays State
Cooper recorded his second 200-yard rushing game of the season with 216 yards on the ground in a 27-24 win over No. 13 ranked Emporia State. Cooper averaged 9.4 yards per carry in the game. With the Tigers trailing 17-13 in the fourth quarter, he broke a couple tackles and ran for an 89-yard touchdown to put FHSU up 20-17 with 7:51 to go in the game. The run pushed Cooper over 1,000 rushing yards for the season, now at 1,009. He also had a team-high four receptions and 25 receiving yards to give him 241 all-purpose yards in the game. The 5-10 sophomore running back is a native of Coral Gables, Fla. where he competed at Coral Gables High School.
MIAA/AstroTurf Defensive Athlete of the Week
Brock Long, LB, Fort Hays State
Long had a huge game on defense in a 27-24 win over No. 13 Emporia State. He recorded a career-high 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception. The interception was the biggest play of the day as it sealed the win for FHSU with under 10 seconds remaining in the game. With ESU at the FHSU 23-yardline and eight seconds remaining, Long gave FHSU its third interception of quarterback Brent Wilson and he returned it seven yards before going down. The 5-11 senior linebacker is a native of Assaria, Kan. where he competed at Southeast of Saline High School prior to playing at Hutchinson Community College.
MIAA/AstroTurf Co-Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Drew O’ Brien, K, Fort Hays State
O’ Brien made two field goals and all three of his extra-point attempts in a 27-24 Fort Hays State win over No. 13 ranked Emporia State. His two field goals in the first half of 36 and 39 yards kept the Tigers within four points of the Hornets at halftime, down 10-6. He tacked on the extra points for all three of Fort Hays States second-half touchdowns. With 220 career points, O’ Brien tied the career scoring record at FHSU with his final extra point of the game on the game-winning touchdown with 52 seconds remaining. The record was set by Bob Johnson from 1963-66. He also broke the school kicking points record in the game, passing Wes Simoneaus 218 from 1997-2001. The 6-0 senior kicker is a native of Hays, Kan. where he competed at TMP-Marian High School.
MIAA/AstroTurf Co-Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Garrett Powell, P, Northeastern State
Garrett Powell was a big weapon in flipping field position against Missouri Southern State this past week. He punted eight times for 353 yards (44.1 yards per punt), which included a 71-yard boot in the first quarter that was downed at the one-yard line. The punt was the longest by any MIAA player this season and was also the longest of Powell’s career. He finished the game with a career-high four punts downed inside the 20-yard line, and he also had a career-high three downed inside the 10. Powell leads the MIAA of 50+ yard punts (8) this season and is second in total punting (41.0). He also had four catches for 79 yards and a touchdown in the game. The 6-0 senior wide receiver/punter is a native of Bartlesville, Okla. where he competed at Bartlesville High School.
— MIAA Press Release —