IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the ninth week of the 2020 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Desmond Ridder • Cincinnati • Jr. • QB • Louisville, Ky.
Ridder earns Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after he was responsible for five touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 49-10 win against Memphis. Ridder completed 21 of 26 passes (80.7%) for 271 yards and three touchdowns (43, 6, 21) and rushed for two TDs (13, 9) and 41 yards on 10 carries. Ridder has figured in nine touchdowns in Cincinnati’s last two games..
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Myjai Sanders • Cincinnati • Jr. • DE • Jacksonville, Fla.
Sanders led a Cincinnati defense that limited Memphis to five rushing yards, 290 total yards and 10 points in the Bearcats’ 49-10 win. Sanders and the Bearcats held Memphis, which had been averaging 548.8 yards and 38.8 points per game, scoreless in the second half, allowing Cincinnati to break open what had been a 21-10 game at halftime. Sanders had a team-high six tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Daniel Obarski • UCF • So. • K • Chandler, Ariz.
Obarski scored 14 points, matching his career high with three field goals, to help UCF to a 44-21 win at Houston. He connected on field goals of 34, 24 and 38 yards in the first half to help stake the Knights to a 23-7 halftime lead. Obarski ranks third in The American at kicker scoring at 9.0 points per game.
HONOR ROLL
Dillon Gabriel • UCF • So. • QB
Completed 19 of 33 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in a 44-21 win at Houston.
Shane Buechele • SMU • Sr. • QB
Completed 23 of 28 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-37 win against Navy.
Nick Anderson • Tulane • So. • LB
Had a game- and career-high 14 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss in a 38-3 win against Temple, leading a defense that held the Owls to 222 yards and 11 first downs.
Duece Watts • Tulane • So. • WR
Had five receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns — all career highs — in a 38-3 win against Temple.
Kendarin Ray • Tulsa • So. • S
Had a team-high nine tackles with two pass breakups in a 34-30 win against East Carolina.