OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Scottsdale quarterback Blake Decker threw for 479 yards and seven touchdowns in the Artichokes’ win over Eastern Arizona. This was Decker’s sixth game of the season over 400 yards and seventh game with four or more TD passes  as the 6’2”, 200-pound sophomore from Mountain View High School in Mesa, Ariz., upped his national leading passing stats to 423 yards per game and 42 touchdowns. Decker completed 28 of 44 passes on Saturday while being picked off once and running for another 33 yards on six carries. 

CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK –

Linebacker Antonio Smothers led the Scottsdale defense in their win over Eastern Arizona. Smothers, a 6’1”, 230-pound sophomore from Westside High School in Chicago, had seven solo tackles, including two sacks for 26 yards. He was a spark on defense, recording four tackles for loss for a total of 40 yards and being credited with three quarterback hurries. 

Defensive end Whitney Richardson led a seven-sack assault as Mesa beat NMMI, accounting for 3.5 sacks by himself. The 6’5”, 230-pound sophomore from Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida, totaled three solo and four assist tackles, dropping the quarterback for a total of 33 yards in losses.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Brian Franklin from Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona, booted a pair of field goals and was six-of-six on points after in the Thunderbirds’ win over New Mexico Military. The 5’11” freshman also punted once for 44 yards. Franklin’s field goals included a long of 36 yards.