Graduate student quarterback Dustin Crum and fifth-year linebacker Mandela Lawrence-Burke were named the Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week following their outstanding performances in the Kent State football team’s 34-27 win over Ohio. 

Crum completed 26-of-31 passes for a completion percentage of 83.9, his best of the season. He threw for 257 yards and one touchdown. He tied a season high with 93 rushing yards, leading KSU in rushing yards on Saturday, and one touchdown. 

This is Crum’s second honor in three weeks after he was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week in the Flashes win over Buffalo. 

Lawrence-Burke led the team with a season-high 14 tackles, including seven solo. He also had one tackle for a loss and one quarterback hit. 

Lawrence-Burke stepped up huge for the defense when he forced Ohio redshirt senior wide receiver Isiah Cox to fumble the ball as the Bobcats were driving into the red zone. He had another big play for the Flashes near the end of the game. The Bobcats faced third and goal at the one-yard line, and a touchdown would pull them within three points. OU would still need to recover an onside kick to stay alive, but needing a field goal over a touchdown is much more manageable in the event that they succeed. Lawrence-Burke would keep them out of the end zone, stuffing the runner behind the line of scrimmage and forcing the Bobcats to kick the field goal. 

Kent State will play Northern Illinois University (6-2 overall, 4-0 MAC), which is in first place in the West, on Wednesday Nov. 3 at Dix Stadium. The Flashes (3-1, 4-4) are tied for first place with Miami (3-1, 4-4) in the East.

Jimmy Oswald is a sports editor. Contact him at [email protected]