GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 4 of the 2024 football season. Grand Valley State running back Khalil Eichelberger was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week and Davenport redshirt junior punter Cal Doyle received GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Saginaw Valley State junior defensive back Eli Gordon continued his torrid start to the season, earning his third GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Khalil Eichelberger, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State sophomore running back Khalil Eichelberger rushed for a career-high 129 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries as the #2 Lakers claimed a 31-7 win over #20 West Florida. Eichelberger, who scored on runs of seven and 50 yards, averaged 8.6 yards per carry. Eichelberger powered a Laker running game that rushed for 312 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries. Eichelberger leads the GLIAC in rushing yards (383) and yards per game (95.7).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eli Gordon, Saginaw Valley State
Saginaw Valley State junior defensive back Eli Gordon led the way for the SVSU defense with a team-high nine tackles in the 28-24 win over #15 Indianapolis. He returned an interception 70 yards to the house to give the Cardinals a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. He leads the GLIAC with three interceptions and is the only player to return one for a touchdown. His 0.8 interceptions per game has him tied for fifth in the nation.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cal Doyle, Davenport
Davenport redshirt junior Cal Doyle was pressed into action for the first time in his career as the punter in a 17-7 win at William Jewell. He booted the second longest punt in school history of 83 yards in the third quarter and averaged 43 yards on six punts for the day. He finished with two punts over 50 yards and two inside the 20-yard line.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Trinidad Chambliss (Ferris State), Myren Harris (Davenport), Mason McKenzie (Saginaw Valley State)
Defense: Jimmy Downs (Grand Valley State), Jerek Fields (Ferris State), Justin White (Davenport)
Special Teams: Mathew Bacik (Grand Valley State), Tyler McCoon (Saginaw Valley State), Mitchell Middleton (Ferris State)
