Golden Eagles Sailes, Kraemer capture OVC Weekly Honors

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A pair of Tennessee Tech sophomores have earned two of the weekly honors handed out by the Ohio Valley Conference for their pivotal roles in the Golden Eagles' 29-27 win over Southeast Missouri Thursday night.

Henry Sailes is the OVC Offensive Player of the Week, while Justin Kraemer is the league's Special Teams Player of the Week.

Sailes had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career as Tech opened conference play with the big road win at SEMO. A 5-foot-7 runningback from Palmetto, Fla., Sailes rushed for 113 yards on only eight carries (14.1 ypc) and caught six passes for 51 yards to account for 164 all-purpose yards on the night.

One of his eight rushes included a 63-yard touchdown run on a reverse in which he reversed field and outran the defense; that play was selected as SportsCenter's Play of the Day. One of Sailes six receptions included a 15-yard play that took the ball to the two-yard line, where TTU scored the winning touchdown on the next play.

It was the first Offensive PoW award for Sailes, who was named OVC Newcomer of the Week once last year as a freshman.

{mosimage}Kraemer scored 11 of Tennessee Tech's 29 points, including a career-best three field goals on three tries. He booted a career-long 51-yarder just two seconds before halftime to give his team a three-point lead. The 51-yard field goal was the second longest in school history. Kraemer also connected from 37 and 45 yards on the night and kicked two PAT's.

It is the first time for Kraemer to receive the league's Special Teams Player of the Week award. A year ago, he was named OVC Newcomer of the Week twice for the Golden Eagles.

Nathan Williams of Murray State was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week, while Henry Sarris of SEMO and Daryl Bourne of UT Martin shared Newcomer of the Week honors.

Sailes, Kraemer and the rest of the Golden Eagles are getting ready for a road game at Western Michigan Saturday eveneing, then return to Tucker Stadium for their next two games. Tech hosts Centreal Methodist on Thursday, Sept. 25 and returns to OVC action on Saturday, Oct. 4, when it hosts Eastern Kentucky. Kickoff for both games is at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the games, as well as season tickets, are on sale at the Athletics Ttcket office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.