October 17, 2010

Edwards, Mitchell and Crawford voted OVC weekly honors

Sophomores Marcus Edwards and Caleb Mitchell shared the OVC Defensive Player of the Week honor and senior runningback Jocques Crawford was voted the league's Newcomer of the Week for their sterling efforts Saturday night in Tech's 34-20 win over Eastern Illinois.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Sophomores Marcus Edwards and Caleb Mitchell shared the OVC Defensive Player of the Week honor and senior runningback Jocques Crawford was voted the league's Newcomer of the Week for their sterling efforts Saturday night in Tennessee Tech's 34-20 win over Eastern Illinois.

Mitchell caused three Panther turnovers, forcing a fumble and intercepting two passes. Both interceptions proved to be game-changes. The first came early in the second quarter with Tech trailing 7-0. He snared a pass near the left sideline and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. In the fourth quarter, with Tech on top 34-20 and EIU driving, Mitchell made his second interception in the end zone to thwart the drive. The 6-1, 190-pound sophomore from Russellville, Ala., finished the game with seven total tackles, a fumble caused, two interceptions, one tackle-for-loss and a quarterback sack.

Edwards, a 6-1, 225-pound sophomore from Alabaster, Ala., tied the school record with five quarterback sacks and finished with seven total tackles. He now leads Tech with eight quarterback sacks in seven games, two shy of the school single-season record of 10. His five sacks against the Panthers tied the mark originally set by Elois Grooms against Murray State in 1974, and matched in 1998 by Branon Vaughn against Eastern Kentucky.

Their efforts helped Tech tie a school team record for most quarterback sacks in a game with eight.

Crawford, a 6-1, 238 senior from Memphis, ran for a career-best 127 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries to provide the Golden Eagles with a large part of their offensive output. Crawford crashed over the goal line from one-yard out and added a second score from the two.

The Golden Eagles (3-4 overal/2-2 OVC) head to Nashville Saturday to face the Tennessee State Tigers at 6 p.m. in LP Field.