Catamount quarterback with third award last five weeks
Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina redshirt junior QB Tyrie Adams repeated as the Southern Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, collecting the weekly award from the league office in his second straight week – and for the third time over the past five weeks. Adams amassed 390 yards of total offense in WCU’s 45-43, triple-overtime loss in the rain at No. 25 ETSU last Saturday.
All told, the weekly honor is the seventh in Adams’ career with his three weekly offensive plaudits this fall matching his three from a season ago. Adams is the second offensive player to collect consecutive weekly honors, joining Chattanooga WR Bryce Nunnelly who was honored the first two weeks of the season.
Adams was also dubbed the top offensive player in the conference by the staff of SouthernPigskin.com, which announced its weekly selections on Sunday, and was again an honorable mention for the national STATS FCS offensive player of the week award.
The top dual-threat quarterback in the league, Adams impressed with his arms and his legs in Johnson City, Tenn., throwing for 229 yards and four touchdowns on 20-for-29 passing while rushing for 161 yards including a career-long rush of 48 yards, adding a score on a career-high 27 carries.
After rushing for WCU’s first points on a six-yard scamper, Adams tallied scoring strikes of 12 yards to redshirt senior Tyran Reynolds for his first career receiving TD in the second quarter and a highlight-reel, one-handed 29-yard scoring grab by Daquan Patten early in fourth quarter in regulation. Adams then found TE Owen Cosenke on scoring plays of 25 and 4 yards, respectively, in overtime.
Last Saturday, Adams became WCU’s career leader in passing touchdowns, finishing the game with 53 to pass former teammate Troy Mitchell’s school benchmark of 50 and move into ninth place in SoCon history. He also posted the fifth game of his career with at least 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing.
Adams ranks second in WCU’s career ledgers in many categories including pass attempts (856), pass completions (541), passing yards (6,576 yds), and total offense (8,358 yds). He also moved into a tie for sixth in the single-season records with his 16 passing touchdowns this fall, while also ranking 11th overall in single-season total offensive production with 2,385 yards (671 rushing, 1,714 passing) with is average of 299.0 ranking second in the SoCon – and eighth nationally. Adams also ranks tied for seventh nationally in point responsibility with 138 coming on 16 passing TDs and his single-season career-best seven rushing scores.
Western Carolina (3-5, 1-5 SoCon) opens a two-game homestand this Saturday, Nov. 3, hosting The Citadel (2-5, 2-4 SoCon) for Homecoming at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 pm. Tickets for Saturday’s game are available by phone at (800) 34-GOWCU or online at CatamountSports.com.
