See who shined on the gridiron this week.

Offensive Player of the Week

Jaaron Hayek | WR | Villanova

Hayek made five receptions for a career-high 159 yards and a career-best four TDs in Villanova’s 45-20 victory at Maine. 

The four touchdown catches matched the most by any FCS player in 2022, and he’s just the third player in VU history to have at least four TD grabs in a game. 

Hayek tallied scoring catches of 83, 42, 18 and 4 yards at Maine and went over the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in five games.

Jaaron Hayek's 4️⃣ TD catches matched the most by any FCS player in 2022 and he’s just the third player in @novafootball history to have at least four TD grabs in a game pic.twitter.com/o5lpAj4dbF

— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) October 3, 2022

Defensive Player of the Week

Johnny Buchanan | LB | Delaware

Buchanan recorded a game-high 11 tackles to lead a dominant defensive effort in Delaware’s 24-10 triumph over Towson. 

The linebacker helped the Blue Hens limit Towson to nine first downs and 159 total yards, including 20 in the second half. 

UD’s defense didn’t allow a TD for the second straight game and has held four of its five foes to 10 points or less.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Ethan Chang | PK | William & Mary

Chang made a pair of field goals, including a 57-yarder that tied a 20-year-old CAA record and matched the longest in FCS this season, as William & Mary rallied past Stony Brook, 27-10. 

Along with the record-setting kick, the sophomore hit a 34-yard field goal and was 3-for-3 on PATs. Chang is 8-for-10 on field goals this season.

Rookie of the Week

Johncarlos Miller II | TE | Elon

Miller delivered two big plays that helped No. 23 Elon earn a 30-27 double-overtime win over No. 17 Richmond. 

The freshman tight end blocked a Spiders’ field goal late in the second quarter with the game tied at 14-14. He then caught a 25-yard touchdown pass that gave the Phoenix a 24-17 lead in the first overtime. It was the first TD catch of Miller’s career.

CONFERENCE NOTES

UD/W&M HIGHLIGHTS FULL SLATE OF CONFERENCE GAMES: A Top-25 matchup between No. 6 Delaware and No. 16 William & Mary highlights the Week 6 slate in CAA Football, which features all conference games for the first time this season. 

The Blue Hens are one of only three FCS teams with a 5-0 mark, while the Tribe is off to a 4-1 start for the second year in a row. 

Elon, riding a four-game win streak, hosts Towson, Monmouth, which has won three straight, faces UAlbany. New Hampshire, which is 3-0 in CAA play, welcomes Stony Brook, and Maine travels to Hampton for the Pirates’ first home CAA contest.

DOMINANT IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY: CAA teams have been dominant against FCS non-conference opponents over the past five years, winning a remarkable 76% of those games. The success has continued in 2022, as CAA teams are 18-4 (.818) against FCS opponents. The 18 wins and the .818 win percentage are the best of any FCS conference.

QUALITY QUARTERBACKS: CAA Football has featured some of the best quarterback play in FCS this season. 

The league has seven of the top 19 QBs in FCS in pass efficiency (VU's Connor Watkins, EU's Matthew McKay, UA's Reese Poffenbarger, UD's Nolan Henderson W&M's Darius Wilson, MU's Tony Muskett and UR's Reece Udinski) and six of the top 25 in passing yards (Udinski, Henderson, McKay, Poffenbarger, Muskett and URI's Kasim Hill). Udinski tops FCS in completion percentage (77%) and Henderson is 3rd in TD passes (16).

GETTING IT DONE ON THE GROUND: Five of the top 20 rushers in FCS play in the CAA. 

MU's Jaden Shirden leads the nation at 154.4 ypg, UA's Todd Sibley is ninth (108.8 ypg), EU's Jalen Hampton is 12th (105.2 ypg), W&M's Bronson Yoder is 14th (104.0 ypg) and UNH's Dylan Laube is 19th (99.2 ypg). Sixteen CAA players have run for at least 100 yards in a game this season, with Shirden (two) and Laube (one) having topped 200 yards.

RECORD-SETTING KICKERS: Elon's Skylar Davis tied the Elon record for career field goals with 59 last Saturday when he kicked a game-tying 42-yarder with 37 seconds left in regulation vs. Richmond. Davis now is tied for third on the CAA list for career FGs. 

W&M's Ethan Chang booted a 57-yard FG at Stony Brook last week, which set a new W&M record and tied a CAA mark that stood for 20 years.

DEFENSES CREATING OFFENSE: While offenses around the CAA are putting plenty of points on the board, several teams have gotten help from their defenses. 

In Week 1, Rhode Island's Jordan Jones (42 yards) and New Hampshire's Randall Harris (25 yards) returned interceptions for TDs. 

W&M's Jalen Jones (33 yards) and Richmond's Aaron Banks (35 yards) scored on pickoffs in Week 2. 

In Week 4, UR's Tyreke Funderburk had a 30-yard pick six and UAlbany's Joseph Greaney scored on a 77-yard fumble return. 

Last Saturday, Towson's Robert Javier (97 yards) and VU's Jalen Goodman (23 yards) had a pick 6.

FOUR NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK IN 2022: Richmond's Reece Udinski was chosen as the FCS National Player of the Week by NCAA.com on Sept. 26 after throwing for 357 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Stony Brook. He was the fourth CAA player in four weeks to be honored nationally. 

Delaware's Johnny Buchanan was the FedEx Ground National Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 after making a school-record 23 tackles in a win over Navy. 

William & Mary's Jalen Jones was the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12 after intercepting three passes in a win vs. Campbell. 

Delaware's Nolan Henderson was the FedEx Ground Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19 after passing for 379 yards and four touchdowns as the Hens beat Rhode Island.

FIVE TEAMS RANKED IN TOP 25 POLLS: Five CAA teams were ranked in the latest Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches polls last week. 

Delaware remained at No. 6 in both polls, while Villanova is No. 13 in the AFCA poll and No. 15 in the Stats poll. Elon is ranked No. 14 by Stats and No. 18 by the AFCA, William & Mary is No. 16 in the Stats poll and No. 17 in the AFCA poll and Richmond is ranked No. 23 by Stats, while Rhode Island is No. 25 in the AFCA rankings. Monmouth is among others receiving votes in both polls and New Hampshire got votes in the Stats poll. The CAA's five ranked teams are tied for the most of any conference.

Let's go...#CAAFB Top Plays presented by @jerseymikes @Towson_FB@RhodyFootball@StonyBrookFB@ElonFootball@BlackBearsFB@WMTribeFootball @Delaware_FB@UNH_Football@MUHawksFB@Spiders_FB@NovaFootball pic.twitter.com/CL7woeEYG3

— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) October 5, 2022

UAlbany

•  Off last week. Return to action with a trip to Monmouth on Saturday.

•  Reese Poffenbarger has thrown for over 250 yards and at least two TDs in his past three games. He ranks 12th in CS in passing yards (275.3 ypg) and 10th in pass efficiency (160.8).

•  Todd Sibley ran for a season-high 190 yards vs. CCSU, including a 97-yard TD on the opening play. It was his third straight 100-yard outing and he's ninth in FCS in rushing.

•  Thomas Greaney made a team-high six catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns vs. CCSU. He leads all tight ends in the CAA in receptions (20), receiving yards (305) and touchdowns (four).

•  DL Joseph Greaney returned a fumble 77 yards for a TD vs. CCSU.

•  LB Jackson Ambush recorded a season-high 14 tackles vs. CCSU and has 26 stops over the past two games.

•  Tyler Pastula ranks eighth in FCS in punting (44.9 avg) and has five kicks of 50+ yards.

Delaware

•  One of only three FCS teams to start 5-0 after a 24-10 victory over Towson last week.

•  Nolan Henderson was 25-of-41 passing for 368 yards and two touchdowns vs. TU. He ranks third in FCS with 16 TD passes, eighth in pass yards (291.4) and 13th in pass efficiency.

•  Chandler Harvin made three catches for a team-best 105 yards, including a 74-yard TD reception in the second quarter vs. TU.

•  Jourdan Townsend has 17 receptions for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the past three games.

•  Johnny Buchanan made a team-best 11 tackles vs. TU and leads the CAA with 59 stops. He was the FCS National Defensive Player of Week after 23 tackles vs. Navy.

•  Delaware has held four of its five opponents to 10 points or less. The Hens are third in FCS in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and fourth in pass defense. UD's defense hasn't allowed a TD over the past two games.

•  Kedrick Whitehead intercepted his second pass of the season vs. TU.

Elon

•  Edged Richmond, 30-27 in 2ot, for its fourth straight win. EU is 4-1 for the first time since 2018 and has beaten ranked foes in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2017.

•  Matthew McKay threw for 322 yards and three TDs vs. UR. He's seventh in FCS in total offense (318.4 ypg), ninth in FCS in pass efficiency and 11th in passing yards. He's been responsible for at least three touchdowns in four of Elon's five games.

•  Jalen Hampton ran for 93 yards, including a game-winning 11-yard TD in the second OT. He has run for 397 yards in the past three games.

•  Bryson Daughtry had four catches for a career-best 134 yards vs. UR, including a 74-yard TD grab on Elon's first offensive play.

•  Skyler Davis booted a 42-yard FG with 42 seconds left that forced OT vs. UR. It was his 59th career FG, tying EU's FCS career mark.

•  Elon is 12th in FCS in total offense (446.6 ypg) and passing offense (276.0 ypg).

•  Bo Sanders made a career-high 11 stops vs. UR and recovered a fumble.

Hampton

•  Off last week. Host Maine on Saturday for inaugural CAA home game. Hampton's 3-0 start was its best since 2007.

•  Jadakis Bonds ranks third in the CAA in receiving yards (78.8 ypg) and has at least one TD catch in three of four games. Bonds tallied a school-record 15 TD receptions in 2019 and is HU's career leader in TD grabs.

•  Romon Copeland made three receptions for 111 yards at NSU, including a 75-yard TD catch.

•  QB Malcolm Mays has thrown a TD pass in three of Hampton's first four games and is completing nearly 60% of his passes.

•  Hampton leads the CAA and ranks 11th in FCS in rush defense (80.2 ypg). The Pirates are also 23rd in scoring defense and 32nd in total defense.

•  DeAndre Faulk recorded a team-best 14 tackles at Delaware and has 31 stops and 1.5 sacks for the season.

•  Qwahsin Townsel leads Hampton in tackles (38) and has 3.5 TFLs, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Maine

•  Fell 45-20 to Villanova in their CAA opener last week.

•  Joe Fagnano was 24-of-38 passing for 192 yards and two TDs vs. VU. He has thrown for over 200 yards in five of his past eight games and has over 4,000 career passing yards.

•  Elijah Barnwell ran for a team-best 53 yards on nine carries vs. VU and also threw a 9-yard TD pass.

•  TE Shawn Bowman made a career-high seven catches for 55 yards and a TD vs. VU. He's had at least three receptions in each game.

•  Montigo Moss had a one-handed 9-yard TD grab against Villanova. It was his third straight game with a TD catch.

•  Brian Cooey dropped four of his five punts vs. VU inside the 20-yard line.

•  Xavier Mitchell recorded a season-best nine tackles against Villanova.

•  Brian Lee Jr. tops Maine with 27 tackles and also has 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.

Monmouth

•  Increased their winning streak to three with a 35-7 victory at Lehigh last week.

•  Jaden Shirden ran for a team-best 108 yards at Lehigh. It was his 4th straight 100+-yard effort, which includes two games with 200+ yards. He leads FCS in rushing (154.4 ypg).

•  Tony Muskett threw for 261 yards and three TDs at Lehigh. It was his 20th straight game with at least one TD pass. He has thrown for 200+ yards in nine of his last 10 games and ranks 18th in FCS in passing (253.8 ypg).

•  Owen Wright scored his CAA-best 10th rushing TD at Lehigh and ranks second in FCS in scoring (13.2 ppg).

•  Dymere Miller made 9 catches for a career-high 125 yards and a TD at Lehigh. It was his second career 100-yard performance.

•  Mike Reid made a team-best five tackles, forced a pair of fumbles and broke up a pass at Lehigh. He has 25 tackles and six PBUs.

•  MU's defense recorded six sacks, forced two fumbles and held Lehigh to one TD.

New Hampshire

•  Suffered a 44-7 setback at FBS member Western Michigan last week.

•  Dylan Laube ran for 73 yards, caught 6 passes for 63 yards and a TD and finished with 148 all-purpose yards at WMU. He leads FCS in punt returns, ranks second in all-purpose yards and 19th in rushing.

•  Max Brosmer was 22-of-34 passing for 161 yards and a TD at WMU. He has thrown eight TD passes in the past three games.

•  Joey Corcoran has made a team-high 20 catches over the past four games.

•  Freshman WR Caleb Burke made his first collegiate catch at WMU and finished with four receptions for 27 yards.

•  Pop Bush tallied a team-high six tackles, a TFL and a pass breakup at WMU. He tops UNH with 24 tackles for the season.

•  All-America DE Josiah Silver, who ranked sixth in FCS with 12.5 sacks last year, has tallied 4.5 sacks and 6.0 TFLs through five games this season.

Rhode Island

•  Rolled past Brown, 38-10, to claim the Governor's Cup for the fourth straight year.

•  Kasim Hill passed for 257 yards and two touchdowns vs. Brown. He has thrown for 200+ yards in four of five games and has had at least two TD passes in eight of his last nine contests.

•  Marques DeShields ran for a season-high 109 yards and two TDs vs. Brown. It was his second 100-yard outing for the season.

•  Kahtero Summers set season-highs with six catches for 112 yards vs. Brown. He ranks fifth in the CAA in receiving yards (359).

•  Jake Fire contributed a team-best 10 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and an interception vs. Brown. He ranks third in the CAA with 48 stops.

•  Antonio Carter II had four tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in the win over Brown.

•  TE Caleb Warren made TD catches of 28 and 26 yards in a span of 19 seconds late in the first half vs. Brown.

Richmond

•  Dropped a 30-27 decision in double overtime at Elon last week, ending a three-game winning streak.

•  Reece Udinski was 42-of-58 passing for a season-high 383 yards and two TDs at EU. He leads FCS in completion pct. (77%), ranks seventh in passing and has 13 TDs with one interception. It was his third straight game with 350+ yards.

•  Jasiah Williams made nine catches for 49 yards at EU. He's second in FCS with 43 catches and has made 9+ catches in four of his five games.

•  Jakob Herres had 12 catches for a season-high 174 yards and a TD at EU. He's the FCS active leader in career receptions (255) and is second in career receiving yards (3,352).

•  Aaron Dykes ran for a season-best 102 yards at Elon and leads UR with 283 yards.

•  Tristan Wheeler, who made 19 tackles at UVA, had six stops and 2.5 TFL at EU. He's second in the CAA with 49 tackles and has made 305 career stops in just 29 games.

•  Aaron Banks (35 yds) and Tyrek Funderburk (30 yds) each have a pick six this season.

Stony Brook

•  Fell 27-10 to William & Mary last week. Led the Tribe 10-6 at the half.

•  In his first career start, Ross Tallarico ran for a team-best 76 yards and made a team-high five catches for 32 yards and a TD vs. W&M.

•  DB Carthell Flowers-Lloyd contributed a season-high 13 tackles and 4.0 TFLs vs. W&M. He's second in the CAA with 10.0 TFLs and has 34 total stops.

•  LB Reidgee Dimanche recorded 12 tackles and intercepted a pass that set up a SBU touchdown vs. W&M. He leads the Seawolves with 36 tackles for the season.

•  LB Tyler King tallied 12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack against the Tribe. His 33 stops rank 10th in the CAA.

•  Freshman QB Daron Bryden threw for 107 yards vs. W&M and had a TD pass for the second straight game.

•  OL Kyle Nunez, a four-time All-CAA performer, was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy.

Towson

•  Lost 24-10 at nationally ranked Delaware last week.

•  Towson's defense kept UD scoreless for the first 22 minutes and the Tigers held a 3-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

•  Joachim Bangda, a transfer from Kent State, rushed for a team-best 53 yards on 12 carries at UD in his first extended playing time.

•  Tyrrell Pigrome threw for 62 yards and ran for 32 at UD. He was the first Towson QB since 2019 to have over 100 yards passing and rushing in the same game vs. Morgan.

•  Robert Javier returned an interception 97 yards for a TD at Delaware and added seven tackles.

•  LB Ryan Kearney made a team-best 10 tackles and had two PBUs at UD. He tops the team with 42 stops for the season.

•  LB Mason Woods has registered 33 tackles and an interception in the past four games. He made 10 stops at UD.

Villanova

•  Earned their first CAA victory of the season, beating Maine, 45-20, last week.

•  Jaaron Hayek made five catches for a career-high 159 yards and four touchdowns at Maine. He tops the CAA and is third in FCS in receiving yards (114.3 ypg). The four TDs are tied for the most in FCS this season.

•  Connor Watkins passed for 255 yards and four touchdowns at Maine and completed 13 straight throws at one point. He ranks third in FCS in pass efficiency and has thrown at least one TD in each game. Watkins has completed 10 passes of 40 or more yards this season.

•  Three different VU backs have run for over 100 yards in the past three games - Jalen Jackson (187), DeeWil Barlee (177) and TD Ayo-Durojaiye (109).

•  Jalen Goodman returned an interception 23 yards for a TD at Maine.

•  VU ranks 10th in FCS in rushing and total offense and 15th in scoring offense. The Wildcats have eclipsed 450 total yards in four of their five games.

William & Mary

•  Moved to 3-0 on the road for the first time since 1986 after beating Stony Brook, 27-10.

•  Malachi Imoh ran for a season-high 128 yards and three touchdowns at SBU. He's averaging 7.6 ypc this season, which ranks eighth in FCS.

•  W&M ranks sixth in FCS in rushing (241 ypg). The Tribe is also 17th nationally in total offense and 23rd in scoring offense.

•  Bronson Yoder has rushed for 100+ yards twice this season. He ranks 14th in FCS in rushing (104 ypg) and has scored four touchdowns.

•  Darius Wilson threw for 176 yards and ran for 48 at SBU. He has passed for 175+ yards in four of his five games this season.

•  John Pius leads FCS in both sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (12.5).

•  The Tribe has recorded 16 sacks, which is tied for the CAA lead. W&M also ranks 21st in FCS in total defense and scoring defense.

•  Ethan Chang tied a CAA record and set a new W&M mark by booting a 57-yard FG at Stony Brook.