Thomas, Graves named MSFA Mideast Players of the Week

DEFIANCE, Ohio - On the heels of an overpowering 56-34 home win over Madonna on Saturday, the Defiance Yellow Jackets secured the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week Awards. Sophomore running back Tristan Thomas (Akron, Ohio/East) was tabbed the conference's Offensive Player of the Week while sophomore defensive back Jay Graves (Dayton, Ohio/Dunbar) was named Defensive Player of the Week.

Graves delivered a key play when Defiance was in need of a spark early in the second quarter. Graves gave Defiance its second defensive touchdown of the day by returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown to extend the Yellow Jackets' lead over Madonna to 21-13. The pick-6 poured water on Madonna's offensive momentum that saw the Crusaders score on 2 of its first 3 drives of the day. For Graves, it was his team-leading second interception of the season and first-career touchdown. He went on to record 4 tackles while Defiance's secondary held Madonna's passing game to 137 yards through 40 passing attempts.

On the offensive side for Thomas, he led a big day for the Yellow Jackets' ground game with 109 yards on just 10 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. The performance marked his second 100-yard game of the year with a career-high scoring day to become the first Yellow Jacket to post 3 scores in a game this year. Through 7 games this season, Thomas has already surpassed his rushing production from his freshman year (442 yards) at 495 yards for the season and 6 rushing scores. Also, Defiance ran for a season-high 271 yards as a team with Thomas serving as the featured back.

For both Graves and Thomas, it is their first MSFA Player of the Week Awards and the first weekly honors secured by the Yellow Jackets this season. Since joining the MSFA last year, Defiance has now won a total of five Player of the Week Awards from five different players.

The Yellow Jackets travel to Lawrence Tech on Saturday to complete the season.

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