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Week 9: AAC Football Players of the Week

Samuel Hawthorne of Union Commonwealth
October 27, 2025

WALESKA, Ga. - Ethan Cash of Bluefield is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Samuel Hawthorne of Union Commonwealth and Jayce Gager of Union Commonwealth are the Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.

The league announced the awards on Monday.

This is the ninth edition of the awards for the 2025 season. The next set of awards will be announced on Nov. 3.

AAC Defensive Player of the Week
 Samuel Hawthorne - Union Commonwealth - Senior 

  • Had 3.0 sacks in a 32-28 win over Kentucky Christian.
  • The 3.0 sacks are tied for second-most in league history.
  • The sacks went for a loss of 20 yards.
  • Had 10 total tackles with 6 solo stops.
  • Sealed the game with a sack and strip to give Union the ball with seconds remaining.
  • This is his second weekly honor of the season.

AAC Offensive Player of the Week
 Ethan Cash - Bluefield - Senior

  • Passed for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 43-40 win Pikeville.
  • Completed 62.5 percent (15-of-24) of his passes.
  • Rushed for 62 yards and 2 scores on 11 carries.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

AAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Jayce Gager - Union Commonwealth - Freshman

  • Accounted for 6 points in the 32-28 win over Kentucky Christian.
  • Went 3-for-3 on PATs.
  • Hit a 32-yard field goal.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

Previous Weekly Winners
 Week 1 - Ethan Walker, Bluefield (Defensive); Taylor Jackson, Reinhardt (Offensive); Alex Hanson, Reinhardt (Special Teams)
Week 2 - JaTarius Randolph, Kentucky Christian (Defensive); Jackson Wasik, Kentucky Christian (Offensive); Messiah Wilson, Point (Special Teams)
Week 3 - Braylon Jones, Reinhardt (Defensive); Xavier Malone, Pikeville (Offensive); Isaac Smith, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 4 - Chase Hall, Kentucky Christian (Defensive); Jovari Gamble, Kentucky Christian (Offensive); Levi Evans, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 5 - Samuel Hawthorne, Union Commonwealth (Defensive); Xavier Malone, Pikeville (Offensive); Selatian Slaughter, Union Commonwealth (Special Teams)
Week 6 - Ethan Binns, Point (Defensive); Jackson Wasik, Kentucky Christian (Offensive); Alex Hanson, Reinhardt (Special Teams)
Week 7 - Dashawn Webster, Kentucky Christian (Defensive); Xavier Malone, Pikeville (Offensive); Alex Hanson, Reinhardt (Special Teams)
Week 8 - Jeff Flowers, Pikeville (Defensive); Jackson Wasik, Kentucky Christian (Offensive); Maurice Davis, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 9 - Samuel Hawthorne, Union Commonwealth (Defensive); Ethan Cash, Bluefield (Offensive); Jayce Gager, Union Commonwealth (Special Teams)