FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

• JMU's McGee heads up Sports Network national players of the week

  
  

  Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Quarterback Antonio Heffner of Tennessee State, defensive end James Develin and kick returner Scotty McGee of James Madison have been named The Sports Network's FCS national players of the week.

  OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Antonio Heffner, Tennessee State, 6-2, 207, Senior, Quarterback, Memphis, TN.

  Heffner led Tennessee State to a crucial Ohio Valley Conference victory over Eastern Kentucky, completing 20-of-28 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the No. 25 Tigers 34-20 victory over EKU in the conference opener for both teams. It was only the third win in 22 games for TSU against the Colonels.

  Heffner, who also carried the ball nine times for 47 yards (360 yards total yards of offense for the game), threw two of his touchdowns in the second half including a 3-yarder to Ronald Evans early in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers up by two scores. His first touchdown came on a 62-yard strike to Brandon Belvin in the first half. Heffner?s play has Tennessee State off to its best start (4-0) in seven years.

  DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK James Develin, Brown, 6-3, 260, Junior, Defensive End, Gilbertsville, PA.

  Develin headlined a Brown defensive effort that held Stony Brook's offense scoreless in a 17-7 season-opening win for the Bears. Stony Brook's only score came on a fourth-quarter interception return in a game where Develin and his teammates held the Sea Wolves to 36 yards rushing and 147 yards of total offense.

  Develin registered a game-high nine tackles, including five solo stops. He recorded 3.5 tackles for a loss of 18 yards, including two quarterback sacks for a loss of 16 yards, and also forced a fumble for the Bears.

  SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Scotty McGee, James Madison, KR-DB, 5-9, 180, Virginia Beach, VA.

  McGee started James Madison on the road to a comeback by returning the second- half kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the Dukes' 35-32 victory over No. 1 ranked Appalachian State on Saturday night. The return got the record crowd of 17,163 back into the game after it was silenced in the first half.

  With the Dukes trailing 21-0 at halftime, McGee's touchdown ignited a 35-point outburst by James Madison in the second half. It was his second kick return for a touchdown this season and the fourth of his career, tying a JMU record. He totaled 135 yards on two kickoffs and returned four punts for 26 yards, including one return of 15 yards.

  09/22 15:58:51 ET