Southeast Missouri wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson and outside linebacker Justin Swift earned Ohio Valley Conference weekly honors this week following the historic road win at Jacksonville State. Wilkerson was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week and Swift was voted the league's Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
A native of Mamphis, Tennessee, Wilkerson had three catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yarder with four minutes to play in the game that helped seal SEMO's 24-21 win over #14 Jacksonville State. The win snapped JSU's 32-game regular season home winning streak.
The two touchdown receptions moved Wilkerson's career total to 29, which tied a SEMO career record and ranks sixth in OVC history. He recorded his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season (10th of his career) and increased his career receiving yardage mark to 2,874 yards, 10th most in OVC history.
Swift, also from Memphis, matched his career-high with 12 tackles (including 2.5 for loss) while adding a sack, a pass breakup and forcing a fumble against JSU. His forced fumble came deep in JSU territory in the third quarter and led to a SEMO field goal five plays later as the team took a 10-7 lead (and never trailed again). Swift keyed a defense that shutout the Gamecocks for two quarters while recording a season-best four takeaways.
The Redhawks are ranked number 24 in the nation in the STATS FCS Media Poll, and return home this weekend for Homecoming to play OVC leader UT Martin. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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