Football | September 02, 2019
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan senior kick returner Keith Mixon Jr. earned Mid-American Conference West Division Special Teams Player of the Week honors and senior quarterback Jon Wassink picked up MAC West Division Co-Offensive Player of the Week accolades following the Broncos' 48-13 win against Monmouth this past Saturday, announced the league office Monday.
The two are the first league weekly awards for Western Michigan this season. The MAC selection was the first for either in their Bronco careers.
Mixon Jr., a 5-8, 195-pound native of Birmingham, Ala., totaled 164 return yards against the Hawks. He returned a second-quarter kickoff 52 yards, the longest kickoff runback for the Broncos since Darius Phillips' 100-yard return at Michigan State on September 9, 2017. Mixon Jr. added a 65-yard kickoff return in the third quarter.
Mixon Jr.'s 143 kickoff return yards are the 10th most in a single game in program history and the most since Dervon Wallace totaled 177 against Toledo on November 8, 2011. Mixon Jr. added a 21-yard punt return and his four returns set up Western Michigan's offense for four scores.
Â
Wassink, a 6-2, 208-pound Grand Rapids, Mich., native, completed 20-of-25 passes for 368 yards and five touchdowns. He completed his first eight passes and did not throw an incompletion until 11:07 in the second quarter. Wassink connected on 10 completions of 15 or more yards and five of 30 or more yards.
Wassink's five TD passes tied his career high, matching his five against Miami on September 29, 2018, and five at Buffalo on October 7, 2017. Wassink's five touchdown passes were tied for the fourth most in a game in program history. His 368 passing yards gave him three career games with 300 or more yards and surpassing 300 for second consecutive season opener after throwing for 379 versus Syracuse on August 31, 2018. Wassink led the offense for eight drives with the unit totaling six touchdowns and two field goals during the eight possessions.
Â
The MAC's other weekly honors included Bowling Green's Darius Wade (East Offensive Player of the Week), Ohio's Jared Dorsa (East Defensive Player of the Week), Kent State's Derek Adams (East Special Teams Player of the Week), Eastern Michigan's Mike Glass III (West Co-Offensive Player of the Week) and Northern Illinois' Jalen McKie (West Defensive Player of the Week).
The Broncos return to action Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Michigan State. The game will be televised by Big Ten Network.
#LetsRide
