KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Alex Carder earns Offensive Player of the Week for the Mid-American Conference West Division after leading WMU to a 38-31 win at Connecticut.  It is the third-straight MAC West Offensive POTW for the Broncos.

Carder (Shawnee, Kan.) threw for a career high and school record 479 yards and five touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter, in Western Michigan's 38-31 upset of defending Big East champion Connecticut this past Saturday. 

His 37-for-51 effort (72.5 percent) came with no interceptions on the road against a BCS opponent.  Carder hit three different receivers for his five scores with two scores going to Jordan White and Chleb Ravenell, while another went to tight end Dallas Walker. 

Carder's passing yards ranks as the ninth most in Mid-American Conference history and his five touchdowns tied for second most in a game in school history and tied for 12th in MAC history.  The 479 yards were also the second most by a Division I FBS QB this past week.

This is not the only accolade Carder has earned this week.  He is one of five players up for Capital One Impact Performer of the Week and one of eight QBs up for Manning Award National Star of the Week.