WICHITA, Kan. – After dominating the No. 12-ranked McPherson College Bulldogs in a clash of unbeatens on Saturday (Oct. 17), Friends University senior running back E'derian Sykes has been named the KCAC Offensive Player of the Week and junior running back Michael Lopez is the KCAC Special Teams Player of the Week, announced today (Oct. 19) by the conference office. All KCAC Player of the Week awards are sponsored by Athletic Solutions.

This is the first honor of the season and second in the career of Sykes, who picked a fine time to enter the end zone a career-high four times, leading the No. 7-ranked Falcons to a convincing 48-24 victory at McPherson.

A native of Lake Village, Ark., Sykes ran for a season-best 140 yards in the win, with a long scoring run of 74 yards that brought the Falcons within 17-14 and began a run of 28 unanswered points.

Sykes is now second on the Falcons' NAIA leading rushing unit with 465 yards on the ground and is also second in the KCAC and tied for fifth in the NAIA with 12 rushing touchdowns.

With the Falcons in an early 10-0 hole at McPherson, Lopez flipped the script and returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to put the Falcons right back into a game they went on to win by 24 points.

Also the KCAC's top special teams player on Sept. 14, the Wichita product now has two kickoff return touchdowns on the season and has averaged 44.3 yards on 12 kickoff returns.

The 7-0 Falcons will have another challenge next Saturday against (RV) Southwestern College. Kickoff will be at 1 pm at Adair-Austin Stadium. Purchase tickets HERE!