November 22, 2010

Barnes captures national Player of the Week honors

Cass Barnes' performance Saturday in leading Tech to a 28-point fourth quarter and comeback victory over No. 4 Jacksonville State has earned the senior quarterback selection as national co-Offensive Player of the Week from The Sports Network.

Read The Sports Network web story

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Cass Barnes' performance Saturday in leading Tech to a 28-point fourth quarter and comeback victory over No. 4 Jacksonville State has earned the senior quarterback selection as national co-Offensive Player of the Week from The Sports Network.

Barnes' selection marks the second time this season that The Sports Network has looked to the Golden Eagles for national recognition. Following Tech's win over Eastern Illinois, Caleb Mitchell and Marcus Edwards were named co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Barnes was rather pedestrian through three quarters on Saturday, but his performance in the final quarter not only garnered him national attention, it propelled Tennessee Tech to a 35-24 upset of then-No. 4 Jacksonville State.

Trailing 24-7 in the fourth quarter, Barnes led the Golden Eagles on four consecutive scoring drives (of 80, 84, 88 and 11 yards). The senior quarterback accounted for 264 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter alone, including 215 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-11 passing and 49 rushing yards. Before Barnes' impressive finish, the Golden Eagles had gained just 197 yards of total offense and managed just one touchdown through three quarters. Barnes finished with 271 passing yards and a touchdown and 88 rushing yards.

He shares the Offensive Player of the Week honor with quarterback Mike Brown of Liberty. The Defensive Player of the Week was senior defensive end Markel Carter of Central Arkansas, while The Sports Network selected runningback Zach Bauman of Northern Arizona as the Freshman of the Week.