FOREST, Va. – For his valiant efforts that guided the Averett University football team to a clutch win at Southern Virginia on Saturday night, sophomore quarterback Brandon Saunders was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's offensive player of the week, announced on Sunday.

Saunders, hailing from Raeford, S.C., went for a career best in passing yards (297), rushing yards (110), passing touchdowns (three), and longest rush from scrimmage with 73. His passing yard total was the the eighth-most by an Averett quarterback in single game history, and his 407 total yards were the second-most by any signal caller to dawn the Cougar uniform.

Saunders and his 11.0 yards per rush versus the Knight set a new school single-game offensive record, as he surpassed Sean Bowman '19 and his 9.5 yards per rush on Oct. 18, 2018 against N.C. Wesleyan. His 73-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that ultimately sealed the deal for Averett also set a program record for longest run from scrimmage by a Cougar quarterback. 

Saunders' player of the week award is Averett's first since Joziah Campbell on Nov. 10, 2024, and first offensive player of the week laurel since Ethan Ross won it on Sept. 8 of that same year. This is also the Cougars' fifth all-time player of the week honor in the ODAC, including both offense and defense.