Box Score ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T wide receiver
Braxton Graham (Seneca, MO/Seneca), who recorded the longest punt return in Great Lakes Valley Conference history Saturday, was named today as the GLVC's "Player of the Week" in the special teams category.
In Saturday's 45-28 loss at West Florida, Graham broke the league record when he brought a punt back 93 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of play. The previous record was 92 yards, set a year ago by Indianapolis' Reece Horn.
Graham accumulated 301 all-purpose yards in the contest, marking the sixth time in GLVC history that a player has gone over the 300-yard mark in all-purpose yardage. It was also the third-highest total in a game in Miner history and the punt return was the third-longest in school history behind the 97-yard return recorded by Frank Ricchi in 1949 and a 95-yard return in 1959 by James Kamicar.
The punt return and a 32-yard kickoff return accounted for all of Graham's return yardage in the game, while he also had 12 yards rushing on two carries and five receptions for a game-high 164 yards, which included an 86-yard scoring reception before the first half ended.
In addition, he had a 38-yard reception to the one-yard line that set up the Miners' first score of the game.
It is the first GLVC award won by the Miners this season and first for Graham in his S&T career.
The Miners will host Truman State in their GLVC opener Saturday at 7 p.m.