Football

Sykes, Flash, and Smyth Earn KCAC Football Weekly Honors

KANSAS — E'derian Skyes and Joshua Flash, both of No. 4 Friends University, and Joe Smyth of No. 15 Southwestern College have earned this week's KCAC Football Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Tuesday. The three student-athletes were selected for their performances from Oct. 13-19 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by Equity Bank.
 
 

Offensive Player of the Week

E'derian Sykes - #4 Friends University

5-11 | 205 lbs. | So. | RB | Lake Village, Ark.

Sykes again set a career-high in rushing yards with 160 yards on the ground along with two touchdowns in the No. 4-ranked Friends University Falcons' 56-32 Homecoming victory over the No. 22-ranked McPherson College Bulldogs in a matchup of unbeatens in the KCAC Bissell Division opener Saturday (Oct. 18). Sykes' first touchdown came at a crucial time when the Lake Village, Ark. native broke free for a 60-yard score for a big answer for the Falcons early in the second quarter after the Bulldogs had taken a 21-7 lead. Sykes is now the Falcons' top rusher on the season with 659 yards and has scored five touchdowns.

 
Rushing gp rush yds y/g avg td lg fum lost
Oct 18 vs. McPherson W, 56-32 * 1 12 160 160.0 13.3 2 68 0 0
Conference 1 12 160 160.0 13.3 2 68 0 0
Overall 1 12 160 160.0 13.3 2 68 0 0
 
All-Purpose gp rush rcv pr kr yds ypg
Oct 18 vs. McPherson W, 56-32 * 1 160 0 0 0 160 160.0
Conference 1 160 0 0 0 160 160.0
Overall 1 160 0 0 0 160 160.0
 
Scoring pts pts/g rush rec kr pr int fum xpm fgm 2pt misc
Oct 18 vs. McPherson W, 56-32 * 12 12.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Conference 12 12.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Overall 12 12.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
 

Defensive Player of the Week

Joshua Flash - #4 Friends University

6-3 | 180 lbs. | Fr. | DB | Houston, Texas

Freshman defensive back Joshua Flash changed the tone of the game in a flash in a matchup of unbeatens by picking off a pass in the final seconds of the second quarter and running 44 yards before lateraling to Kasey Lehman for the final yard of a pivotal score that suddenly put the Falcons on top 28-24 heading into halftime. Flash then recovered a fumble with the Falcons on top 42-32 with 1:27 left in the third quarter while finishing tied for second on the team with five tackles. The Falcons carried the momentum of Flash's crucial interception into the second half by outscoring the No. 20-ranked McPherson College Bulldogs 28-8 in a 56-32 victory after rallying from 21-7 down, the team's biggest deficit since 2023. Flash has 16 tackles on the season and now leads the Falcons with four interceptions.
 

Defense gp tkl ast tot tkl/g sck yds tfl yds ff fr yds int yds brup blk
Oct 18 vs. McPherson W, 56-32 * 1 5 0 5.0 5.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 11 1 44 0 0
Conference 1 5 0 5.0 5.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 11 1 44 0 0
Overall 1 5 0 5.0 5.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 11 1 44 0 0

 

Special Teams Player of the Week

Joe Smyth - #15 Southwestern College

6-0 | 180 lbs. | Sr. | WR/KR | Palmyra, N.J.

Southwestern College's Joe Smyth delivered a highlight performance in the Moundbuilders' 74-28 win over Sterling College. Smyth returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, providing a momentum-swinging play that energized the team. His speed and field awareness on special teams were key contributors to Southwestern's dominant road victory.

 
Receiving gp rec rec/g yds y/g avg td lg
Oct 18 at Sterling W, 74-28 * 1 3 3.0 30 30.0 10.0 1 11
Conference 1 3 3.0 30 30.0 10.0 1 11
Overall 1 3 3.0 30 30.0 10.0 1 11
 
Returns kr yds avg td lg pr yds avg td lg
Oct 18 at Sterling W, 74-28 * 1 89 89.0 1 89 0 0 - 0 0
Conference 1 89 89.0 1 89 0 0 - 0 0
Overall 1 89 89.0 1 89 0 0 - 0 0
 
All-Purpose gp rush rcv pr kr yds ypg
Oct 18 at Sterling W, 74-28 * 1 0 30 0 89 119 119.0
Conference 1 0 30 0 89 119 119.0
Overall 1 0 30 0 89 119 119.0
 
Scoring pts pts/g rush rec kr pr int fum xpm fgm 2pt misc
Oct 18 at Sterling W, 74-28 * 12 12.0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Conference 12 12.0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Overall 12 12.0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


2025 KCAC FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIOUS WEEKLY HONOREES:

  • Week 1 (Sept. 8): Jalil Brown, McPherson (Offensive) | Barrett Roads, Friends (Defensive) | Jack Finder, McPherson (Special Teams)
  • Week 2 (Sept. 16): Eric Williams II, Evangel (Offensive) | Teagan Flynn, Ottawa (Defensive) | Tristen Hood, Avila (Special Teams)
  • Week 3 (Sept. 22): Jamie Odom, Southwestern (Offensive) | Kenneth Ray, McPherson (Defensive) | Jace Martin, Friends (Special Teams)
  • Week 4 (Sept. 29): Jamie Odom, Southwestern (Offensive) | Jonavan Asuncion, McPherson (Defensive) | Truitt Bosher, Friends (Special Teams)
  • Week 5 (Oct. 6): Houston Herrin, Bethel (Offensive) | Erik Spring, Evangel (Defensive) | Preston Fansher, Southwestern (Special Teams)
 


ABOUT EQUITY BANK - THE OFFICIAL BANK OF THE KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

 

Equity Bank is a community bank with 67 bank locations throughout Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, including its home office in Wichita, Kansas. Equity Bank offers a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, and treasury management services, all specialized and delivered with entrepreneurial spirit. Equity Bank's parent company, Equity Bancshares, Inc., publicly trades on the Nasdaq global Select Market under the ticker symbol 'EQBK.' Learn more at www.equitybank.com.

 

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—KCAC—