Merchant Marine's Blankenship, Caffrey, and Tinkis Sweep NEWMAC Football Athletes of the Week 10/25/2021 12:00:00 AM NEWMAC Football Offensive Athlete of the Week Ian Blankenship, Merchant Marine (Sr., QB – McRae, Ga.) The senior had his hand in four of the Mariners' six touchdowns on Saturday in their 44-34 home win over Catholic. He threw USMMA's first two touchdowns and ended the day 6-for-9, passing for 99 yards. Blakenship also ran in two, the first on a 58-yard rush in the second quarter and another on a four-yard dash in the third, which broke the deadlock score, as the Mariners took the lead for the remaining time. The senior amassed a game-high 121 yards on the ground on 20 rushes and 220 yards of total offense. NEWMAC Football Defensive Athlete of the Week Connor Caffrey, Merchant Marine (Jr., DB – Spokane Valley, Wash.) The junior had a huge game for the Mariners on defense in their 44-34 home win over Catholic on Saturday. Caffrey forced two pivotal turnovers - the first on a second-quarter interception that set up a go-ahead touchdown six plays later, and the second, which was arguably the turning point of the game, forcing a fumble at the one-yard line with a seven-point lead in the third quarter that resulted in a touchback. The Mariners wound up marching up field and cashed in on the turnover with a field goal to make it a two-possession game late in the third. Caffrey finished the day with five tackles. NEWMAC Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week Jackson Tinkis, Merchant Marine (Fy., K – Bossier City, La.) The first-year scored six points for Merchant Marine, as the kicker added three extra points and nailed a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter in the Mariners' 44-34 home victory over Catholic on Saturday to stay unbeaten on the season.