University of Missouri-Rolla quarterback Evan Gray (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) had a record-setting day Saturday in the Miners’ victory over Austin Peay – and has earned a pair of weekly awards for that performance.
Gray, a senior, has been named as a co-recipient of the “Offensive Player of the Week” for NCAA Division II by D2Football.com and was also chosen as the week’s top offensive player by the Independent Football Alliance.
In Saturday’s game, Gray completed 26-of-41 passes for 499 yards and six touchdowns in UMR’s 45-3 victory over Austin Peay, a win that secured the Miners their first winning season since 1985. The 499 yards passing, his 499 yards of total offense and the six scoring passes were all single-game records, while his 413 yards passing in the first half also set a new school record.
Gray ended up setting seven records in all Saturday, including breaking the school’s passing yardage record which now stands at 4,693 yards and the total offense mark that is at 4,486 yards. He also broke the school mark for career completions with 223.
In addition, Gray extended his school records for touchdown passes in a season (27) and career (47), posting all of his career marks in just 17 games.
The 499 yards passing by Gray in Saturday’s game is the third-highest total in NCAA Division II this season; he also shares the eighth-best mark with his 465-yard game against Southwest Baptist. The 499 yards of total offense is the seventh-best mark in the nation for the season and was exceeded Saturday only by the other recipient of the national award, Minnesota-Duluth quarterback Ted Schlafke, who accumulated 504 yards of total offense in a win over South Dakota.
The IFA award is the second earned by Gray this season, as he was also honored after the Miners’ opening week win over Upper Iowa.