PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its football weekly honors for the week ending Sept. 6.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MICHAEL ZARFATI • Rowan University
Junior • Wide Receiver • Middle Township, NJ/Middle Township
Zarfati has been named the first NJAC Offensive Player of the Week of the 2026 season after rising to the occasion against nationally-ranked competition. The junior wideout hauled in eight passes for a career-high 173 yards and two touchdowns against then-No. 21 Mary Hardin-Baylor, opening the scoring with a 43-yard touchdown grab on Rowan's first drive of the game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TYLER BUXTON • Vermont State-Castleton
Senior • Linebacker • Middlebury, VT/Middlebury
Buxton earned the first NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honor of the 2026 season after a game-changing performance for the Spartans. The senior linebacker recorded seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, highlighted by a fumble recovery he returned 33 yards for a touchdown, helping lift Vermont State-Castleton to a 29-7 win over Westfield State.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JOSH POWELL • Christopher Newport University
Junior • Wide Receiver/Kick Returner • Norfolk, VA/Maury
Powell has been named the first NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week of the 2026 season after flipping field position all afternoon for the Captains. The junior returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, piling up 105 total return yards on two attempts, in Christopher Newport's 43-14 win over the Newport News Apprentice School.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
SAM DECH • The College of New Jersey
Freshman • Running Back • Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg
Dech has been named the first NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week of the 2026 season after a standout collegiate debut for the Lions. The freshman carried the ball 14 times for a team-high 65 yards and a touchdown, gaining at least five yards on half his carries and never being stopped for a loss.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
BRAYDEN KELLY • The College of New Jersey
Sophomore • Cornerback • Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills
Kelly has been named the first NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week of the 2026 season after making an immediate impact in his collegiate debut for the Lions. The sophomore corner, in his first season on the field, recorded an interception he returned 33 yards to set up TCNJ's lone score, adding three tackles and a pass breakup on the afternoon.