WVWC’s McGuire named MEC Offensive Football Player of the Week

FAIRMONT – The Mountain East Conference has announced the winners of this week’s Football Player of the Week awards. The MEC Player of the Week awards are presented by The Health Plan. 

West Virginia Wesleyan’s quarterback Liam McGuire was selected as the MEC Offensive Player of the Week, Wheeling’s outside linebacker Jalen Higginbotham was named the MEC Defensive Player of the Week, and Charleston’s kicker Zachary Alvarez was named the MEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

McGuire, a redshirt freshman from Huntington, West Virginia led West Virginia Wesleyan to its first conference victory since the 2022 season on Sept. 19, with a 28-23 win over West Virginia State. McGuire went 18-for-36 with 247 passing yards and four touchdown passes. On the ground, he finished with three carries and 16 yards. 

Higginbotham, a sophomore from Suitland, Maryland repeats as the league’s defensive player of the week after another career worthy performance. The outside linebacker tallied 17 total tackles, including six solo and 11 assisted as well as a tackle for loss. Saturday’s contest marked the second straight week with 15 or more tackles for Higginbotham.

Alvarez, a redshirt senior from Miami, Florida broke the Mountain East Conference record for the longest field goal in league history at 54 yards in the Golden Eagles’ 41-38 win over Concord on Sept. 17. The kicker went five-for-five on points after touchdowns and two-for-two on a 43- and 54-yard field goal.