Staten Named MAC West Defensive POTW

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan junior linebacker Armond Staten of Inkster (Mich.) High School has been named Mid-American Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Week.

Armond Staten made 11 tackles and forced three fumbles, including two in the fourth quarter, in the Chippewas' 26-22 win over Western Michigan Friday night.

Staten's first forced fumble came in the first quarter and led to a field goal that gave the Chippewas a 10-2 lead. His second came early in the fourth quarter on a sack of WMU quarterback Alex Carder; the play resulted in a loss of seven yards. Two plays later, WMU missed a 46-yard field goal and the Chippewas scored a go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession.

Staten forced a fumble for the third time when he hit Brian Fields in the backfield on second-and-goal from the 3-yard line with just over 1:30 remaining. CMU's Joe Kinville recovered the fumble to secure the win for the Chippewas.

Staten earns the conference's weekly honor for the first time in his career.

Central Michigan (3-7 overall, 2-5 MAC) visits Navy in a nonconference matchup Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS College Sports.