LANCASTER, Pa. --- Moravian College senior quarterback Mike Hayes has been named the Centennial Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week while sophomore kicker Kenny Kane was honored as the Special Teams Player of the Week for their performances in the Greyhounds' 50-35 win over King's College Saturday to begin the 2016 season.
Hayes threw for a career high 354 yards in the victory as he completed 23-of-37 passes with three touchdowns and one interception. His marks for completions and touchdowns matched career highs for Hayes, who also ran the ball seven times for 24 yards while being sacked just once. Hayes completed passes to eight different receivers and threw touchdown passes of 47, 23 and five yards.
Hayes' yardage total is the sixth best game in school history, and he is the first Moravian quarterback to throw for over 300 yards since Jerry Venturino had 329 yards at Widener University on October 1, 2005. Hayes is also the first player with more than 350 yards in a game since Rob Petrosky threw for 377 yards at Widener University on September 11, 1997. The Greyhounds went over 350 yards passing in a game on Saturday versus King's for the first time since September 30, 2000 when the program had 353 yards versus Widener.
"Mike is showing the composure of a three-year starter in the backfield," commented Head Coach Jeff Pukszyn. "We call him our point guard to use a basketball analogy because we're not looking for him to do everything. We just want Mike to distribute the ball to all the other skill guys on the offense. He takes what the opponent is giving him and runs our offense efficiently. Mike came into preseason camp prepared both mentally and physically and that showed up on the field on Saturday."
Kane made his debut as Moravian's place kicker a memorable one by going 3-for-3 on field goals and 5-for-6 on extra points for 14 points, the second highest total in a game for a kicker in school history. He connected on field goals of 33, 25 and 21 yards, and Kane's three field goals are tied for the second most in a game in school history. Kane is the first Greyhound to kick three field goals in a game since Brian Reckenbeil on October 18, 2008.
"Being able to go out on a college field the first time and kick three field goals is phenomenal," stated Pukszyn. "Kenny has been working hard and competing with our other kicker throughout camp as they battle to see who'll be on the field."
The Greyhounds are scheduled to kickoff their 2016 Centennial Conference season on Saturday, September 10 when Moravian hosts McDaniel College at Rocco Calvo Field with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.
