WESTFIELD, Mass. – Graduate student Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) and freshman Francesco Lopriore (West Boylston, Mass.) were both recognized with Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football weekly honors, the league announced Monday.
 
After opening the season with back-to-back Offensive Player of the Week awards, Walker – a 5-11 running back – earned a spot on the Weekly Honor Roll. Lopriore – a 5-10 linebacker – was named to the Honor Roll for the first time.
 
Walker continued his hot start, rushing for 112 yards and three touchdowns to help Plymouth State remain unbeaten (3-0) with a 42-21 win at Bridgewater State on Saturday. He scored on runs of 6, 2, and 6 yards as the Panthers built a 21-7 halftime lead and never looked back.
 
Lopriore totaled six tackles, including four solo stops, and forced a fumble. With PSU up 21-7 midway through the third quarter, he jarred the ball loose near midfield, setting up another Panther touchdown that put the game out of reach.
 
Walker has been a beast in the early going, surpassing 100 yards in each game while averaging more than 147 per outing. He leads the MASCAC in rushing yards (442) and yards per game (147.3), ranks second in yards per carry (6.6), and his eight rushing touchdowns are twice as many as any other player in the league.
 
Lopriore is tied for third on the team with 13 total tackles and is one of just two Panthers to force a fumble this fall.
 
Plymouth State faces its toughest test of the season on Saturday (Sept. 27), when Mass. Maritime visits Panther Field for the Homecoming clash.