WALESKA, Ga. – Three days after breaking school, league and two national records, Lee Kirkland has been named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Kirkland, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound graduate student, earned the honor after going 41-for-47 in the air for 641 yards and 11 touchdowns in a 90-14 win over St. Andrews on Saturday.
 
The passing yards and touchdown marks established new NAIA records while the touchdown park is believed to equal the most ever in a college football game. The touchdown mark had been in the record books for 56 years, as it was established in 1968.
 
For Kirkland, a native of Bluffton, S.C., the most important thing to happen Saturday didn't involve his prolific right arm: The Bears clinched only the second trip to the postseason in the 24-year history of the varsity program.
 
UPike entered the day in a three-way tie with Reinhardt and Point. When Point lost to Bluefield on a last-second field goal, however, it removed the Skyhawks from the tie.
 
UPike won the tie-breaker and the league's automatic bid to the playoffs thanks to beating the Eagles 47-21 on Oct. 5. As a result, the Bears will play Baker (Kan.) University on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST.
 
Kirkland is no stranger to the player of the week honor. This marks the fifth time this season he has won it and the ninth time since the Bears joined the AAC before the 2023 season.
 
Last season, Kirkland was named the league's offensive player of the year.