Sharpe, Brooks, Gundy, & Kelly Claim PFL’s First Weekly Honors of 2026

8/30/2026 4:39:47 PM

By: Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations Director

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Presbyterian College quarterback Landon Sharpe, University of Dayton defensive back Javawn Brooks, Valparaiso University return specialist Chris Gundy, and Stetson University defensive back Dylan Kelly are the Pioneer Football League’s first Players of the Week for the 2026 season, announced Sunday.

Sharpe was responsible for four touchdowns, all in the second half, in a 10-point win against UVA Wise on Thursday. Brooks intercepted passes on back-to-back drives to help Dayton secure a Saturday win against Fairmont. Gundy had two punt return touchdowns as Valparaiso rolled past Lawrence Tech. Kelly led all Stetson defenders with 12 tackles against No. 3 South Dakota State.

Five PFL teams picked up wins in Week 0 ahead of another 10-game week in the league, which includes six games against FCS opposition. Week 1 action begins Thursday night when Morehead State hosts Kentucky Christian.

Offensive

Landon Sharpe, Presbyterian (Sophomore, Quarterback, Lexington, South Carolina)

After a slow start, Sharpe was responsible for four second-half touchdowns, leading Presbyterian to a 47-37 victory against UVA Wise. He finished the day with 455 total offensive yards, running for a team-best 88 yards and passing for 367 yards. Sharpe led the Blue Hose to a 17-16 halftime lead but did not throw or run for a touchdown. He needed just one play to extend that halftime lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Patrick. Sharpe then found Jackson Burleson for a 22-yard TD score three minutes later. He then ran for a four-yard score with five minutes left in the third, giving the Blue Hose a 38-30 lead. Sharpe closed a 17-0 scoring burst midway through the fourth quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Johnson, securing the win. He completed 13-of-20 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns and added 63 rushing yards with a TD  in the second half alone.

Others Nominated

  • Butler quarterback Gabe Passini ran for 176 yards and a touchdown and passed for 145 yards and a touchdown in a 27-23 victory against Georgetown College (Ky.). He completed 14-of-23 passes in the win, while the 176 rushing yards were a career high.
  • Davidson quarterback Casey Bullock completed 29-of-54 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns and added another touchdown on the ground as part of a 14-carry, 99-yard outing in a loss to Concord University.
  • Dayton tight end/fullback Donovan Weatherly had four receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns in a 43-20 victory against Fairmont.
  • Drake quarterback Riley Warzynski completed 38-of-56 passes for 535 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to South Dakota Mines. It is the PFL’s first 500-yard passing performance since 2021.
  • Morehead State quarterback David Parsons completed 30-of-57 passes for 463 yards and four touchdowns and added another touchdown on the ground in a triple-overtime loss to Ohio Dominican.
  • Presbyterian quarterback Landon Sharpe was responsible for four touchdowns in a 47-37 victory against UVA Wise, throwing for three scores in a 30-of-43, 367-yard outing and running for another in an 88-yard rushing day.
  • St. Thomas quarterback Anthony Policare had a touchdown through the air and on the ground in a 15-9 victory against Winona State. He amassed 166 yards on 13-of-22 passing and ran for 73 yards on 16 carries.
  • Valparaiso quarterback Rowan Keefe completed 10-of-16 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns in a 59-13 victory against Lawrence Tech.

Defensive

Javawn Brooks, Dayton (Junior, Defensive Back, Indianapolis, Indiana)

Brooks picked off passes on back-to-back drives and amassed 63 yards in returns in Dayton’s 43-20 victory against Fairmont State. After Dayton took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, Brooks intercepted a pass near midfield and returned it 35 yards, setting up a Flyers scoring drive inside the 10-yard line. After that Dayton scoring drive, he again intercepted a pass at the 40-yard line and returned it 28 yards to inside the 15-yard line. One play later, Dayton scored and pushed its lead to 28-0. Brooks also had two solo tackles in the win.
Others Nominated

  • Butler linebacker Will Beesley posted seven tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup in a 27-23 victory against Georgetown College.
  • Drake linebacker J.R. Flood scored 18 tackles (five solo), including a half tackle for loss, in a loss to South Dakota Mines.
  • Morehead State defensive lineman KJ Hardesty had 13 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and a half-sack, in a triple overtime loss to Ohio Dominican.
  • Presbyterian linebacker Andrew Ruppe notched nine tackles (five solo), with 1.5 sacks, in a 47-37 victory against UVA Wise.
  • St. Thomas defensive back Peyton Himley had six tackles (four solo), 1.5 for loss, and a key fourth-quarter interception in a 15-9 victory against Winona State.
  • Valparaiso linebacker Max Samuel finished with seven tackles (three solo), 1.5 for loss and a half-sack, in a 59-13 victory against Lawrence Tech.

Special Teams

Chris Gundy, Valparaiso (Senior (RS), Return Specialist, Smithfield, Virginia)

Gundy had a pair of punt return touchdowns in Valparaiso’s 59-13 victory against Lawrence Tech, leading a Beacons’ special-teams group that tied the FCS record with three punt return scores. Gundy opened the second quarter’s scoring with a 59-yard punt return to the end zone, giving Valparaiso a 28-0 lead. He added his second return score in the third quarter, on a 41-yard punt return, to put the Beacons up 42-13. He finished with 108 yards on his three punt returns
Others Nominated

  • Davidson linebacker Jordan Mays blocked a punt resulting in a touchdown in a loss to Concord University.
  • Dayton kicker David Maurer scored 11 points, connecting on both his field goals and all five PATs, in a 43-20 victory against Fairmont State, while averaging 62.3 yards per kickoff with four touchbacks on seven attempts.
  • Drake defensive back Karson Kindred blocked and returned a punt for a touchdown in a loss to South Dakota Mines.
  • Marist punter Ethan Yuska averaged 44.1 yards on his 7 punts, with two going for 50-plus yards, including a 58-yarder, and three downed inside the 20-yard line, in a loss at New Haven.
  • Presbyterian kicker Kade Bailey scored 11 points, making 2-of-3 field goals and 5-of-6 PATs, in a 47-37 victory against UVA Wise.

Freshman

Dylan Kelly, Stetson (Freshman, Defensive Back, Trophy Club, Texas)

Kelly had a busy day in Brookings, South Dakota, leading the Hatters with 12 tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup in a loss at No. 3 South Dakota State. He had five tackles and a pass breakup in the first quarter, four tackles in the second, two in the third (one on special teams), and a final tackle in the fourth quarter. Two of his tackles held the ball carrier to no gain.
Others Nominated

  • Butler defensive back Kian Kelly had five tackles (three solo) and a pass breakup in a 27-23 victory against Georgetown College.
  • Presbyterian wide receiver had 175 all-purpose yards and was the only Blue Hose receiver with a 100-yard receiving day (105 yards) in a 47-37 victory against UVA Wise.
  • Valparaiso wide receiver Bryson Winbush had two receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown in a 59-13 victory against Lawrence Tech.

About the Pioneer Football League

The Pioneer Football League is the only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The PFL is a truly national conference with members on each coast and throughout the nation’s heartland. Butler University, the University of Dayton, Drake University, and Valparaiso University were among the league’s founding members in 1993, with Davidson College, Marist College, Morehead State University, Presbyterian College, the University of San Diego, the University of St. Thomas, and Stetson University joining to form the current 11-team league.