KALAMAZOO — The Mid-American Conference announced its first set of weekly awards for the 2014 football season, with Western Michigan running back Jarvion Franklin taking home the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week honors after just his first game in a Bronco uniform.

Franklin earned the honors after a dominant day on the ground in the Broncos’ loss at Purdue in the season opener, with the rookie running roughshod over the Boilermakers on Saturday afternoon and notching the second-best collegiate debut for a WMU running back in in the program’s history.

He finished with 163 yards on 19 carries for an impressive 8.6 yards per carry average while also scoring touchdowns from five, 26, and 61 yards out.  Those 163 yards are the most for a Bronco freshman playing in his first game since Jerome Persell recorded 241 yards on the ground against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 11, 1976.

As far as context for the current college football season, Franklin’s game against Purdue ranked among the best Week 1 performances in college football this year.  His three touchdowns tied him for second in the country in rushing touchdowns and his 163 yards on the ground were the most in the MAC, and the third-most by a freshman on the weekend nationally.

The Broncos have an open date on the schedule this weekend, and will return to action on Sept. 13 when they face Idaho on the road. Kick-off time has been set for 5 p.m.