Gardner-Webb's Beatty, Estes Honored By College Football Performance Awards
October 22, 2014 | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb quarterback Lucas Beatty and tight end Mike Estes each earned honorable mention FCS Performer of the Week accolades at their respective positions from College Football Performance Awards (CFPA).
Beatty (Charlotte, N.C. / Olympic HS) put together the top statistical day of his career, eclipsing the Big South Conference single-game record with 430 passing yards and tying the league mark with five touchdown passes.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound veteran completed 25-of-42 passes and had eight of his passes go for more than 20 yards. He threw touchdown passes of one yard to Jordan Jones, 23 yards to Estes, 29 yards to Deonte' Swinton, 80 yards to Kenny Cook and 25 yards to Cook – with the latter proving to be the game winner.
Beatty's prolific day also broke the Foster Stadium/Alumni Memorial Field facility record and was his second game in a row with at least 300 yards passing.
The effort continued an impressive streak, which has seen Beatty complete 108-of-157 passes for 1,305 yards, 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions over the past four games. His average of 326.2 yards per game during that stretch is the top four-game sample of his career. The graduate student has also rushed for a pair of touchdowns during the past four games.
Overall this season, Beatty has completed 139-of-214 passes for 1,613 yards, 12 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His touchdown pass total already matches his previous single-season high, set in both 2012 and 2013.
For his career, Beatty now ranks fourth in school history and second in Big South history in passing yardage – completing 642-of-1035 passes (62.0%) for 7,224 yards and 38 touchdowns in just 33 career starts. He needs only 232 yards through the air to pass Hall of Famer Chip Stuart for third on the Gardner-Webb career list.
Estes (Raleigh, N.C. / Athens Drive HS) proved to be an explosive weapon Saturday, catching a career-high five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Keydets.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt sophomore caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Beatty in the first quarter to give GWU a 14-0 lead and hauled in perhaps the biggest catch of his career as time wound down in the fourth quarter.
With Gardner-Webb facing 4th-and-20, Estes broke free just beyond the sticks and hauled in a 23-yard dart from Beatty for a first down to keep the game-tying drive alive.
So far this season, the preseason All-Big South Conference selection has caught 17 passes for 217 yards and a score. He needs only one catch to equal his total last season, when he earned second-team All-Big South Conference honors at the position.
Gardner-Webb (4-3) opens Big South Conference play on Saturday, October 25, at Liberty. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm (ESPN3/wgwg.org).
