RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - In the final installment of the 2023 GAC Player of the Week honors, quarterback Andrew Edwards and defensive end Gary Lewis of Henderson State football were named Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday afternoon.

The recognitions come less than 48 hours from the Reddies' biggest win of the season, defeating No. 10 Ouachita Baptist for the first time since 2015, 31-27. The recognition serves as Edwards' fifth time to earn the award while Lewis garnered his first honor of the season.

Edwards overcame a slow start Saturday in route to his first Battle of the Ravine road victory. After starting out 1-for-5 through HSU's first two drives, the redshirt-sophomore closed the game completing 20 of his final 24 passes. Edwards finished his afternoon with 254 total yards and three total touchdowns.

With a fifth GAC Player of the Week accolade, the Bentonville, Arkansas, native has now tied the league record for the most Player of the Week honors in a single season. Through 11 regular season games, Edwards has accounted for 3185 total yards and 37 total touchdowns (27 pass, 10 rush).

On the defensive side of the ball, Lewis was responsible for the biggest defensive play of the game for the Reddies. With Henderson sporting a 31-13 lead with 5:53 remaining in the game, Lewis sacked Ouachita Baptist quarterback Eli Livingston, knocking the ball free before HSU pounced on it for the red-and-gray's second takeaway of the game.

The turnover allowed HSU to bleed an additional 1:29 off the clock as the Tigers were left with just a little over four minutes remaining while still facing a three-score deficit the next time they would gain possession of the ball.

Edwards and Lewis now have an opportunity to lead their teams into the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Reddies will hit the gridiron Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. in Warrensburg, Missouri, for the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs against No. 6 Central Missouri.