CALL TYRONNE: Eastern Oregon University running back Tyronne Gross is averaging 113.5 yards per game rushing. (The Observer/CAMERON PARKINSON).

For the second week in a row, an Eastern Oregon University football player has been named Frontier Conference player of the week.

Tyronne Gross has been honored as the conference outstanding offensive player after the Mountaineer’s 24-14 win over NCAA Division III 25th-ranked (NCAA III) Whitworth College.

Gross, a 5-foot-8 210-pound transfer from Sacramento State, rushed for 161 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard scamper for his second score of the day.

Gross had just five yards on seven carries and no touchdowns in the first half against Whitworth.

Mountaineer quarterback Scott Jensen and defensive linemen Bubba Strong were the Frontier offensive and defensive players of the week last week for their play in a Mountaineer win over No. 10 Montana Tech Sept. 24.

For the season, Gross is ranked 17th in the NAIA in rushing at 113.5 yards per game and 12th in scoring and touchdown scoring at nine points per game.

With the win over the Pirates on Saturday, EOU has now broken into the NAIA Top-20 at No. 19.

The Mountaineers were ranked as high as No. 23 last season after a 2-0 start.

Eastern Oregon has a bye this week, but will return to NAIA action October 15 when they travel to Havre, Mont., to take on Montana State University-Northern.

Last season, Eastern defeated the Lights 35-8 in a homecoming victory at Community Stadium.

Looking ahead, if EOU can hold off 2-3 MSU-Northern and 0-5 Rocky Mountain on Oct. 22, it will set up a potential showdown with No. 16 Azusa Pacific University on Oct. 28 in Los Angeles – with a berth in the NAIA playoffs on the line.

The NAIA awards an at-large playoff berth to the top-ranked independent team at the end of the season.