LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- For the second time in his career, East Stroudsburg University wide receiver and kick returner Rece Bender has been named the PSAC East Special Teams Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday morning.

Bender set an ESU program record with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during the first quarter against Lock Haven on Saturday night.  He posted 125 kick return yards on the evening, along with 81 yards receiving for 206 all-purpose yards.
 

The return broke the previous ESU record of 98 yards, set by Dick Merring against Mansfield in 1956 and matched in 1998 by Matt Kacanda against Bloomsburg. The kickoff return touchdown is the second of Bender's career. He previously brought back a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown against Clarion in the 2019 finale. He is now the owner of two of the five longest kickoff returns in Warrior history.

Through four weeks this season, the Lancaster, Pa. native leads the PSAC with an average kickoff return of 31.5 yards, which ranks ninth-best in Division II. . That mark would rank third-best in a single season in program history. He is just 88 yards away from ranking 10th all-time in school history in career kickoff return yards.

He previously earned the athlete of the week honor after finishing with 312 all-purpose yards against Shepherd in 2019, which is the third-most yards in a single game by a Warrior since 1974. 

Bender and the Warriors (3-1, 1-0) are back on the road on Saturday against Kutztown (3-1, 1-0­­). Kickoff at Andre Reed Stadium is set for 12:05 p.m. 

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Week Four
PSAC EAST Athletes of the Week
Offensive: Brycen Mussina - Shippensburg
Defensive: Antaun Lloyd - Kutztown
Special Teams: Rece Bender - East Stroudsburg

PSAC WEST Athletes of the Week
Offensive: Andrew Koester - Slippery Rock
Defensive: Keith Thompson - Gannon
Special Teams: Anthony Beitko - Cal U