NEWTOWN, Pa.— The Middle Atlantic Conference office today released weekly awards for week nine of the 2026 Football season.  The league honored Eastern returner Chris Rivera as this week's Special Teams Player of the Week.

Rivera, a senior from Raleigh, N.C., scored on a 55-yard punt return early in the fourth quarter to help the Eagles (6-2, 6-1) to an important 35-14 win at Albright. The return was his second return for a score this year and Eastern's first punt-return for a touchdown in program history. His 91-yard kickoff return at Endicott in this year's opener was the first kickoff-return touchdown in program history.

In addition to his work on special teams, Rivera had an excellent day on offense as a receiver. Late in the third quarter, he caught a 49-yard touchdown and finished with five catches for 110 yards.

Rivera's honor is the fifth MAC Weekly award for Eastern Football this year. Jeremiah Avrilien has earned a pair of offensive honors and DonJuan Clark III earned a pair of defensive honors. He is the third Eastern player, joining John Westfield and John Nolek to earn a MAC Special Teams Player of the Week award.

The Eagles will host Stevenson University for a critical MAC contest at 12:30 on Saturday.