The Championship Subdivision News Log

All 14 league honors.

BSC:

OFFENSE
Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior from Cottonwood, Calif., completed 26-of-41 passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns in the Eagles’ 34-24 home victory over Montana State. The Walter Payton Award candidate rallied his team from a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit, hooking up with Taiwan Jones on scoring strikes of 20 and 38 yards. The 38-yarder put the Eagles up 28-24. Nichols also threw TD passes of 16 and 15 yards to Nathan Overbay in the second quarter. Nichols moved up to fourth on the Big Sky’s all-time career list in passing yards with 10,954 yards, and also moved to fourth all-time in total yardage with 11,588. This is Nichols’ fifth career Player of the Week honor.

DEFENSE
Weber State defensive back Thyrell Lewis, a 5-9, 175-pound senior from Hawthorne, Calif., tallied five tackles, two pass breakups and a game-clinching interception in No. 16 Weber State’s 28-20 road victory over Northern Colorado. With Weber State up 28-20 late in the fourth quarter, Lewis stepped in front of a Bryan Waggener pass and returned it 15 yards to the Northern Colorado 18-yard line. This is Lewis’ first Player of the Week award.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Northern Arizona kicker Mark Myers, a 6-foot, 210-pound sophomore from Corona, Calif., made four field goals and four extra points in No. 24 Northern Arizona’s 40-12 victory over Idaho State. Meyers connected on field goals of 45, 24, 26 and 22 yards. He finished the game with 16 points, making all eight of his kicks. This is the first Player of the Week honor for Myers.

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BSO:

OFFENSE
VMI running back Howard Abegesah posted his first 100-yard rushing game since the season opener with a season-high 165 yards at Presbyterian College, and scored three touchdowns in leading VMI to a 31-20 win over the Blue Hose – the Keydets’ first Conference road win since Oct. 1, 2005. Abegesah averaged 6.6 yards per carry on the day and ran for scores of 1, 37 and 12 yards, with the 37-yarder his longest run of the season. He also had seven rushes that resulted in first downs. It was Abegesah’s 11th career 100-yard rushing game and second career game with three touchdowns.

DEFENSE
VMI’s Emilio Calvin posted nine tackles, including a season-high seven solo stops, and notched a career-high 4.0 tackles-for-loss of 18 yards at PC. He also logged a nine-yard sack in Presbyterian College’s red zone and was part of a defense that limited the Blue Hose to 36 rushing yards. Calvin also stopped PC on 4th-and-1 with a tackle-for-loss in the second quarter.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Liberty punter Mike Larsson averaged 36.5 yards on six punts at Charleston Southern, helping the Flames in the battle for field position. The Buccaneers managed just one return for one yard on his six kicks, while two fell inside the 20-yard line. He also had two punts over 50 yards – a 52-yarder in the first quarter and a 71-yarder in the fourth stanza. The 71-yard punt is tied for second-longest in Big South history and is the third-longest in school history.

FRESHMAN
Liberty’s defensive back Brent Vinson, who entered the Charleston Southern game with seven tackles, recorded a career-high eight stops against the Bucs, including four solo hits. He added his first career tackle-for-loss (minus-2 yards), as well as his first career pass break-up. His pass break-up stopped a potential game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter, as he stepped in front of a CSU receiver to deflect the pass thrown inside the red zone.

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CAA:

Offensive Player of the Week
John Griffin, RB, Northeastern
Griffin earns CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week honors after helping Northeastern to its first win of the 2009 season, 27-7, over Towson. The junior running back garnered a career-high 200 yards and touchdown on 29 carries for the Huskies. The 200-yard rushing performance marks an individual season-high for the league and is the first for a Northeastern back since Maurice Murray rushed for 206 at New Hampshire in 2007.

Offensive Player of the Week
Jonathan Grimes, RB, William and Mary
Grimes earns CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading William and Mary to its first win over James Madison since the 2004 season. The sophomore tallied a career-best 158 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, 12 receiving yards on three catches and 32 return yards on two attempts. Grimes’ 100-yard rushing effort marked the first against the JMU defense this season and helped the Tribe offense rack up 258 yards on the ground against a Duke defense which was limiting opponents to just over 145 yards a game.

Defensive Player of the Week
Justin Rogers, DB, Richmond
Rogers, the CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week, led the top-ranked Spiders to a 34-12 win over Massachusetts Saturday. Rogers logged five total tackles and accounted for two of Richmond’s seven forced turnovers on the day. Rogers intercepted a Kyle Havens’ pass in the first quarter and later fell on a Havens’ fumble in the second quarter. In all the Spiders defense netted 21 points off turnovers in the contest and limited UMass to just 62 rushing yards – 87 yards below the Minutemen’s average entering the game.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Tom Manning, PK, New Hampshire
Manning, the CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week, was true on three field goals and a PAT in New Hampshire’s 18-10 rain-soaked win on the road over Hofstra. The now two-time CAA Football Special Teams honoree had field goals of 30, 54 and 44 yards in the win. His 54-yarder marked a school record, trumping a 53-yard kick by Dave Teggart in 1977 – New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell’s junior season. The 54-yard boot also marks the longest this season by any kicker in the league and ranks tied for the third-longest in league history.

Rookie of the Week
Kyle Hunte, LB, Northeastern
Hunte earned Rookie of the Week honors after helping Northeastern to a 27-7 win at home against Towson marking the squads first victory of the year. Hunte, who has now played in three games this season including two starts, logged four tackles and a sack of 14 yards. The sack, which came in the second quarter, marked the largest tackle for loss of the season for the Huskies. In his three games played this season Hunte has 14 tackles, a sack and one interception.

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GWC:

Offensive
QB Austin Heyworth - UC Davis (6-1, 210, RFr., Monrovia, Calif.)
Redshirt freshman Austin Heyworth came off the bench for injured starter Greg Denham in the third quarter with UC Davis trailing 28-17, and proceeded to throw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Aggies rallied for a 34-31 win over Portland State. Heyworth, who was seeing his first significant action of the year and was playing in just his third game, completed 6 of 7 passes for 82 yards. He threw a 30-yard strike to a streaking Bakari Grant in the back of the end zone that helped cut the deficit to 28-24, and then later connected with tight end Brad Bispo for a 15-yard TD pass that helped tie the game 31-31 with 8:57 to go. Heyworth completed all four of his passes for 51 yards (including the TD pass to Grant) on his first TD drive and scrambled for eight more yards on that same drive. He finished with seven rushing yards on two attempts (includes a sack).

Defensive
CB Erron Vonner - Southern Utah (5-10), 182, So., Toledo, Ohio.)
Former walk-on Erron Vonner had seven tackles, including three solo stops, a half-tackle for loss and led team with a pair of pass break-ups, but his big play was a fourth-quarter interception and return for a touchdown which iced the 35-10 victory for the Thunderbirds over North Dakota. His return (of 12 yards) was SUU’s first interception return for a touchdown since 2004. He had a touchdown-saving tackle on UND’s Ismael Bamba at the SUU 5-yard line and the Fighting Sioux wound up not scoring on the drive. Vonner drew the responsibility for covering UND leading receiver Bamba and kept him without a reception (Bamba had passed the 100-yard receiving mark in three of the previous four games). Vonner was knocked from the game with an injury mid-way through the second period, but came back after the halftime break to record four of his seven tackles, break up one of the passes and record the pick and TD.

Special Teams
K Sean Kelley - UC Davis (5-8, 215, So., Clovis, Calif.)
Sean Kelley kicked just two field goals for the game, but it was his 38-yarder with 4:40 left in the fourth quarter that put visiting UC Davis ahead for good in the 34-31 win over Portland State. Kelley also had a 35-yarder on the final play of the first half, after Portland State called three consecutive timeouts, which cut the Vikings’ lead to 21-17 at intermission. Kelley has made his last five field goal attempts and is now 9 for 12 on the year. His 19 career field goals rank eighth all-time at UC Davis.

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IVY:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dartmouth sophomore running back NICK SCHWIEGER (Norton, Mass.) set a school single-game record with 242 rushing yards on 29 carries, breaking the old record of 229 yards by Al Rosier in 1991, as he lifted the Big Green to a 28-6 victory over Columbia. His 69 yards in the first quarter helped set up both of the Big Green’s first two touchdowns,and his final run of the game was a 66-yard touchdown to seal the victory in the fourth quarter. Schwieger also had runs of 25 and 35 yards in the game, helping him record just the sixth 200-yard rushing day in Dartmouth history.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Penn senior linebacker JAKE LEWKO (Medford, N.J.) was once again the backbone of a Quaker defense that held Yale without an offensive touchdown in a 9-0 victory. Lewko was a big part of the Penn defense held the Bulldogs to just 25 yards rushing and a total of just 163 yards of offense, recording six tackles, two of which went for a loss, and a sack. Yale managed just 10 first downs and gained an average of less than a yard per rush (0.8).

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cornell junior punter DREW ALSTON (Memphis, Tenn.) put four of his seven punts inside Brown’s 20-yard line and averaged 38.4 yards per kick in the Big Red’s 34-14 loss to Brown. He also allowed just nine return yards in four attempts by Brown’s Buddy Farnham. His efforts helped move Cornell to the top spot in the Ivy League and 23rd nationally in net punting.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Brown freshman defensive back A.J. CRUZ (Lake Forest, Calif.) had had another strong game in the Bears’ secondary in a 34-14 win over Cornell. Cruz collected a team-high seven tackles, including six solo stops and an interception that he returned 26 yards. Cruz and his defensive teammates kept the Cornell offense out of the end zone all day and prevented Cornell from getting inside the Brown 30-yard line.

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MEAC:

OFFENSE
Florida A&M’s Curtis Pulley (QB, 6-4, 200, Sr., Hopkinsville, Ky.) combined for 358 yards of total offense as he aided the Rattlers to a 34-20 homecoming victory over Norfolk State. He connected on 13-of-22 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 17 times for 185 yards with one rushing TD. This is Pulley’s third MEAC Offensive Player of the Week honor this season.

DEFENSE
Avery Grant of Delaware State (DB, 6-0, 175, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.) registered a season-high seven tackles, three solo. He also picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to seal the Hornets homecoming victory over Morgan State.

ROOKIE
Dontavious Payne of North Carolina A&T (RB, 5-9, 205, Fr., Tallahassee, Fla.) recorded a career-high 113 yards rushing on 21 carries with two touchdowns in the Aggies victory over Howard. Payne posted two rushes of 40 yards or more with a long of 49 yards. He also caught two passes for five yards.

LINEMAN
Robert Okeafor of Florida A&M (RT, 6-4, 295, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.) anchored the Rattler’s offensive line that accounted for 463 yards of total offense. He also helped QB Pulley rush for 185 yards on 17 carries with one TD. Okeafor graded out at 94-percent of his assignments and recorded three pancake blocks.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kemar Scarlett of Morgan State (K, 6-0, 180, Jr., Temple Hills, Md.) was one of the highlights for the Bears in the loss to the Hornets. The junior connected on both of his field goal attempts including a 44-yarder and a MEAC record tying 55-yard boot in team’s disappointing defeat.

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MVFC:

Offense
QB Ryan Roberts, Indiana State, So., 6-4, 215, West York, Ill. (Hutsonville)
Roberts scored twice against Western Illinois, including a school-record 91-yard scamper in the second quarter, as Indiana State ended the nation’s longest losing streak with a 17-14 victory against the Fighting Leathernecks. Roberts also scored on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter that helped give ISU a come-from-behind victory. In the week’s previous games, Roberts also reached the end zone twice and threw for another score. Roberts is the first Indiana State player to score multiple touchdowns in consecutive games since 2004. His 160 rush yards are the fourth-most in ISU history for a QB.

Defense
CB Korey Lindsey, Southern Illinois, Jr., 6-0, 190, Baton Rouge, La.
Lindsey had a game-high 12 tackles, a half sack and two interceptions in No. 3 Southern Illinois’ 27-8 victory over Youngstown State. In the last five minutes of the game, Lindsey recorded both of his interceptions and shared a sack with Dolapo Adubifa for a loss of 17 yards when Youngstown State had the ball at the SIU two-yard line. Lindsey’s two-interception game was his second of the season and the fourth of his career.

Special Teams
PK Kyle Harris, South Dakota State, 5-10, 160, So., Florissant, Mo.
Harris kicked the go-ahead field goal in South Dakota State’s 24-14 victory over #6 UNI. Harris connected on a 49-yarder in the third quarter that gave the Jackrabbits a 17-14 lead. Harris also helped the Jackrabbits keep UNI’s kickoff return game in check as he recorded two touchbacks and also made a tackle on the opening kickoff.

Offensive Lineman
OC Ryan McKnight, South Dakota State, 6-2, 295, Jr., Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington High
McKnight led an offensive line that helped the 11th-ranked Jackrabbits to 429 yards of total offense in a 24-14 victory over sixth-ranked Northern Iowa. SDSU did not allow a sack in 37 passing attempts and averaged 6.1 yards per play.

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NEC:

Offensive Player of the Week
Jude Yearwood, Saint Francis (PA)
Jr., RB, 6-0, 220, Elkridge, MD/Howard
Yearwood’s rushing success was a key reason why the Red Flash were able to snap a five-game losing streak despite being without their starting quarterback. Yearwood was the central figure in a rushing attack that produced the highest single-game output (409 yards) in the Northeast Conference this season. The junior running back carried 23 times for a career-high 167 yards and one touchdown to power Saint Francis (PA) past NEC rival Duquesne, 31-14. Contributing to the fourth-highest rushing total in all of Division I FCS this year, Yearwood opened the second half by breaking free for a 65-yard run down to Duquesne’s one-yard line. The junior found the end zone on the next play to double Saint Francis’ lead to 14-0. Eight of Yearwood’s rushes resulted in at least a seven-yard gain.

Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Chaz Legette, Wagner
Jr., DB, 6-1, 180, Syracuse, NY/Nottingham
Legette intercepted two passes, returning one 21 yards for the game-winning touchdown in Wagner’s 49-28 over Sacred Heart. The junior defensive back broke a 28-28 tie in the final seconds of the third quarter when he picked off two-time all-NEC quarterback Dale Fink and raced into the end zone. Legette added five tackles (four solo) and a pass break-up to his two takeaways. He prevented the Pioneers from scoring a touchdown during a second-quarter trip into the red zone. Legette’s pass break-up on 3rd-and-5 forced SHU to bring on the field goal unit.

Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Lawton Arnold, Central Connecticut State
Fr., LB, 6-2, 220, Simsbury, CT/Simsbury
Arnold was all over the field in Central Connecticut State’s 24-23 Northeast Conference road victory over Bryant. The freshman linebacker, who spent a lot of time wreaking havoc in Bryant’s backfield, recorded 10 total tackles (seven solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble. Eight of his 10 tackles limited the Bulldogs to a gain of one yard or less. Arnold’s first career sack resulted in a 12-yard loss on a 3rd-and-2 play in the second quarter. He sacked the Bryant QB for a second time to help force a three-and-out late in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 17-17. CCSU went ahead on the ensuing drive.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Frantz Placide, Wagner
Jr., DB, 6-2, 205, Miami, FL/Archbishop Curley
Placide returned three kickoffs for an average of 32.3 yards and blocked an extra point in Wagner’s 49-28 triumph over Sacred Heart. Maintaining his standing as the Northeast Conference’s top-ranked kick returner (27.2 ypr), the junior defensive back provided Wagner with two drive starts at its own 44-yard line and another one at its own 39. Placide, who blocked two punts earlier this season, denied SHU the extra point after a second-quarter touchdown.

Rookie of the Week
Nick Doscher, Wagner
Fr., QB, 6-1, 220, Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic
Doscher accounted for 280 yards of total offense and three touchdowns (two rush, one pass) in Wagner’s 49-28 conference victory over Sacred Heart. The freshman quarterback rushed 19 times for 123 yards while adding another 157 yards through the air on 11-of-17 passing. Doscher’s first of two rushing touchdowns, a 19-yard scamper, pushed Wagner’s lead to 14-6 in the first quarter. Doscher struck again in the second quarter, scoring from five yards out, to put Wagner back in front by a 21-18 count. The rookie signal caller put the Seahawks over the 40-point mark for the fourth time this season when he found receiver Tyrone Collins on a 21-yard scoring strike that pushed the lead to 42-28 in the fourth quarterback. The rookie award is the third this season for Doscher.

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OVC:

OFFENSIVE
Terrence Holt, RB/KR • Jr., 5-7, 180 • Nashville, Tenn. • Austin Peay
Holt carried the ball 16 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns as Austin Peay upset No. 20 Eastern Kentucky 24-20 on Saturday night. That performance came against a team that entered the game with the No. 5 rushing defense in FCS football (allowing just 74.33 yards/game entering the contest). Holt broke off an 80-yard touchdown run in the first quarter than put the Governors up 7-0. In the third quarter it was his 12-yard touchdown run that proved to be the game-winning score; that score was set up by a 41-yard punt return from Holt. He finished the game with 251 all-purpose yards and is averaging 213.57 all-purpose yards/game, which is first nationally. The win marked the first victory over Eastern Kentucky for Austin Peay since the 1977 season, snapping a 22-game losing streak.

DEFENSIVE
Antonio Faulkner, DT • Jr., 6-3, 301 • Paducah, Ky. • Austin Peay
Faulkner was credited with four tackles, including two for loss, a sack, forced a fumble and had a quarterback hurry in Austin Peay’s 24-20 upset victory over No. 20 Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. In the fourth quarter Faulkner sacked EKU’s quarterback with 3:15 to play, causing a fumble which led by an Austin Peay field goal which made the score 24-20. On the next drive, it was his quarterback hurry that led to an Austin Peay interception which ended the game. The win for Austin Peay over EKU was the first since the 1977 season and ended a 22-game losing streak in the series.

SPECIALIST
Lorence Ricks, WR • So., 6-1, 178 • Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. • Eastern Illinois
Ricks returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, blocked a punt that set up an Eastern Illinois score and forced a key fumble as the 24th-ranked Panthers went on the road and topped No. 12 Jacksonville State 28-20. Ricks had 165 yards of total offense on the afternoon (124 yards on kick returns, 26 yards on punt returns and 15 yards on receptions), including the long kickoff return touchdown that put EIU up 28-13 with 6:17 to play in the third quarter. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a Panther since Nov. 10, 2007 (Quinten Ponius). Early in the second quarter he blocked the punt that was recovered at the Jax State 4-yard line and led to a touchdown two plays later as Eastern took a 14-0 lead. In the fourth quarter he forced JSU’s punt returner to fumble, as the Panthers recovered the ball with 5:30 to play.

NEWCOMER
Jason McNair, KR/TB • R-Fr., 5-8, 190 • Mt. Olive, Miss. • UT Martin
McNair tallied 114 all-purpose yards, including a 73-yard touchdown reception, in UT Martin’s 38-24 home victory over Murray State. The redshirt freshman had two receptions for 77 yards and eight carries for 37 yards in the victory. In touchdown reception in the first quarter put the Skyhawks up 7-0. It marks the second time this season McNair has been named OVC Newcomer of the Week (Sept. 6).

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PL:

Offensive Player of the Week
Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross Sr., QB, 6′3, 223, Amelia, Ohio/St. Xavier
Randolph threw four touchdowns and ran for two more and set a career-hgih with 116 rushing yards to lead No. 22 Holy Cross past No. 17 Colgate, 42-28, on Saturday. He completed 20-of-31 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns while carrying 14 times for 116 yards and the two scores. It was Randolph’s ninth-career game with at least 400 yards of total offense. He became the first Holy Cross player to rush for over 100 yards this year. Randolph set an FCS?record with a touchdown pass in his 37th consecutive game, breaking the mark he shared with the late Steve McNair (Alcorn State 1991-94). He now leads the nation in passing, total offense and points responsible for per game this season, and is up to seventh in FCS?history in career passing (11,928), total offense (12,568)?and touchdown passes (105). Randolph receives the Offensive Player of the Week award for the third time this year and 15th overall, extending his Patriot League career record.

Defensive Player of the Week
John Myrick, Holy Cross Sr., DB, 5′10, 200, Dayton, Ohio/Dunbar
Myrick led a strong defensive effort in the Crusaders’ 42-28 win over Colgate, notching 13 overall and 12 solo tackles as Holy Cross held the Raiders more than 150 yards below their FCS-leading rushing average. The marks for overall and solo tackles were both career highs. Holy Cross limited the?Raiders to 120 yards on the ground. Myrick leads the Patriot League and ranks eighth in the nation with 8.0 solo tackles per game. He earns the first Defensive Player of the Week award of his career.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Davis Rodriguez, Lafayette Jr., K, 5′11, 210, St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg
Rodrgiuez made a pair of field goals late in the second quarter and connected on each of his extra-point tries in Lafayette’s 26-21 win over Fordham. Rodriguez hit from 21 yards out then nailed his longest field goal of the season, a 42-yarder to give Lafayette a 13-7 lead just three seconds before halftime. It is his second Special Teams award of the season and ties a League record with the fourth of his career.

Rookie of the Week
Zach Barket, Lehigh Fr., RB, 5′10, 200, Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Schuylkill Haven
Barket led the Mountain Hawks and set career highs with 21 carries for 77 yards and his first career touchdown in a 35-16 win at Bucknell on Saturday. He also pulled in a reception for six yards for 83 all-purpose yards in his first career start. It is Barket’s first Rookie of the Week award, and the third straight for a Lehigh player.

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PFL:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steve Valentino, Dayton
Senior, Quarterback, Solon, Ohio
Valentino won his sixth consecutive start, rushing for three touchdowns and tossing another in Dayton’s 38-7 PFL victory at Valparaiso, Saturday. On the ground, he carried the ball 17 times for career bests in yardage (127 yards) and touchdowns (three). Through the air, Valentino completed 13-of-18 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. He finished the day with 315 total yards offense – all while playing just three quarters. His 13 passes went to seven different receivers.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brandon Wingeier, Dayton
Senior, Defensive End, Newark, Ohio
Wingeier had two of the Flyers three turnovers gained and led a stout defensive effort in a 38-7 PFL victory, Saturday, at Valparaiso. He finished the game with four tackles (three solo) and a tackle for loss as the Flyers defense held Valparaiso to a season-low 60 offensive yards. Wingeier also recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass. He returned the interception 57 yards for a touchdown.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adam Willets, Campbell
Sophomore, Kicker, Gibsonville, N.C.
Willets made three field goals to keep Campbell close in a 23-16 PFL loss to league co-leader Butler, Saturday. He made field goals of 38, 43 and 37 yards and tacked on an PAT to account for 10 of the Camels 16 points. Willets third-quarter 43-yard field goal was a career long and drew Campbell within a touchdown of the lead. He also posted career-highs for field goals made and points scored with the effort. Willets also handled kickoff duties for the Camels, averaging 68.7 yards per kick on his three kickoffs.

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SOCON:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Miguel Starks, The Citadel, R-Fr., QB
In his first collegiate start, Starks was responsible for 327 yards and accounted for all five touchdowns in The Citadel’s 38-28 win over Furman. He connected on 14-of-19 passes with no interceptions for 183 yards and one touchdown, while adding 144 yards on the ground with touchdown runs of 11, 5, 17 and 23 yards. Starks’ four rushing touchdowns tied a school single-game scoring record, and he became the first Bulldogs quarterback since Jack Douglas in 1992 to rush for four scores in a single game.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Karlos Sullivan, Elon, Sr., DB
Sullivan picked off his third pass of the season and the ninth of his career in Elon’s 45-10 win over Chattanooga. The senior, who now ranks second among active players in the SoCon with his nine picks, also broke up one pass and recovered a fumble while making six tackles.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Van Dyke Jones, The Citadel, Fr., RB
Jones recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance in The Citadel’s 38-28 victory over Furman on Saturday at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The true freshman carried the ball 11 times for 102 yards. His long was a 40-yard run that put the Bulldogs in Paladin territory and set up The Citadel to extend its lead to 38-21 with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Jones averaged 9.3 yards a carry and also caught two passes for 10 yards.

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SLC:

Offensive Player of the Week: Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses guided the Lumberjacks to a 42-3 victory against Sam Houston State in the Battle of the Piney Woods. It was Stephen F. Austin’s sixth consecutive victory and kept the Lumberjacks perfect in Southland Conference play. The junior from Baytown, Texas (Lee High School), connected with nine different receivers on 27-of-38 aim for 372 yards and five touchdowns against the Bearkats. Moses became only the second Lumberjack to pass for at least 7,500 career yards.

Defensive Player of the Week: Devin Ducote, Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin linebacker Devin Ducote led a Lumberjack defense that limited Sam Houston State to just a field goal in a 42-3 victory last Saturday. The sophomore from Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist), recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including a tackle for loss. The defensive effort marked the first time this season the Lumberjacks held their opponent to less than 200 yards of total offense. Ducote leads the Southland with 67 tackles this season, an average of 9.6 tackles per game which is tied for 27th nationally.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Justin Garelick, Texas State
Texas State kicker Justin Garelick connected on a 21-yard field goal attempt with 1:55 left to play to give Texas State a 20-17 victory at Northwestern State on Saturday. He had tied the game at 17 after connecting on a 29-yard field goal with 7:26 to play. The freshman from Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville High School), made both of his two extra-point attempts. The 29-yard field goal is the second-longest of his collegiate career. With his two field goals at Northwestern State, he has made five consecutive field goal attempts and has made 6-of-7 this season.

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SWAC:

OFFENSIVE
RB Donald Babers, Prairie View A&M; 5-9, 170; JR; Houston, TX
Babers rushed for 111 yards on 20 attempts with one touchdown while catching four passes for 63 yards with one touchdown in the Panthers’ 16-14 win at Southern Thursday night. Babers scored the game’s first touchdown on a 49-yard catch and run on PV’s opening play of the game. He then scored the game-winning TD on a three-yard run with 8:05 remaining in the game.

DEFENSIVE
LB Ryan Rich, Jackson State; 6-1, 218; JR; Pensacola, FL
Rich intercepted two passes and recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 25-16 win at Mississippi Valley State. Rich picked off a pass in the first and third quarters to end Delta Devils’ drives. In the fourth quarter, he recovered a blocked MVSU punt in the end zone for the game-deciding touchdown with 4:34 to play.

NEWCOMER
SS Kejuan Riley, Alabama State; 6-1, 195; FR; Wetumpka, Al
Riley had a career best seven tackles (five solos) and a team-high three pass breakups in the Hornets 24-17 win over Alcorn State. Riley’s pass breakups helped the Hornets limit Alcorn State to just seven points through the first three quarters as Alabama State ended a three-game losing streak.

SPECIALIST
K/P Andrew Lyons, Alabama State; 5-8, 170; SO; Panama City, FL
In his collegiate debut, Lyons averaged 41.5 yards per kick on four punts placing three of them inside the 20 in ASU’s victory over Alcorn State. All three of Lyons’ fourth-quarter punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, including one at the Alcorn State 2-yard line.

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