The South Atlantic Conference Announces Astroturf SAC Football Players of the Week, Oct. 9 | WATCH
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week for games the sixth week of the season. Newberry wide out Markell Castle was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Carson-Newman defensive back Desmond Fairell was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Wolves' kicker and punter Shea Rodgers picked up Special Teams Player of the Week.
Castle, a junior from York, S.C., caught six balls for 135 yards and three scores to lead Newberry to a 34-7 win at Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 7. He accounted for the Wolves' first two scoring plays with catches of 12 and 26 yards in the second quarter and added a 60-yard touchdown catch in the fourth stanza. Newberry's win marked its 12th-straight South Atlantic Conference win and moved the Wolves into the 6th spot all time in the SAC for consecutive wins. The award marks his second Offensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Fairell, a sophomore from Miami, Fla., posted a pair of forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception to help the Eagles to a 31-20 win at Limestone on Oct. 7. He stripped the ball and returned his fumble recovery 38 yards to set up the game clinching field goal and posted 58 yards of return on his interception. Fairell also added five tackles and a pass break-up in his outing. The honor marks his first Defensive Player of the Week nod this season.
Rodgers, a sophomore from Indian Land, S.C., went 4-for-4 on his PATs and punted five times for 193 yards to average 38.6 yards per punt as Newberry brought home the Battle of the Bishops' Trophy against Lenoir-Rhyne. He placed one punt inside the 20 yard line, while his longest punt was 43 yards. The award is his first Special Teams Player of the Week plaudit this season.
2017 AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 5 - David Salmon, Mars Hill
Sept. 11 - Sam Mobley, Catawba
Sept. 18 - Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Sept. 25 - Markell Castle, Newberry
Oct. 2 - D'Anta Fleming, Limestone
Oct. 9 - Markell Castle, Newberry
Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 5 - Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Sept. 11 - Robbie Wallace, Wingate
Sept. 18 - Auntrell Mack, Wingate AND Matt Simon, Tusculum
Sept. 25 - Matthew Ellis-White, Wingate
Oct. 2 - Montel Presley, Carson-Newman
Oct. 9 - Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman
Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 5 - B.J. Muckelvene, Wingate
Sept. 11 - Isaac Gallegos, Tusculum AND Chance Walker, Newberry
Sept. 18 - B.J. Muckelvene, Wingate
Sept. 25 - Freddy McCollum, Wingate
Oct. 2 - Nick Smith, Limestone
Oct. 9 Shea Rodgers, Newberry