The South Atlantic Conference Announces AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week, Oct. 27
No. 5 Lenior-Rhyne running back Jarrod Spears was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Tusculum defensive lineman Caushaud Lyons was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The Pioneers’ punter Hunter Cantrell picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the season. No. 5 Lenior-Rhyne running back Jarrod Spears was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Tusculum defensive lineman Caushaud Lyons was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The Pioneers' punter Hunter Cantrell picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Spears, a senior from Bunnlevel, N.C., rushed for 195 yards on 10 carries to average 19.5 yards per rush in Lenoir-Rhyne's 45-17 win over Mars Hill on Oct. 25. He posted 111 yards in the third quarter as Lenior-Rhyne put 28 points on the board in the quarter. Spears broke off a 40 yard carry in the third frame to set up the Bears' second score of the stanza. The honor is his first Offensive Player of the Week plaudit this season.
Lyons, a senior from Ellenwood, Ga., posted seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks to help the Pioneers to a 14-10 win over Wingate on Oct. 25. His tackles for loss dropped the Bulldogs back 14 yards, while his two sacks totaled 11 lost yards. Lyons also chipped in five quarterback hurries and a pass break-up in the win. The honor is his first Defensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Cantrell, a freshman from Sparta, Tenn., posted eight punts for 283 yards and landed three boots inside the 10 yard-line in the Pioneers' win over the Bulldogs. Wingate started drives on their own one, two and eight yard-lines. He averaged 35.4 yards per punt and posted a long punt of 44 yards. The Pioneers controlled the Bulldogs' field position as TC snapped a 20-game road losing streak. The award is his first Special Teams Player of the Week nod this season.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Jordan Ollis (Brevard), Andy Hibbett (Carson-Newman) and David Burgess (Catawba).
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Michael Gruber (Brevard), Jerry Miclisse (Carson-Newman), Michael Peppers (Catawba), Tanner Botts (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Sharon Irwin (Newberry).
Also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week: Charlie Rhea (Carson-Newman), Trey Mashore (Catawba) and Michael Destephens (Lenoir-Rhyne).
2014 AstroTurf SAC Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Mike Sheehan, Catawba
Sept. 15 - Dmitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Sept. 22 - Mike Sheehan, Catawba
Sept. 29 - De'Andre Thomas, Carson-Newman
Oct. 6 - Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman
Oct. 13 - Jamel Harbison, Mars Hill
Oct. 20 - Andy Hibbett, Carson-Newman
Oct. 27 - Jarrod Spears, Lenior-Rhyne
2014 AstroTurf SAC Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Nick Napolitano, Wingate
Sept. 15 - A.J. Booker, Newberry
Sept. 22 - Jason Taylor, Catawba
Sept. 29 - Blake Baker, Lenior-Rhyne
Oct. 6 - Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Oct. 13 - Nick Napolitano, Wingate
Oct. 20 - Marcus Kincaid, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 27 - Caushaud Lyons, Tusculum
2014 AstroTurf SAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 8 - Patrick Smith, Wingate
Sept. 15 - Andre Overholt, Brevard
Sept. 22 - Lonnie Williams, Carson-Newman
Sept. 29 - Dmitri Holmes, Mars Hill
Oct. 6 - Kevin Miller, Newberry
Oct. 13 - Chandler Phillips, Wingate
Oct. 20 - Justin Powell, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 27 - Hunter Cantrell, Tusculum