The South Atlantic Conference Announces AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week, Sept. 28
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week for games the fourth week of the season. Carson-Newman running back Damian Baker was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Newberry defensive lineman Alstevis Squirewell was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Wolves' punter Kyle Clark picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Baker, a senior from Columbus, Miss., ran for a career-best 249 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Carson-Newman to a 62-38 League win over Mars Hill on Sept. 26. He carried the ball 18 times to average 13.8 yards per rush, including a long run of 64 yards. His output of 249 yards is the seventh-best single-game rushing performance in school-history as he became just the eighth Eagle since 2004 to find the endzone four times in a contest. Baker is currently No. 2 in the nation in scoring with 15 points per outing, while his 10 rushing scores are also good for No. 2 in Division II. The honor is his first Offensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Squirewell, a senior from Great Falls, S.C., was all over the field for the Wolves in the 38-31 Conference-opening win over Tusculum on Sept. 26. On the Pioneers second offensive play of the contest, Squirewell got in the backfield and posted a sack to go along with a forced and recovered the fumble on the Tusculum signal caller. He later intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a score to give the Wolves the go-ahead score and push Newberry to the win. He also finished the contest with three solo tackles. On the season, Squirewell has posted 18 tackles, including five tackles for loss. The award is his first Defensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Clark, a senior from Beaufort, S.C., had four punts downed inside the Tusculum five yard line and two boots of 60-plus yards to give the Wolves the edge in field position in the close win over the Pioneers. His 52-yard punt with 36 seconds left in the first half led to a touchdown after a TC three-and-out to tie the contest up at 17-17. He notched nine punts in the game and finished with 412 yards and 45.8 yards per punt. This season, Clark is currently No. 2 in the SAC and No. 6 in Division II with 44.1 yards per punt and his career average of 40.3 yards per boot is good for No. 6 in the country among active players. The honor is his first Special Teams Player of the Week plaudit this season.
2015 Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Evin Sims, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 14 - Cary Littlejohn, Catawba
Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Sept. 21 - Evin Sims, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 28 - Damian Baker, Carson-Newman
2015 Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Martez Thompkins, Tusculum
Sept. 14 - Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Sept. 21 - Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 28 - Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
2015 Special Team Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Carson Wise, Carson-Newman
Sept. 14 - Christopher Birozes, Wingate
Sept. 21 - Jody Fuller, Wingate
Sept. 28 - Kyle Clark, Newberry