The South Atlantic Conference Announces Astroturf SAC Football Players of the Week, Sept. 25 | WATCH
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. Newberry wide out Markell Castle was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Wingate defensive back Matthew Ellis-White was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Wingate kicker Freddy McCollum picked up Special Teams Player of the Week.
Castle, a junior from York, S.C., caught six balls for 100 yards and a pair of scores in Newberry's 25-21 win at Carson-Newman on Sept. 23. Five of his six catches went for first downs or scores, including his game-winning 30-yard touchdown reception with 39.3 seconds left on the clock. The win marked the Wolves' 11th-straigh South Atlantic Conference win. The award is his first Offensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Ellis-White, a redshirt freshman from Stone Mountain, Ga., posted a career-best 11 tackles and two pass break-ups to help the Bulldogs to a 22-14 win at Lenoir-Rhyne on Sept. 23. He had two tackles and a break-up on the Bears' final drive to help keep LR out of the endzone and preserve the victory. In Wingate's last two League games, its defense has held its opponent to only one second half score. The honor is his first Defensive Player of the Week nod this season.
McCollum, a senior from Sanford, N.C., made a career-high three field goals, lifting the Bulldogs to a 22-14 South Atlantic Conference victory over Lenoir-Rhyne. McCollum booted six kick-offs for an average of 61.5 yards, helping the visitors win the field possession battle by 12 yards (WU 33 to LRU 21). The SAC leader in field goals per game, McCollum added one extra point to his Saturday statistical ledger. The Lee County High School product leads Wingate in scoring with his 31 points. 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
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
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