The South Atlantic Conference Announces AstroTurf Football Players of the Week
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf Football Players of the Week for games played during week 10 of the 2019 season. Lenoir-Rhyne quarterback Grayson Willingham was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Tusculum defensive back Dee Alford was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Wingate punter Ethan Evans picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Willingham, a junior from Matthews, N.C., led the No. 7 Bears to a 45-31 win over UNC Pembroke last week. He connected on 12 of 16 passes (75 percent) for 303 yards and three touchdowns, including a 99-yard touchdown pass. Willingham became just the 44th player in NCAA Division II history to throw a 99-yard touchdown pass. He averaged 18.9 yards per attempt and had a passing efficiency of 296. This is Willingham's first offensive player of week honor of the season.
Alford, a senior from Griffin, Ga., had a record setting day for the Pioneers in their 24-7 win over Mars Hill. He posted a single-game Tusculum record of seven passes defended including two interceptions, while breaking up five passes. He limited the top receiver in the SAC, Craig Rucker, to just four receptions and 59 total yards on the day. Alford added four tackles to the day, including three solo tackles and 55-yard interception return, giving him 195 career interception return yards, a Pioneer football record. This is Alford's second defensive player of the week award of the season.
Evans, a freshman from Mt. Airy, N.C., was instrumental in the No. 18 Bulldogs 35-28 win over Newberry. Four of his six kick-offs went for touchbacks and he averaged 40.3 yards on six punts, allowing just seven return yards. Two of his punts went inside the Newberry five-yard line, including a 33-yard punt in the third quarter that went out at the Newberry three-yard line and a 47-yard punt in the final minute of play that pinned the Wolves at their two-yard line. This is Evans first special teams player of the week accolade this season.
2019 SAC AstroTurf Football Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 9 – Shaw Crocker, Wingate
Sept. 16 – Jerko'ya Patton, Limestone
Sept. 23 – Jimmy Urzua, Mars Hill
Sept. 30 – Jace Jordan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 7 – Troy Dendy, Carson-Newman
Oct. 14 – Ameen Stevens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 21 – Chance Walker, Newberry
Oct. 28 – Craig Rucker, Mars Hill
Nov. 4 – Jaquay Mitchell, Lenoir-Rhyne
Nov. 11 – Grayson Willingham, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 9 – Rondrow Peebles, Carson-Newman
Sept. 16 – Landon Scott, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 23 – Nigel Bowden, Mars Hill
Sept. 30 – Eric Jackson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 7 – Mannie Ogletree, Limestone
Oct. 14 – Rondrow Peebles, Carson-Newman
Oct. 21 – Dee Alford, Tusculum
Oct. 28 – Jackson Cauthen, Tusculum
Nov. 4 – Clayton Horn, Lenoir-Rhyne
Nov. 11 – Dee Alford, Tusculum
Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 9 – Demetrius Mann, UVa-Wise
Sept. 16 – McLean Robertson, Wingate
Sept. 23 – McLean Robertson, Wingate
Sept. 30 - Thurlow Wilkins, Tusculum
Oct. 7 – Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 14 – Nate Craft, Carson-Newman
Oct. 21 – Michael Owen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 28 – Eli Shepherd, Tusculum
Nov. 4 – Nate Craft, Carson-Newman
Nov. 11 – Ethan Evans, Wingate
AstroTurf is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and title sponsor of the Conference's Player of the Week awards program.
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