The South Atlantic Conference Announces WePlayed Sports Football Players of the Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its WePlayed Sports Football Players of the Week for games played during week two of the 2023 season.  Catawba quarterback Preston Brown was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Mars Hill defensive back Tristan Rankin was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Emory & Henry kicker Trace Butcher picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Brown, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., completed 24 of 30 pass attempts (80 percent) for 372 yards and a Catawba program record six touchdowns in the Catawba Indians' 55-15 win over Livingstone College. Brown also scrambled for 34 yards on the ground, finishing the game with 406 yards of total offense.

Rankin, a senior from Hickory, N.C., led the Lions to a season-opening 15-10 win over nationally ranked No. 17/22 Wingate. Rankin had seven tackles and two pass breakups to lead the Lion defense. He also scooped up a fumble late in the fourth quarter and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown to give Mars Hill the lead and the eventual win.

Butcher, a sophomore from Dacula, Ga., nailed three field goals from 36, 39, and 20 yards in rainy conditions, and was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points in the Wasps' 37-14 win over Bluefield State. In all, Butcher accounted for 13 Wasp points in the game.

2023 SAC Football Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 4 – Charles Mutter III, Emory & Henry
Sept. 11 – Preston Brown, Catawba

Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 4 – Deno Wardlow, Catawba
Sept. 11 – Tristan Rankin, Mars Hill

Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 4 – Kellan Dalton, UVA Wise
Sept. 11 – Trace Butcher, Emory & Henry

WePlayed Sports 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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