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 six of the 2023 season.  Barton quarterback Jaquan Lynch was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Carson-Newman linebacker Mekhi Brown was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Lenoir-Rhyne defensive back T.J. Blanding picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors. 

Lynch, a junior from Rocky Mount, N.C., led the Bulldogs to a 34-17 win over Newberry. He racked up 219 yards of total offense, going 10-for-13 for 182 yards and four touchdowns through the air, and picked up 37 yards rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Lynch has rushed for at least one touchdown in every game this season.

Brown, a sophomore from Wauchula, Fla., led the Eagle defense with nine tackles, including a sack for a loss of 10 yards. He also scooped up a fumble recovery and had an interception that he returned for four yards against Tusculum.

Blanding, a senior from Blythewood, S.C., returned a blocked field goal 84 yards for a touchdown and tied the game with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter of Lenoir-Rhyne's 31-28 overtime win over Limestone. Blanding also had a pair of tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup in the win.

2023 SAC Football Players of the Week 

Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 4 – Charles Mutter III, Emory & Henry
Sept. 11 – Preston Brown, Catawba
Sept. 18 – Jordan Terrell, Barton
Sept. 25 – Matthew Palazzo, Tusculum
Oct. 2 – Dwayne McGee, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 9 – Jaquan Lynch, Barton

Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 4 – Deno Wardlow, Catawba
Sept. 11 – Tristan Rankin, Mars Hill
Sept. 18 – Dajavon White, Tusculum
Sept. 25 – Wesley Scott, Tusculum
Oct. 2 – Mekhi Brown, Carson-Newman
Oct. 9 – Mekhi Brown, Carson-Newman

Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 4 – Kellan Dalton, UVA Wise
Sept. 11 – Trace Butcher, Emory & Henry
Sept. 18 – DeAree Rogers, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 25 – Lon Teachey, Mars Hill
Oct. 2 – Bryson Sims, Catawba
Oct. 9 – T.J. Blanding, Lenoir-Rhyne

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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