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 seven of the 2023 season.  Tusculum quarterback Matthew Palazzo was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Limestone linebacker Chandler Matthews was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Tusculum punter Nicholas Pope picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors. 

Palazzo, a sophomore from Greeneville, Tenn., led the Pioneers to a 35-7 win over UVA Wise last week. He threw for 314 yards with three touchdowns. Two of his three touchdowns were for 70-plus yards, with one covering 73-yards and the other 70-yards. In addition to his three touchdown passes, Palazzo rushed for his team-leading sixth rushing touchdown of the season. He finished the game with four touchdowns and picked up his second-straight 300-plus yard passing game.

Matthews, a sophomore from Dillion, S.C., led the Saints to a 17-10 win on the road at Wingate. He anchored the defense that allowed just 40 yards of rushing, finishing the game with 15 tackles, including nine solo tackles and two tackles for a loss. He also had a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Pope, a graduate student from Lincoln, Ala., averaged 40 yards per punt on his seven attempts for 280 total yards. He pinned the Cavaliers inside the 20 three times and the other four punts resulted in fair catches.

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
Oct. 16 – Matthew Palazzo, Tusculum

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
Oct. 16 – Chandler Matthews, Limestone

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
Oct. 16 – Nicholas Pope, Tusculum 

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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