Newberry’s Haynes, Catawba’s Brown, Tusculum’s Gregory Named Football Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The South Atlantic Conference has announced its football Players of the Week for the week ending September 15, 2007. This week's recipients are Newberry College senior running back Alex Haynes, Catawba College junior linebacker Joe Brown and Tusculum College sophomore punter John Gregory.

Haynes was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Brown earned Defensive Player of the Week laurels, while Gregory was tabbed as the Special Teams Player of the Week award winner.

Haynes earns SAC Player of the Week honors for the third time in his career.

Alex Haynes

Joe Brown

John Gregory

In No. 12 Newberry's 39-20 road win over North Greenville University Thursday night, Haynes recorded his second consecutive game with 200 yards of total offense while also tallying three touchdowns. He rushed 22 times for 150 yards and two scores. Haynes also caught four passes for 77 yards and one TD.

A 5-11, 215-pound running back from Summerville High School (Summerville, S.C.), Haynes scored the game's opening touchdown on a 21-yard swing pass from Newberry senior quarterback Eric McCollom. Haynes ran for two touchdowns in the second half; he converted a 74-yarder in the third quarter and a one-yard plunge in the fourth. Haynes also returned one kick-off for 12 yards.

A 6-1, 225-pound transfer from Elon University, Brown led a defense that limited Fayetteville State University to 135 yards, 10 first downs and no offensive points in a 46-7 home win.

A New Bern High School (New Bern, N.C.) graduate, Brown made seven tackles with two for losses, including a quarterback sack. He also caused a fumble, recovered a fumble and recorded a QB hurry. Thanks to the efforts of Brown and his teammates, the Catawba defense helped the offense overcome six turnovers by forcing four of its own and holding Fayetteville State three times on downs.

Gregory earns SAC Player of the Week honors for the first time this season and the fourth time in his Pioneer career. A 6-2, 210-pound Oeltewah High School (Oeltewah, Tenn.) product, Gregory averaged 48.8 yards on his four punts in Tusculum's 69-0 home win over Saint Paul's (Va.) College.

The Preseason All-America punter booted three punts inside the 10-yard line and boomed three punts of 50 yards or more. Tusculum's holder on extra points and field goals, Gregory made a blind toss over his head that found teammate Garrett Sutphen on a fake field goal attempt. Sutphen capitalized, converting the play into a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jarrell NeSmith.

The SAC Football Players of the Week are selected by a vote of the league's sports information directors.